The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

River, and thus brought much OF the
country on this side OF Chicago 10 the
Atlantic Ocean. The price OF transport
ing freight fell from about 500 per ton
70 about S14 a ton. In less than ten
years five short railroads were built
along the canal Later they were con-
solidated and made into a through line
Within FIVE years the consolidated road,
crude and almost ridiculous when COM
pared with the best railways OF to-day.
threatened TO put the Erie Canal out OF
business Indeed serious efforts were
made by q political party % compel the
railroad to increase its rates for carry
ing freight. I have said n my public
addresses that the average price OF car
rying a ton OF freight from Buffalo 10
Albany Is fifty times less than II Was
before the construction OF the Erie Canal.
and ten times less than II was by the
canal before the five little railroads were
made into a single and continuous line.
The public must reflect upon such facts
as I am giving for q fun and accurate
comprehension OF the economic bearing
OF the railroads upon the lives OF the
American people
Thirty years after the completion OF
the Erie Canal corn and oats IN Iowa sold
at from TO 10 cents a bushel. and pork
for cent a pound. Nearly every farmer
was IN debt, and the sheriff was COM
mon visitor at the humble homes Of the
struggling pioneers. I remember that
farmers in Northern Iowa, as late as 1850
hauled the products Of their farms seven
ty-1ve miles 10 the village Of McGregor.
on the Mississippi River. When the bill
was up in Congress donating land 70 the
projectors OF q railroad from Cairo to
Chicago. it was stated by such men as
Henry Clay. Stephen A Douglas. and
Thomas II. Benton that the lands had
been en- the market for twenty-three
years at SIS an acre. but that no one
wanted them NJ any price. because. as
Clay and Douglas said. they are Ear dis
tant from market Benton called them
refuse lands. and declared that In some
Instances they were jungles for wild
beasts that prey upon the hocks and
/ herds Of the few scattered settlers.
Pays Well for Grants.
I'VE still hear now and then" Mr.
Brown continued TO say. about the in
iquities involved in the early grants OF
lands To railroad corporations. The grant
TO the Illinois Central, favored by Clay.
/ Douglas. and Benton. amounted 10 250O, ,oOC
acres. and was valued at S9.25O,o00. In
/ consideration OF the grant the railroad
was required TO pay Z per cent Of its gross
| earnings each year, for all time TO come,
| Into the treasury Of the State Of Illinois.
/ Down TO the year 190S the total sum so
paid WIS S27.Oo0O0O. The payment IN 1907
alone was 81, 200. 900; in IyOS II was even
more: this year Il viii be greater stIIl.
and the increase viii continue with the
/ growth Of business until the end OF time
/ I speak oI land donations simply to show
that they were willingly given. and that
they were not only of immense benefit to
the people because they made the build
/ ing Of railroads possible, but that the
bargains OF Congress were neither con-
trary TO the rules OF good business nor
the public interest.
/ Worthless lands. with the building OF
railroads, became valuable and, therefore
/ Immediately salable. Oats IN Iowa ceased
20 bring but S cents g bushel, and pork
was worth considerably more than Z
penny a pound IN short. the amazing
/ development Of the greatest country on
/ the globe and in all history can bs
attributed very largely TO a splendid sys-
/ TEN OF railway transportation. Macau.
/ lay. the English historian and essayist
truly said that OF all inventions. tht
I alphabet and printing press alone eX'
! cepted. those inventions that abridse dis
] tance have done most for the civilization
of our species,' and no other Instrumental
/ Ky approaches the railroad in the abridg.
Ing or annihilation Of distance.
All in Our Day.
The Chicago. Burlington and Quincy
Railroad, as II is nov called. was begur
/ L..