The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-27
INTEREST IN RY. CONTROL
One Phase of Public Concern in Con-
sOIfdatiOn.

One Phase of Public Concern in Con-
soIfdatiOn.
TO the Editor of The Journal:
Public interest in the principle of railway
control Is not limited to the subjects which
have been so literally discussed by those who
discover only benefits to accrue from the op-
Grafton Of such a corporation as the Northern
Securities company, which comes to Mime
sofa from New Jersey, to teach the public a
new creed of morals in government, whereby
state control may be nullified, and the unde-
sirable policy Of federal control be at the
same time avoided, through the accommodate
ing agency of a thrifty agency for the sale OF
charter privileges.
Granting much that is claimed by the pro-
motors Of such policy concerning the mu-
tual interests of owners and patrons of rail-
way, conveni.nces, to safeguard business by
fair and stable tariffs, and to avoid the sur
prises> and fluctuations incident to the strate-
gy of railway competition, there still remains
much larger question of peculiar concern
to the agricultural interests of the states
which have been carved from the new terri
tories of the west, and northwestern sections
Of the country. All who are familiar with
the history of railway construction throughout
this vast area of great distances know that
much of the rapid development of these new
regions is the result Of railway building pro-
voked by offensive and defensive railway en-
terprise, rather than the promise of immediate
returns 70 the promoters. Without question
many branch line roads have been construct
ed which have proved Of little value to those
who assumed responsibility for them, but in
the majority of instances these lines have
been projected in the Offices of the trunk lines
and after masqueradng for period under
different corporate names have been absorbed
by their natural Sponsors.
m how I'D +;
for in any sort of comparison where the fela-
tive value of wagon wheels and car wheels to
the comfort and prosperity Of agriculture is
involved, the man who farms for a living alb
hors the long wagon haul and hopes for the
coming of the car wheels to tighten the bur-
den and anxiety of his toll.
Thus it is that the farmers of any new
country have more to hope from independent
railway companies which are seeking to de-
velop and protect their systems by premature
construction of branch lines, than they could
possibly expect from companies which agree
that the intervening territory between their
systems shall remain without conveniences
Of transportation until settlement shall JUS
tify the expenditure necessary to secure rail-
roads The merger of interests by the North
ern Pacific and Great Northern companies
means that all territory which is now depend
ent upon one or the other of these roads for
straw man who lives in the new merger sig
nal tower shall swing his lantern and give
the signal to go ahead. In such matter
there is no possible community Of interest be-
tween the farmers and the proposed method
for avoiding the proper and natural business
rivalry which alone can lead to an early de-
yelopment of the resources and opportunities
Of every new country.
Railroad companies can afford to wait foI
what they know Will surely come to them by
wagon and II they are sufficiently merged
with the industries which hold control ovel
the steel rails and supplies which enter into
railway construction. they have nothing tc
fear in the way Of competition: while the
farmer who is trying to believe the assur-
ances that he Is to be blessed by the merger
policy, will wait in vain for the shortening
Of his wagon haul
The state Of Minnesota interposes no obiec
ton to the business consultations projected
BY private companies, and which do not holt
a threat Of disturbance of the public
good, but it has wisely declared that the
quasi public corporations which enjoy
monopoly Of the carrying trade shat. not ex
plot their control at the expense of a SOUND
! public policy which preserves competition a:
an insurance that the development Of remote
farming districts shall not await the pleasure
and immediate profit Of those who seel
to nullify the principle of business competi
ton in the carrying trade, through such
organizations as the Northern Securities com.
pany. An interesting side light is thrown
upon the whole subject by the experience
of the Union Pacific, and Missouri Pacific
Railway companies, in their effort to SO ap.
portion the territory tributary to their respec-