The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-03


I y. H LOOMS. Formerly Of Topeka. y,
Union Pacific RaiIxs
spousibIIity which accompanies the ex-
ercLse OF such great power.
Il as I believe the newspapers are
the controlling factors IN Determining
the policies OF government Il IS equal
" true that the railroads constitute BY
far the most effective force in the in
sent the greatest investment Of capital
they are the largest EMPLOYERS OF
lsbor-and the greatest purchasers OF
material and supplies Their prosper
ity, as well as their adversely. IS i'm
EedIately reflected in the material con-
dItion OF the whole people and all other
business enterprises
Effect Of Railway Retrenchnenr.
The total Of ordinary expenditures
OF the United States government for
the year 1901 was s57s $50 5G2 The
amounts paid by the railroads TO EN-
pIOEes only for the year ending June
s9 $50. vas nearly twice as much, or
Ssto, su1-6o3. while the total sums paid
by the railroads for all purposes was
nearly four times great being 81
IS7-z1S, 40 Compel the reduction Of
railroad earnings TO such an extent that
the wages Of employees must be lower
ed and the effect viii be Immediately
1eLL oy merchants II practically every
city and village in the United States.
purchasing steel products. ties. Ium-
Der coal cement. tools. and the thou
sands OF other articles necessary in I
the operation OF railroads. viii cause a {
shr1nkage n nearly every commercial
enterprise The railroad business can
not be unfairly treated or adversely T
affected without Producing correspond
tEg results upon the material interests I
Of the whole people Therefore IN at
tempting 70 correct soCaIIed railroad !
abuses II should not be done IN d spirit
OF hostility Or yf1dictiEeuess or with I
a narrow view OF the situation but the
NEST ruadnindeG liberal uzanx.er. with ],
the utmost patience and care and /
through the L1SCruu5UCaIity Of the wis
est and most experienced Individuals
the people can cal TO their assistance
Railroads Not Responsible for An.
plea for fair play Is frequently met
with the statement that the railroads
are responsible for all their troubles
that their conduct entities them TO mol
consideration and that fair pIayt
should not be extended TO them
Admit the aCCusation-stTI the con-
clusiOus do not follow Whatever
their past they should. as a ueces-
sary fundamentally OF commerce, be
treated with justice and wisdom But :
l do not admit the accusations On thet :
contrary 7 affirm THAT the advent !
growth and development of the railroad :
IN the United States has been more :
country itself. that they have been 50 + :
honestly and fairly administered as the I
ordinary business affairs Of the FARM :
ers. merchants and manufacturers OF / ?
this nation. and more efficiently. and i
that many OF the abuses Of which COM 7
paint IS made are directly traceab bic tOH {
the people themselves :
The First and Later Railroads
The pioneer American railroad built :
for general use was the Baltimore < !
Onlo- The company was chartered IN :
1877. and construction was BEGIN in :
ls2s- The first rail was laid on July 4 !
-eZS, BY Charles Carroll the ouIv Tfviuet :
74saer OF ele Declaration OF Iudepeud-I {
7uce- In 1880 II had l. miles open- fori ?
traffic The total railroad Mileage in
that year was "a In 1S49 there wereI :
sis miles IN operation radIatfng from ?
rites along the Atlantic coast DIriugi :
The period from 1870 70 1856. the fncus-l
-ria1 development Of the country was
Slow, but the railroad mileage fu-t .
creased 70 S,e21, the increase being 4
arEAy N the New England states
JuEy three important lines were start
I'd II the middle west during this del
-ade- From 1850 70 1860 railroad con
sIructIo1 went forward with leaps and
pounds In 1858 II was possible TO
travel from New York 70 Chicago by
All In 1854 travel could be extended
from Chicago TO the Mississippi rivert
n 1850 the mileage had reached so 655I
Nd MED fairy wei the territory east
ines extending short distances beyond
L was IN the decade between 1850 and
500 that the short lines Heretofore
constructed began the process OF con-
so1dat1on, and 70 form themselves Tutot
ru1k INES Originally eleven CON-
'&u1eS owned and operated the rail- /
.oSacs now comprising the New York
central line between Albany and Buf-
40 Railroad construction was inter Z
ere0 with by the panic Of 1857 and
nere4rIer oy the civil war After the
var railroad construction again abb
ng OF lines TO ard beyond Missouri rfv-
T points was taken Up in earnest
On May 8, 1868. the Union Pacific and
-enlral Pacific railroads were united in
ne vicinity Of Ogden. Utah and theE
irst line TO the Pacific was completed
n 1870 the mileage had reached - 81
IND construction in Kansas was Justt
aIr1y begun From 1870 TO 1873 rail-
os-o construction was very rapid but
as practically stopped by the panic oil
Later on. construction was resumed
he roads continuing TO push westward
Id BY 1850 there were 80 SO miles of
.csres- this includes large mileage in
Kansas d
From 1850 70 1880. 10000 miles OF
we're constructed in the
rIE6G SEzte@G marvellous achfeEe-E
lenC within ten years the people
the United States built as many
--Les OF railroad as the people Of the
1ree leading Countries Of Europe had
- I