Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-10-12
Public Ownership the Solution
G, W. BADGER.

reaQ Mr.. MungerS argument Tor
the State ownership OF stock yards.
Now 1 will pnt In an argument for a
State-owned railroad. Ani I will try,
like Mr.. Munger, to shoE how and
why We uhe S.ate) should build and
own a railroad. Let the State of Kan
sas start line running directly west
through the center of the State to the
west line. Then run branch lines
every twenty FIVE or thirty miles apart
both north and south, to the State
line. They would be feeders to the
main line. The main line to be laid
with eighty-pound steel rails to the
yard. The branch lines could be laid
with fifty or sixty pound steel rails to
the yard. The State to own and oper-
ate the road, In the interest of all the
people, instead of In the interest of
the foreignscapitalist aud alien bond
holders, as is being done with our
present system of railways. Let the
state hold the road In trust for all Of
tbs people.
Let the state put In elevators and
stock yards, build ana own telegraph
and telephone lines. Let the farmers
have the use of the elevators at cost :;
operate the roal at cost to all of the
people. Let the state own its coal
mines and operate them, furnishing
the people of the state with fuel at
cost of production and transportation.
Operate telegraph and telephone lines
at cost. That is in accord with our
present platform.
Now, q great many will ask, How
will the state proceed to get all of
these thingst Easy enough. Let the
state form It's own plans. Then let the
state call for volunteers in the cause,
the state to make appropriations 80
they could pay the same to volunteers,
that the United States pays to its vol
unteers which it has put up as targets
to stop Spanish bullets. The state
furnishing the men :hei- board and
tents to sleep h. Thousands of fam
ers and others would volunteer in the
cause IL thev knew the road would al
ways remain IN the people hands
instead of going into foreign bond
holders hands as they have In the
past. have talked with a number of
farmers, and they saNthey would be
Wiling to work; man and fsam on
such line constructed and owned by
the state for all time to come. The
state could make its survey, then some
farmer undoubtedly would give the
right way (the writer is one of
these); others would ask fair price
for their land and receive their pay
from the state, and those who were
unreasonable would have their land
appraised (same as in public highyays)
and paid for accordingly. The ma
jority of the people through whose
land the road would run would aid the
road as much as possible, knowing
there was no scheming or speculating
in ii and besides, as soon as the road
was In operation they would get the
benefit OF reduced rates in 9th freight
and passenger service.
The miners could get the products
Of the farm at cost; the farmers would
get products Of the mine at cost. In
connection with the elevators, mills
could be built. The farmers then
would Dot be at the mercy of the mill
ers' trust which now bamboozles the
producer at every turn by giving low
prices for the raw material and put
ting on fictitious values when the con.
sumner purchases the manufactured
article. The state, by owning the
mills and elevators. could sell in the
best market, for the grain would be
held by the state and not by the specu-
lators as at present.
For the main line of road heavy
locomotives would be used and lighter
ones would be used on the branches
Where the traffic is light dummie:
could be run, to carry passengers
mail and express. The state furnish,
ing its own fuel at cost.
As to paying its employees, 1t could
issue warrants, the state accepting the
warrants at par for freight, express
and passenger service; telegraph and
telephone service, taxes due the state
Farmers would accept them, TO
they would pay freight bills, purchase
tickets to ride on. The merchan
would accept them, for he could pay
his freight, express and telegraph bill.
with them. 1t would make business
for all Of the people, either directly O
indirectly. There would be no take
to pay on the property, as the stat
would own it. There would be n,
dividends to pay on bonds voted b,
the people to aid said road. Their
would be no dividends to pay OF