The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-06-17
POOLING LAW NEEDED
RAILROAD INDUSTRY KILLED BY
IGNORANT LEGISLATION.
Absolute Necessity for Pooling Law
if the Roads Are to Prosper and
Continue to Give Work to Their
Railroad Presidents Views.

Mr.. e. B. Thomas, in response to an in
quiry from the Washington Post regard
ing his views as to the relation of the
railroads of the country to the prosperity
of the people, and particularly as to his
views upon the pooling bill now before
Congress-, says:
There exists in the public mind an ap-
prehension that the railways are opposed
to the public interest, and that any legis-
lation which restraints railways is of ne
cessity for the good of the people at large.
This mistaken idea has had much to do
with shaping the State legislation that
has in many instances so severely Grip
pied railway enterprise, and, in large
measure. this impression was prevalent
when, ten years ago, Congress took its
first step in dealing with the railway
problem. Looking back for twenty years
it is difficult to recall single legislative
measure, national or State, proposed, adj
vocated or enacted for the benefit of the
railways. whereas during that period hun
dreds and even thousands of propositions
have been brought forward, many of them
unhappily enacted into laws, which seri-
ously mjure railway property and cause
great loss to those who have invested
their money in this form of security.
Largest Employers of Labor.
Railways are not only the largest en-
ployers of labor direct, but they are enor-
nous purchasers of supplies. If the rail-
way system of the United States were
even fairly prosperous the amount of
money it would annually distribute over
this broad land would exceed 81 100000
900. Comparing our railways with our
national government, which is regarded
as pretty big business, we find that the
Government disburses on an average
about $500, 100000. or one-third as much
as our railways. Take the Erie Railroad
system as an example: With gross in
come of about $3OOOO,OOO per annum, it
distributes in wages among about 10000
employees, over $16.OOO,O0O, and for ma
terial nearly six millions. the greater part
of which goes to the labor producing the
manufactured articles.
The total number Of railroad employees
in the United States is about 100000 and
the total expenditure is over $725 600. 900.
Taking as an average five individuals to
family, we see that there are some A.
OOO,OO Of people directly dependent for
their existence upon the railroad indus
try, and feel safe. therefore, in saying
that in the conducting of transportation
the railways distribute more actual money
to q greater number of individuals
through more numerous channels and over
wider area of country than any other
industry.
Vast Sums Annually Expended.
Great and far-reaching as are these dis
bursements, the 10000, 900 per annum
expended in late years, in what may be
termed keeping this property in good re-
pair, give employment to hundreds Of
thousands Of track laborers, skilled Ia
borers in our rail mills. locomotive. car
and machine shops. and so on through an
immense range Of trades and occupations.
Even during these bad years, and with
uncertain rates, the railways are putting
O,O0O, 900 per annum into their road
beds, $33 ,000, 900 into new rails and ties,
and over $15, COX, 900 into new bridges.