The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-24
ROOSEVELT TO URGE
CONTROL OF ROADS IN |
NEAR FUTURE, AGAIN
Strong Recommendation Likely
to Be Sent to Congress
Sooner Than Expected.

W.aaiugtuH. -. g.. Jan. 22.--JameS
J IIIll say. tn" railroads OF United
S.at"s need Si.0r0.00 900 for new roads
ma Improving the present ones.
ia'"rstui. commerce Commissioners.
IA rlau says IA. country needs $780,
900 dnn expended 10 making Its INTERNAL
waterways capable Ia relieving the tire,
m' nduus pressure az traffic.
Mr. Hlll complains that there II not
uguusy enough ia the country To make
II possible Z" meet the requirements OF
iu" railroads
Commissioner Harlan thinks there I'm
uu difficulty about getting the neces-
sary MONEY ." meet transportation ext
nCiHs.
why" said tho commissioner. who
.sas recently been investigating tho
nu" shortage and other railroad
troubles. we went 20 Minneapolis 70
study conditions. and were told that
IN railroads couldn't keep up with the
development 81 business They told us
u how IN" railroads used 10 drive away
lh" Indians as they advanced their linesl
u'r "a" wilderness. They were built.
Tar ahead ~ IN" demands OF business
Nuwa3J y~. they seem To have taken an
thor view uf 90" situation: business.
.gs grown az o. them, and they have
nr'utly adopted the policy OF do
INK their beast q" care for IL. but aban-l
toned the idea 81 Iccping ahead OF It,
Wiz Many ciphers.
Thu Northern Pacific. we were told
nus set aSid" $4,000 900 To pay for
lvublc tracking, new terminals, equip
m-nt. everything that the growth OF
business has made necessary. The
Pennsylvania, q single road touching
Z limited section of the country. on top
u the Immense investments Il has
made In expansion la recent years. has
lust announced another addition or
S2UO. OOC. 900 To it, Cupitalization. I'm or
der to rails" money for still moro In
Cr"tScs ur its facilities. That isn't n
great amount for "a great railroad sys-
TEN Ia spend. but suppose such m
amount Were devoted To internal water
way improvements. II would mean that,
the great Mississippi system OF rivers
would b" made capable OF handling the
excess az business that II now crowd.
ing tn" railroads beyond their capacity.
There H. almost mo- limit To the freight
carrying capacity OF those great
streams. II IL were developed by wise
Improvement"
This L. "A far fetched idea, apparently.
In view 10 ia" fact that none OF the
present troubles could possibly DO
charged In any way To the new rate
law. The rate law didn't shorten the
supply ~ ears ar longest terminals
with them. IL didn't make fewer en-.
-
even make more freight for tho rail-
roads To- handle. says Mr.. Harlan.
Government Regulation.
There IL one feature To President
IIilrs demand for 5000, 100000
however. that Is regarded as hav-
ing bearing ON the question OF govern
m.ut regulation OF railroads. II In be-
ginning To bo asked whether the man.
ayers az the railroads now fairly en-.
tered upon "A great epoch OF better
m.nt. extension. rebuilding, shall be
allowed to raise the money as they
please, and issue whatever capital
iZltion they like. The impression IN In
authoritative government circles. that
the process OF injecting water into
railroad securities is being pushed
further and faster by certain interests
than H. safe or desirable. IL In known
that President Roosevelt has had his
own attention attracted To this con-
ditiOn. and that he considers IL grave
Indeed there IN good authority for
the statement tat the president would
bc glad To- have some legislation passed
which would vest In some government
authority tho power 10 prevent issues
pr railroad capital except on assurance
that II was needed and that the money
thus raised would be invested In the
property. and In such a manner AZ Co
bc useful. That there Will be recon-
incubation OF legislation TO this end.
sooner than most people imagine, Is
broadly intlmutcd.