Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-09-24
THE COUNTRY'S NEEDS
More Farms, Fewer Fighting Ma
chimes, Says B. F. Yoakum.
TELLS OF MONEY SQUANDERED

TELLS UF MONEY SQUANDEKED
Chairman Of Rock island Frisco Rail.
road System Declares Money Vast.
cd by Government Would Reclaim
Much Land and Build Many Homes
Expressing the opinion that the Unit
I'd states government would do better
to encourage the development of more
farms instead Of more battleships, B.
r. Yoakum. chairman of the executive
committee of the Rock Island-Frisco
railroad system, recently delivered at
Shawnee, Okla. before the Farmers
union Of Oklahoma a notable address
on the partnership between the rail.
roads and the farmers. He said in
part:
1.-The farmers and the railroads are
natural partners. The first thing in
quired about by an investor in new
railroad securities Is the character of
the country which the road will serve.
II it can be shown that the territory to
be served by the new railroad is good
farming country the greatest trouble
in finding the money to build has been
overcome. On the other hand. the first
question a farmer seeking a location
in q new country asks is. What are
it's railroad facilities?
1.-THE things most needed by the
farmer and the railroad. but which are
neglected, to the detriment of both. are
a better acquaintance and closer work
ing relations. These mutual benefits
can be attained through the officers of
the Farmers union. representing the
producers. and the officers Of the rail-
roads. representing the carriers, deal
ing directly with each other.
This country now needs what our
forefathers used In laying it's founda-
tion-a lot Of old fashioned common
sense.
Farmer Has Good judgment.
Good judgment and fair dealing are
found more generally among farmers
than in persons in other occupations.
and when they earnestly take bold OF
public questions they will occupy a
place in our political structure that Will
make their good judgment and fair
conclusions felt more and more In solv-
ing the relations Of the government
and It's institutions.
1.-THE United States government nine"
teen years ago commenced the con-
struction of the Illinois and Mississippi
canal. Its length is seventy-ave miles.
and 1t has cost to date. with interest
at 3 per cent. over s9.O0o.00O. or $780,
600 per mile. To maintain this canal
In it's present useless condition costs
the countzy's taxpayers $4,000 year.
exclusive Of interest on the Investment.
A freight boat has never passed
through it.
IT mention this to illustrate one IN.
dertaking Of the many which. through
the lack Of system or intelligent plan
ming in advance Of the construction of
our inland waterways. make up the
$s0.OO0,O0O which is referred to by
Commissioner Herbert Knox Smith an
wasted.
THE government has expended ap-
proximately $225. 100000 on the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river and
its tributaries. The tonnage handled
over the waters Of the Mississippi last
year was one-third less than It was
twenty years ago.
Should Make More Farms.
1.-THE story Of government extrava-
gance Of this kind is being told 80
broadly through the newspapers that
the masses are beginning to realize
that something is wrong.
1.-The same disregard of the value Of
money would send the strongest pri-
vate business In this country into bank
ruptcy. A proper use Of the pruning
knife in a downward revision Of ex-
penses would bring surprising results.
1T Is not practicable to itemize where
reductions should be made, but they
must come. The deficit should be
cared for by reducing expenditures and
not by raising taxes to increase rev.
enues.
THE European nations are teaching
us lesson. The controversies in Eng
land. the recent troubles In Spain, the
unrest in Russia. the quarreling over
military taxes in Germany and the
struggle against new taxes In France
should strengthen our faith in the
proposition that 1t is better to grow
more farm products and make pros
porous the man who sows and har-
vests than to build more battleships
and new guns.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson re-
Gently said that the most pressing
needs Of the United States are great
er proportion Of farmers and more