The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-28
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY IS. 1900.
DESTRUCTIVE COMPETITION.

Two wears ago all the railroads east
OF the Missouri river We're in an associa-
ton called the Joint Traffic Association
OF the East. while all of those west of
The Missouri were in another, called the
Joint Traffic Association of the West
Under the terms Of the Association
agreement there was a body of arbitra-
rors who fixed the rates that We're TO be
charged upon all classes of freight and
upon passengers. and when complaint
was made by one railroad that another
was violating the terms Of the agree
mcnt the arbitrator heard the case, and
df the accused road had really violated
the agreement, the arbtrators fined Ill OF
supposed whatever other penalty was
necessary for making it observe the
terms Of the agreement. Whilst their
traffic agreements remained in force
there was comparative peace and order
in railroad transportation in this country
Rates for traffic were most reasonable
and the tendency was always towards
lower rates rather than towards higher
rates.
But the people who see a trust and
parties, raised a grea'. clamor that here
was a gigantic railroad trust and con-
spircy 10 stifle all competition in travel
and traffic, and SO they put the ma
ctincry Of the Populis.ic antitrust act
of Congress into movement against these
In due time the Supreme Court of the
United States gave effect to the act and
declared the traffic associations illegal,
null and void.
This sent the railroads adrift and from
that time TO now they have been
laundering in sea Of cut-throat COM
petition which. if continued. will bank
rupt some and have the country, after
while, at the mercy OF the surviving few
who will make every effort to recoup upon
the public what they have lost through
the destructive competition forced upon
them.
A striking illustration Of fhe evil effects
of the ur.bridled competition which the
brought about has Just come to light.
Two of the through routes have
surreptitiously secured contracts for the
eri.re normal grain transportation from
the West to the East for she next TWO
months by very low cuts, and the other
routes wake up suddenly TO find that
they have been left In this state
OF the case ali the others have COM
nenced Wild scramble for the trans
porfation of other merchandise, and In
crcasing,y cut rates SO that trunk line
railroad freights from West to East and
from East to West are more or less
.demorali1ed
The Popu.ist lies back in his COM
Portable armchair and roars with de-
light al learning these facts. But the
business man. whose business is affected
by them, returns him no thanks for the
lower treights he has secured him. The
business man tells the Popu!ist that
liability OF rates Is far more import
BADLY off with rates always shifting as
ne would be If his money was the Popu-
lets silver dollar. whose value was al
ways shifting. With ever shifting rates
he docs not know how TO make his con-
tracts, and he had rather pay more and
have certainty than TO have n Temporary
reduction OF rates with the uncertainty
IN contracts that they involve him in.
Nor will the prices remain low. They
must &c back 70 a normal level or all
the transportation lines mus. be ruined.
==-55----==------------
oEEANfENTATIoN ON THE FARM.
4,hc Northern Neck News felicltates IT.
SELF and its constituency upon the action
OF the Board Of Supervisors of the county
of Westmoreland In providing for extern
si.e improvements on the public build