The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1900-01-24

the compelling desire OF railroads Ia
build up and establish on firm foun-
dalton every branch OF husbandry that
can be made profitable to the tillers oil
the soil. So intense is the interest in this
direction manifested by some of the best
railroads that monthly crop reports are
sent to their general offices, and intelli-
gent men are paid to do this work in an
intelligent manner.
There will always be grumblers-
grumblers in every condition of life I;
farmers grumble, railroad men grumble,
laborers grumble, professional men
grumble, and we all grumble at times I;
but observation and experience show
that the railroad managers are as Justly
free from criticism for non-performance
OF duty as any other class. They make
free contributions to almost everything.
not even excepting churches, schools
and the demands OF charity. They come
to the relief of every public gathering by
giving reduced rates. They are always
public-spirited. They can no more af-
ford to break down and ruin profitable
industry on their lines than farmer can
afford to cripple his horse. To do 80
will impair their carrying capacity. To
increase this and the products to be car
ried are the principal aims OF the wise
managers of railroads. To destroy the
prosperity Of the farmers, the manufac-
tuners, the miners or any other class,
whose business increases the quantity Of
freight or the number of passengers, is
like tearing down the edifce OF their
own prosperity. The problem that always
conironts a good railroad manager is
how best to build up the prosperity of
the country through which his railroad
passes and, at the same time, to keep his
line and equipment up to high stand
ard and pay reasonable dividend to his
stockholders. The aforementioned is the
last provided for. II he discharges his
duty to his company he must give all
possible. encouragement to building up OF
new industries. He must stimulate
enterprise and development. He must
induce immigration. Neither OF these
things can be done If he attempts by ex-
tortionate freight rates and passenger
charges to Cypress or break down the
prosperous institutions on his road. Such
course would be suicidal, and no stock
holder in any railroad company would
sustain board OF directors that would
be governed by such narrow policy.
Freights are being reduced all oyer
the United States, and this reduction
comes as the carrying capacity OF roads
is increased by the use OF larger cars and
heavier engines. The rates on ordinary
freight now are not one.half as great as
they were twenty-five years ago. In this
gradual reduction the farmers come in
for their full share Of the benefits. They
should give every encouragement to the
railroads to make such improvements as
will justify them in lowering the freight
tariffs.
Unthinking men are sometimes made
to believe that railroad managers levy
contributions upon the country to pay
large dividends on watered stock. This
may have been true in some instances,
but do the farmers ever reflect that in
yestments in the building OF railroads
have also watered the prices OF their
lands much more than they have the |
stock OF the railroads? II it is true that |
railroads make dividends on watered |
stock, do not the farmers in those re-
gions where railroads are built enjoy |
cheaper freights than they did by wagon |
carriage Is it not true that their landed |
has been increased in value by |
reason OF the investments made in build |
ing these railroads. to which they con-
tribute nothing? The stockholders of |
the railroads take the risk and divide the |
profits with the farmers by increasing the |
prices Of their lands and products, open
ing new markets and reducing the ex-
pense Of taking farm products to market.
We often hear the cry that railroads
are monopolies, and that they crush out
everything that opposes them. If the
are monopolies, how does it
happen that their stock is found for sale
in every brokers' Office, especially in the
larger cities? II the railroads are max |
ing 80 much money why do not the
farmers buy some OF the stock and par.
ticipate in the profits Who is to hinder
themp The very fact that these dissatis-
fed persons do not buy stock in railroad
is proof positive that they do
not believe what they say when they
speak OF railroads as grasping monopo-
lies. The truth is that prosperous farm
ers make prosperous railroads, and pros
porous railroads aid farmers OF every
class and condition. Railroads equalize
prices, 80 that those remote from mar
kets enjoy nearly the same advantages
NJ those who live near. A sliphti Increase