The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-04-23

be<, said JuOge sawyer. and l ma
that there Is Il strong sentiment in
Canada in favor not only OF building
such a road. but also OF gradually &C
curing by purchase all Of the roads
now In private hands Ii strikes me as
strange that so radical step can OBJ
tain substantial support in that eoun-
Try and hardly be heard OF In this
There is no movement Of any conse-
quence In the United States looking to
the national ownership and operation
Ok railroads"
There Is no political movement that
way" remarked Colonel Monroe, and
none OF our alleged statesmen are ad-
VOcatng such policy. And yet ven
ture the assertion that the vast ma.
Jortty OF well informed citizens are In
favor OF the national ownership OF
railroads, and there IS not the slightest
doubt in my mind that an overwhelm-
ing majority Of the people would vote
In favor Of such action II given 4
chance. When 1t becomes an issue the
ode OF popular sentiment in its favor
viii crush all opposition. When the
movement once gets under way.
doubt II either Of the great parties will
openly oppose It"
Whatever OF influence | have" de
elared Judge Sawyer, will be cas-.
against the purchase Of the railroads
bT the government. In my opinion. Nc
such step should be taken"
''I thoroughly agree with you" said
COLONEL Monroe The judge looked into
ns face with surprise.
What do you mean?" he asked
Your arguments and your declaration
10 not agree"
4 never have advocat ted the national
ownership OF existing railroad lines"
asserted the colonel. You have mis-
Understood me"
Il certainly have misunderstood
Ou." returned Judge Sawyer Il am
urious to know what point you are at
ampting to make"
Il hold that the government should
uild and operate its own lines, which
a far different proposition from pur-
hasing those now existing" explained
olonel Monroe Most owners Of rail
BAD stocks and bonds are making
-antic efforts to sell them, and the de-
bOralizatiOn in Wall street Is striking
violence Of this fact. | repeat what
ave said In former talks on this sub
ct, that our railroads are autiquated-
hey have not kept pace with the
ogress Of science or invention. This
ay sound strange, but it Is absolutely
fact. Our railroads are modelled on
e primitive lines established by Ste
henson and the other pioneers who
orked out the first locomotive and
ID the first rOadbed So vast a sum
money has been invested In meth
Is now known to be wrong that it Is
most impossible for the owners to In
al modern Improvements. Our rail-
ad system is like Sam Crandalrs
use. Did you ever see that mansion.
dge?'
Not in several years" said Judge
wyer. smiling. at was a wonderful
'ucture even then"
You should see IT now drove past
the other day. When Sans father
ID he willed to Sam the old home
'ad. The house was a substantial,
| fashioned structure and it had
IN deemed good enough for three
ccessive generations Of Crandalls
suited Sam all right until a real es-
boom set in. and Sam found that
farm was in the center Of fash
able neighborhood He was shrewd
81
In small lots at big prices. As his
alth increased. the old house did not
K good enough to suit Sam. But IL
5 too good to tear down. 50 Sam
1promised by adding a story and
'er, also several bay windows This
a considerable sum Then Sam
more lots and with the proceeds
in hardwood floors and decorated
lis and ceilings The Old house
finally cost perhaps 5000. but
as Improvements amounted to i've
es that amount Then sam got
-ried and added conservatory u,
old buildings. He was getting rich
: y fast and realized that he bad
lie mistake in attempting - make
eW house out Of an old one: but II
too late.
/ The men who own our railroads Gre
the same position as Sam Gran
- continued Colonel Monroe in
they are in much worse posi-
Sam does not depend on his
Sc as a source Of revenue. while
railroad investor must look 10 ar
1lete system for his profits n
were an interest wealthy enough
fer fair price for tie great trunk
now owned or controlled prac-
ily by one syndicate It would net
long to close the deal. They would
pit a price which would establish
new low records for railway
q and bonds. But no such pur
er comes forward. There ia onJ