The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-10-11

, position is not often considered. It
is true that his land is fertilc-but
other countries produce larger crops
to the acre and then, too, he pays bet
ter wages than the farmer ofeny other
country. In reality it is the coopera-
tion of the railroads which make for
his success-thc elasticity of rates
which enable him to meet chauging
conditions. For instance, suppose c
that certain grain.producing district
has had g hard summer, that labor
has been scarce, and that bad weather
has s.. "iled a par. Of the crops. These
conditions, Of course, make tho cost
OF production higher for the farmer Of
that district and it is out of the 1ucs-
ton for him to think Of shipping his
grain as he would have shipped it had
every condition been favorable, but his
true partner, the railroad steps in at this
point, and. by making a sufficiently
low rate, helps him in overcoming the
hard times Of the summer by enabling
him to put his grain on the market at
a profitable price.
This is really the great basic priu-
ciplc of American railroading-the All
justment to changing commercial con.
ditions and the freedom from hard
and fast rules which government rcgu-
lation in other countries has always
brought about. In Germany, for in
stance, with good times or bad, largo
crops Or small, the farmer pays the
same rate, and these conditions have
90 initiated against his prosperity
that today in that country grain can
not move by rail more than 125 miles.
One can hardly imagine the chaos
which would ensue from similar con-
ditions in this country.
The movement Of grain each year is
to the railroad what tbe conduct of
tbe campaign Is to the general. Each
depends during the early stages upon
tho reports Of his scouts. Those of
the railroad company from a large
corps Of experts 7ho travel throughout
the country, estimating as closely as
possible the probable groin tonnage Of
each district and the number Of cars
necessary for it's transportation. Bas.
ing it's plants upon these6gures,the rail.
road makes ready to concentrate cars
at points Of need just as the general
concentrate this men.
The idea in the railroad man 8 mind
is to get cars to the region Of the GEN.
trail west at any cost: Expense is al
most forgotten item. Every enc,
from the general traffic manager down
to even the station agent, receives
general orders as to the disposition Of
all cars. They are begged, borrowed,
and bought--in fact, procured in every
possible way. Agents. in their efforts
to serve the farmers have beer known
to steal trains Of "empties'' in order
that the grain movement Of their par
tioular districts might be facilitated.
But since the natural flow Of cars to
tho grain region of,the central west
would not be sufficient to take care Of
this rush Of business, the railroads
find it necessary to attract moro than
an ordinary supply. '...' ,..=/s
Countries in which the government
controls the railroads fnd that their
rates are never lowered, for the rail.
road company does not dare take the
chance on what Invariably results as
permanent change. But here, with
the elasticity which results from the
freedom which the RAILROADS. enjoy, all
efforts may be bent toward the con-
centratior Of cars at any desired point,
The extra supply .is attracted in this
way: There is always large amount
OF. freight flowing steadily throughout
the country which, unlike grain, for
instance, does not move in any larger:
quantities at one time than at ansther..
But the shippers Of this freight are
always anxious TO benefit themselves
by any reduction in rates, and so the
railroads, in order to attract oars to
tho west, make reduced rates on
west.bound merchandise of various
classes. = - -. t. ls jiT.;: :.
Shippers in all parts Of the: country
are quick to take advantage Of such an
opportunity, and ins this way q !, the sup:
ply Of cars for the: transportation Of
eastbound grain is tremendously in.
creased, since these cars, although
coming into the grain region loaded,
can be used on their. outgoing trips
for the; transportation OF agriouleural