The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-25
Poor and content, Is rich and
rich cnouEil.-Shakcspen
ALTERNATIVES.

SS Amid the clash OF state ana Fedefal
courts and above the roars Of political
demagogues who are talking railroad
rates with tile same vocitcration and
ignorance that they have shown on
SO many other occasions. tho public
should keep steadily in mind the fact
that the prime need of this country IS
Better facilities for transportation. The
Times-Dispatch is in receipt CT a re-.
pert from an exceptionally capable OBJ
server showing that the condition of
wheat in the Northwest is Well up
to the average Already there are
900 cars loaded with wheat on the
lines of the Northern Pacific alona
awaiting transportation. Until these
cars reach market the farmer wilt rot
& get the full value of his crop. Taking
ar average carload as 500 bushels,
there are 100000 bushes Of wheat
lying on the sidings on the Northern
round numbers this is worth s3,2o0,o0o
and at per cent. the loss OF inter-
est per day is $3.50. while the hindrance
to trade Is proportionately very much
s. greater. There is no complaint from
the Northwest that the rates are ex-
orbitant. The chief criticism has Ell
ways been that the rates were dis
criminatory Now that tho secret re-
bate and unjust favoritism las been
practically eliminated by the Interstate
u n
burn bill the concern of the farmer
ard merchant is almost soiely With
III the problem Of transportation. What
the business interests need IS better IA
cilities. more cars. more engines. longe1
sidings better depots and speedier SER
vice. To obtain Those advantages. tbs
railr ,ads must have money and II
seems very cleafs- THAT .she people are
beginning to ''moilller whether it is
necessary, in order to prevent uniust
reads as to destroy their capacity fol
borrowing.
What is true of the Northwest Il
equally true OF the South Atlanti
States. No sectioa CT the country ha
ilsde the same proportionate develop
n,ent as the South in the last. tw,
decades The Gotten and lumber mill.
the coal mines and iron furnaces, tn
sugar cane, corn and cotton fields, tn
output of cotton mills ard Tobacco
manufactured and manufactured, al
oil clamorng for better transportatio
facilities, and the public Will have the.
facilities at all hazards; for on bette
transportation facilities depeads the c.
pa9ity of this country to Keep up i
present progress and to compete su
cessfully with its foreign rivals.
There is nothing new in any of TIL
discussion, and The Times Dispatch
only led to advert to these simple fac
because Of the disposition on the pa
OF many to overlook the connects
Between good transportation and c
tension of the principle Of STATE soci;
ism. We take ii that 1t Is clearly t
opinion o. this country that Cover
snent ownership of railroads viii be
hazardous II rot disastrous cXue rhine
On the other hand, it is definitely {
termined that the public intend to
4ga crcise the right of reasonable cont
over the transportation conpnnies
these rights had been admitted in
more liberal spirit by the ralro
when they were FIRST Justly as0er,
Sstgsa vast deal Of railroad policies, pul
tisgust and VIDE animosity would h
been ayerted. The Times-Dispaich, st
for a reasonable regulation Of r
roada when those companies we're
clering their self sIfflciency and "
openly fouting IL hoodWinking
& people in their efforts to assert
5sI rii ciple OF reasonable regulation
because the railrpads Fsowed The v
there is no season why the pu
should reap the whiIlwind 8. the oil
wise Inevitable conseauenees can
avoided.
The situation ~ North Caro-
shows what unreasonng ;nimo
sr,ag be awakened ny The failure to
aLsty on beth sidcs. Doubtless