The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-02
RAILROAD NEWS.
Chairman Yoakum Censures
Hasty Law Making.
Says Agitation Has Caused Loss
to Railways.
TEDDY is NOT BLAMED
Hopes Next President Will Re
More Conservative, However.
other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.
TEDDY is NOT BLAMED

Chairman Yoakum of the Rock Ia
land Frisco lines made a address ba.
fore st. Louis railroad meeting. Mr..
Yoakum's address in part follows.
The president of your ORGANIZATION
IN extending his invitation to me to
De present on this occasion. srfpulat-
ed that I would not be expected to
make a speech, but only a tall
therefore. hope there will be nothins
more expected of me than a pIain
talk with my old home friends upon
the railroad situation of today asI
see 1t.
All the states and territories of the
union, barring the New ENGLAND
states, need more railroads. The fact
that passenger can take his choice
OF five different well-equipped rail-
roads between st. Louis and Chicago.
OF eight different lines to Kansas CITY
or the great west and northwest
through that gateway; of five differ-
ent lines leading to the southwest
through Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana.
Oklahoma and Texas; of six lines to
Cleveland, Cincinnati and Louisville.
or leading through these gateways to
the great cities Of the east and south
east, naturally gives the feeling that
the country is well supplied with
transportation facilities, but this is
not true.
The state of Missouri requires more
railroads to hasten its advancement.
me new state OF Oklahoma has only
one-half of its territory supplied. The
state OF Arkansas-the resources of
which are abundant-has been slow
in the construction of railroads, and
therefore backward in the develop
ment of it's rich undeveloped re-
sources, while Texas needs, and needs
badly, 10000 miles of new road to
encourage its proper expansion. And
SO it goes. from the great lakes to
the northwest, and from the Missis-
sippi river through the middle west
to the Pacific slope.
Take as a dividing line the Missis-
sippi river, with its splendid CONNER
cial cities. extending from st. Paul
to New Orleans; the vast territory
lying west Of the river comprises 60
per cent of the entire area Of the
United States, not including Alaska,
while of our 100000 miles of rail-
road. about 125, 900 miles are located
to the east of the river and los, 900
miles to the west.
This increased mileage west of the
Mississippi not only means the de-
velopment Of that rapidly growing
country, but with it will come the
deepening of the waterway of the
Mississippi river. And. in this con-
nection I wish to say that the rail-
roads Of this country are not, as far
DIS my kuOWlGQS0 0At0HOS, opposed TO,
but are in favor OF the improvement
of our waterways to aid and econo-
mize in the movement of its traffic.
Hasty Laws Blamed.
The situation of today is a peculiar
one; in many ways a serious one, and
one that every thoughtful citizen must
give due consideration, as the coun-
try is passing through an unusual
siege of agitation and uncertainty.
nf he nj
Of our country, the heads of many of
the great financial institutions of for
eign countries, and the able editorial
writer's of our press, have described
the various causes that contributed to
and brought about the business diff
f1culties we are now facing, and the
public is becoming we'll informed
upon the subject. The consensus Of
opinion is that the trouble has been
precipitated largely by too hasty en-
actment of laws, resulting in the dis
continuance Of railroad construction,
the suspension of Industrial activity,
factory development and a curtail
ment Of markets for the farm pro-
ducts.
President Roosevelt should not be
held responsible for these objection
able laws, although they may have
rect abuses, and which have been ell
minated from our business methods.
On the contrary, he should be given
due credit for what he has accom-
plished in the direction of the regula-
ton Of railroads through the enforce
ment of laws heretofore allowed to go
unenforced, and the enactment of new
laws.
The wages Of the railroad employees
have not been reduced from the stand
ard which was adopted one year ago.
I hope they will not be, as good wages
with plenty of work make better times
for all and a stronger feeling of CO.
operation between the railroads and
their working partners. This great
army of over 100000 railroad employees
should for their own mutual protection
as we'll as in justice to the properties
with which they are identified. mani
fest intense interest in any action cal
culated to call a halt upon further
onslaughts upon the cash receipts or
earning power of the railroads, 43 cents
out of every dollar of which goes to the
employees.
{ Losses by Railroads.
l do not intend to burden you with
figures, but this year the gross earn
ings of the railroads of the country are
showing approximately Is per cent de-