Omaha daily bee., 1905-05-04
MORTON TO RAILROAD MEN
Secretary Of Navy Speaks at Opening Of
Railroad Appliance Exhibition.
TALKS OF RATES OF TRANSPORTATION
Says the United states Has Lowest
Rates and Best Service of
Any Country ON
Earth.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-The American
Railway Appliance exhibition was formally
opened here today in the presence of nearly
l,VVv delegates to the International Railway
congress. Speeches were made by Secre-
tary Of War Tart, Secretary Of the Navy
Morton, President George A. Post Of the
exhibit, T. l.. Lawrence, deputy chairman
or the London Northwestern railway, and
Stuyvesant Fish, president OF the American
section of the congress. Secretary Paul
Morton said:
When the microbe Of civilization begins
It's enutess WORK IN the praln OF a Darpai ian
one oI the nrsC things 10 be looked after
Is a better foot tran. ,nrough the mountain
or over the plain, ana as civilization ad-
vances good roads anu better transporta-
ton DeeOme one OF the cnlet stuules Of
men. The present conference of delegates
from all over the world to discuss ways
ana means of bettering the transportation
facilities Of the globe OILY inulcates the
growth OF civilization and demonstrates
tnat there is reciprocity in the exchange of
ideas concerning the best way to railroad.
Such meeting can only be regarded with
the greatest favor by All intelligent people.
The story Of the transportation OF this
country and of the Improvements Of trans
portation facilities is the history of Amer
lcan progress. 1t is no exaggeration to say
that the prominent commercial position of
the United States in the world today is
chiefly on account of it's low railroad rates,
and it is not at all out of the way for. me
railway appliances the cost of transporta-
ton in this country would not today be as
cheap as II Is. 1t has been estimated that
where one dollar has been invested in rail-
roads in the United States tho value of
agricultural property has, been increased
ten dollars The steel rail and steam
gine with all other railway appliances,
have been pioneers in the development of
this country. Many unknown sections have
been pTospected with locomotive. The
story OF American railroads reads like fairy
tales. There are men living today in the
road. The railroad business is, relatively
speaking, an infantry industry, and yet see
what has been accomplished. In less than
one generation of men there has been y
most remarkable abridgment of distance.
America Leads the World.
Lord Bacon truly said there are three
things which make a nation great-fertile
fields, busy workshops, and easy convey
place You will ali admit that Lord
Bacon was right and you will all see the
for a moment what has taken place in
America. Today, with great luxury and its
comfort, and cost Of less than 8 cents
mile travellers accomplish in less than one
hour what sixty years ago, was more than
a days journey. There are three knds sc
transportation of goods and the trans
portation of thought, and in each 1t seems
to me that we have led the world. AS we
look back fifty years and note the inn
provements IN transportation, we cannot
but anticipate what the progress will be
IL.
We all know that a great many of the
most remarkable men of the last century
have been identified with the progress that
has been made in transportation, and the
names of such public benefactors as
Stephenson, the inventor of the locomotive;
Morse. who invented telegraphy; Pullman,
who made travel by night more pre-
who bas nen dfS Se and
the speed of the traveller will always APP
pears as prominent among those who have
improved conditions.
Freight Rates Are Low,
,, The railroad freight rates in the United
States are low. No other country has any
very few Complaints of rstes in hsre ths eop aTe
try because they are too high. Complaints
Of extCrtionate rates are the exception, not
States than anywhere alse in the world
They probably aggregate 40 per cent lower
coupled with the fact that, with the lowest
rates rates, IN, IN existence, ds, the wages paid by
az eaat 70 bar their csnt employers
the wages paid to railroad men in other
countries and considered further with the
pay higher prices for materials than other
emphasize In the world, only serves to
emphasize EN- the triumph in transportation,
1t has been my observation that COM
plants of unreasonable rates to railroad
men men always receive prompt and satlsfac-
While in a sense railroad transportation
Is a natural monopoly, in broader sense
1t is all competitive. Market competition
prevails everywhere and is always a con-
trolling force In rate making.
supply People Ingenious.
Too much credit cannot be given to the
ingenuity and technical ability of the rail-
road supply people. They always rise to
any emergency. They are as intense in
their desire TO improve the appliances they
make they are to dispose of them after
they are manufactured, More could not be
said.
1t is a source of great satisfaction to all
of us to have 80 many distinguished for
eigners In our midst We know there is
much that we can learn from them in re-
gard to transportation. 1 know that we are
studying the Improvements they are making
with the same eagerness that they are
studying ours We hope that these inter-
national gatherings will be fruitful of great
good To the railroads abroad and at home.
+. 4. 4 H sSs77S.1s T :'3iss; :.