The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-09-27
CHAPTER KIM.


AAAAa W MI
Just Why Receiver Guilford. an Of
hcer of the court who was supposed
TO be nursing an insolvent railroad
to the end that its creditors might
not lose all. should begin by declaring
war on the roads revenue, was a
question which the managers OF com
peting lines strove vainly TO answer.
But when, in defiance of all precedent,
he made the cut rates effective TO and
from all local stations on the Trans
Western, giving the shippers at in
termediate and non-competitive points
the full benefit OF the reductions. the
railroad colony denounced him as a
mailman and gave him month in
which to find the bottom OF presum-
ably empty treasury.
But the event proved that the ma
jor's madness was not altogether with
out method 1t is an axiom in the
carrying trade that low rates make
business; create 1t, so to speak. out
Of nothing. Given an abundant crop,
low prices. and high freight rates In
the great cereal belt. and, be the farm
ers never so poor. much Of the grain
will be stored and held against the
chance OF better condition.
So it came about that Major Gull
ford's relief measure was timed to
a nicely, and the blanket cut In rates
opened a veritable fioodgate for BUSH
ness in Trans-Western territory.
From the day of its announcement
the traffic of the road increased by
leaps and bounds. Stored grain came
out of its hiding places at every
country crossroads 70 beg for cars;
stock feeders drove their market cattle
unheard-of distances. across the tracks
OF competing lines. over aud around
obstacles of every sort. to pour them
into the loading corrals Of the Trans
Western.
Nor was the trafhc all outgoing.
With the easing OF the money burden.
the merchants in the tributary towns
began thriftily to take advantage Of
the low rates to renew their stocks;
long-deferred visits and business trips
suddenly became possible; and the
saying that 1t was cheaper to travel
than to stay at home gained instant
and grateful currency.
In a short time the rolling stock
of the road was taxed TO It's utmost
capacity, and the newly appointed
purchasing agent was buying cars and
locomotives right and left. Also, TO
keep pace with the ever-increasing
procession of trains, a doubled con-
struction force wrought night and day
installing new side tracks and passing
points.
Under the fructifying influence OF
such golden shower of prosperity.
land values began TO rise again, slow
ly at frst. as buyers intrusted the
continuance OF the golden shower;
more rapidly a little later. as the
Guilford policy defined Itself ia terms
of apparent permanence.
Towns along the line-hamlets long
since fallen into the way-station rut
OF Observation-Disclosures with start, be-
stirring themselves joyfully to meet
the inspiriting conditions. At Midland
City, Stephen Hawk, the new right-of-
way agent, ventured to ask municipal
help 10 construct a ten-mile branch
to Lavabee: it was forthcoming
promptly; and the mass meeting, at
which the bond loan was anticipated
by public subscription shouted itself
hoarse in enthusiasm.
At CASTOR, where Hawk asked for a
donation of land wherein the company
might build the Compromised diyis-
ton repair-shops. people fought with
one another to be first among the
donors. And at Juniberg. where the
company proposed TO establish the
frst OF ceries Of grain subtreasuries
warehouses in which the farmers OF
the surrounding country could store
thar pyoduets and boxrQy money On