Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-12

W.
to expend $50 900, 900 in improvements
such as have been outlined at. once.
THE Northern Pacific will spend as
much or more These systems must
be. double-tracked, grades cut down,
curVatures lessened, terminals en-
larged. AS IT always has stood, SO the
Northwest will continue to stand, SO
the Northwest will continue to stand,
in the face Of a new era, at the front
in the fields of railroad construction
land operation. It's transportation
tagencies will, if permitted, grapple
with and master the conditions that
are threatening to smother industry;
Ito stop the circulation of its blood
and paralyze all its wholesome func
tons. What else is required?
| No such enterprise as this, cover
ing an empire 1000 miles long, deal
| ing with the fortunes of several mil
lion people, affecting industries most
.
Jealous and diverse, calling for a
credit of hundreds of millions with in
vestors, can be achieved successfully
except with the hearty sympathy and
support of the people, 1t is, after all,
| their work. They are partners in it,
They share the benefits, as witness
this very prosperity which the build
ling of railroads has so powerfully
promoted. Nothing great and endur-
| ing was ever accomplished in this
world by a house divided against it
| self. And never was there a time
when fairness, Intelligent appreciation
of conditions and willing support on
the part of the people were so neces-
sary or promised to them SO large a
return as now.
The people should tolerate no In
justice where it has been proved to
exist, They should insist upon Just
and equal treatment. They should not
cherish unreasoning hostility against
partner in the firm; for by no posi-
bic action can the partnership be-
tween the people and the railroads be
dissolved. The roads il may be
harassed in the performance Of their.
great task by unjust and unreasoning
attacks; they may be hampered o,
even forced to discontinue their work
Of Improvement; they may very easily
and this most important of all
through the weakening Of faith in all
railroad investments, because the BUSH
ness is always under fierce fire. find
credit SO impaired among investors
that the huge sum to be spent for the
peoples interest cannot be obtained.
The American people are surely too
fair, too sane, have too much appre-
citation of their highest interests for
that. For they, after all, would be the
chief sufferers.
Though it deals in big figures and
with partially unfamiliar terms, the.
whole situation is essentially simple.
The cause of a malady creeping over
business is discovered; the remedy is
at hand. It can be applied success
fully only by a close cooperation, by
mutual tolerance, understanding,
good faith and instinct of heIpfulness
that shall put an end to the hostile
attitude and forbid the endless itera-
ton of indictments whose work, at
best. can only be destructive. The
big task before the American people.
before the people of the Northwest.
can be performed only by the laying
aside OF old differences. the ceIebra-
ton Of new compact of amity, the.
hearty pull together Of the two part
ners and allies the people themselves
and the railroads. In what spirit and
with what action shall this emergency
be met?