The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-25
Gov. Leedy's FavOrite Project
of North and South Line
OF Railroad Owned and Oper-
ated by the States.
Claims it is Not So Chimerical as
Many Think-Compa it to Erie
Canal Owned and Operated by
New York State.

Manitoba There are already lines of
this kind southwark, but the governor
wants the states interested to build a
line of their own. 1t was this idea in
a slightly different form that Fred
Close used to advocate
The governor detailed his plan to the
southern capitalists and shippers who
are interested in the development of
those ports on his southern tour.
Although the construction of such
line as proposed by Governor Leedy,
with public funds, would necessitate
the changing of the present constitu-
ton in Kansas, and perhaps also of
eventually the plan will succeed.
Discussing the plan Governor Leedy
said:
This road will be the solution of the
transportation problem and the saliva
ton of the western country. Some Of the
railroads in the west think 1 am MAX
ing war upon them by constant urging
the building of this road, but 1 am
not. Look at the Erie canal. That
canal is owned and controlled by the
state of New York. 1t cut the rates
of freight in half The state put $116,-
100000 in the canal, and it has drawn
out 1892, 900, 900 already. The New York
Central has grown from one to four
tracks in competing with this canal,
and it is a big, paying property. Com
petition is the life of trade. So it will
be with a north and south railroad.
We are not trying to freeze out other
railroads by our project. We will use
it as the Erie canal is used-to base
rates upon.
Last Monday I appointed five dele
gates to an Interstate conference to be
held in Galveston to consider this pro-
ject. l hope the legislature of the
other states which are still in session
will appoint similar committees. When
these committees are appointed, by cor
respondence we will fix the date of the
conference. If it is fixed at a date up
on which can be present 1 will go to
Galveston. 1 want to be there to take
part in it if I possibly can.
IF Texas will carry the road from
the Gulf to the northern limit of the
state we will carry it through Okla
hOma to the northern line of Kansas.
Oklahoma farmers are not in a, condi-
ton just now to tackle the project. If
Texas and Kansas do their work, I
have no fear but that Nebraska will
come to time, and before long we will
have the line through to Manitoba.
lone of the principal objections raised
to this plan is that it will give politi-
|, clans additional leverage. Now, there
need be no politics in the government
of the road at ALL The cost of main
tenance and the profits accruing will
be prorated to each state according to
the mileage within it's borders. There
is no necessity of an elaborate force to
be employed by the states. They should
control the diSpatcherS and the force
employed in maintaining the physical
condition of the road. The road, or
sections of it, could be leased for a
year at a time to any company wish
ing to operate it at the rates specified.
Or any company, such as a grain firm,
for instance, doing an export grain
business could have it's own cars and
engines for the purpose of hauling its
own grain to the Gulf from any point
in the west, and could simply pay mile
age on each train, and run them when
ever they saw fit.
Look again at the Erie canal. See
the cities that have been built up along
its banks-built up because the build
ers knew that they would have stable
and reasonable rates for all time. So
it would be with this north and south
road. People would flock to the line,
and the most substantial of cities and
towns would grow up like magic along
its entire course. With the state be-
hind it they could be assured of per-
manent low rates. It is not the high
est rates that have proved the most
profitable, but the lower and more
reasona BILE rates.
.sWould not such a railroad wreck the
competing roads operated by private
capital?' was asked
Not necessarily" replied the COVER
nor. Il have been actually charged
with having such a purpose in mind,
however, but history does not subStan-
tiate the charge. Take the Erie canal.
1t has reduced freight rates to a min
imum, but instead of wrecking Compel
ing railroads, it has made the New
York Central the finest and best paying
piece of railroad property in the world
The Mississippi river is not owned by
private parties, yet the Illinois Central,
the most important competitor with
this navigable stream, has continually
grown stronger, and the railroads which
compete with the great Northern lakes
are not considered wrecks by the capt.
talistS in search of interest bearing
bonds. If private capital invested in
railroads can compete with natural
waterways controlled by the public and
are benefited rather than injured by
the competition. why can it not compete
with a railroad controlled by the pub
lie? 1 think it can, and also h iieve
that a North and South railroad built
and owned by the public would be ben
eficial to every competing line. 1t
would reduce freight, it is true, but de-
creased freight rates do not necessarily
imply decreased legitimate earnings. 1t
does imply increased traffic, however,
for it would bring about a revolution
of present conditions. For instance,
Mexico and the South American coun-
tries have population of over SO, 000. 900.
These people do not manufacture
thing, but they produce much that we
in the United States consume. Under
present conditions the coffee, binding
Irvine, tropical fruits, woods, etc, are
shipped way round to Boston and New
York from Mexico and South America
and then come hundreds OF miles by
rail to the farmers of the west and
northwest. Why this circDitous route?
why not go direct to Galveston, Sabine
EaSS OF EOIl Illuf, when II SStS deep
water? The answer is, freight rates
A North and South road owned by the
public would make the rate. Compel
ing lines would meet it, and as a result,
they would haul south trains of manu-
featured goods that are destined for
Mexico and South America. and return
north with their cars ladened with the
products of those countries which are
consumed in this. haul both ways
would thereby be secured, and justify
cutting the present freight rate half in
two. and leave the profits of the road
equal to what they are at present"
Have you formed any impression
with regard to Port Arthur was ask
cd