Semi-weekly herald., 1909-08-23
MORE FARMERS WHAT
COUNTRY REALLY NEEDS

iOhA m "f'SNf
COUNTRY REALLY NEEDS
b. F. Yoakum. chairman of the Rock
Island executive committee, In AN ad-
ion of Oklahoma, at Shawnee, depre.
Gated the growing expense which the
United States government is inourring
i in maintaining the army and the navy
OF the Mississippi valley and the west
are stronger military defenses than
warships."
Mr.. Yoakums subject was "The
Farmer and the Railroad" He strong
H. advocated good roads as means of
bringing the carrier and the producer
| closer together. He said, in part:
THE farmers and the railroads are
you to tell you how you should run
your farms. nor to discuss uplift the
ories of country life, but to exchange
views and to promote Intelligent CO
| operation
This country now needs what our
forefathers used In laying its founda.
| tion--a lot of old-fashioned common
sense, AS matter of comparison, let
u for n moment look at this country's
transportation as handled by the gov
eminent and by the railroads. The
splendid railroad system of the United
| States, superior, as 1t is, to any In
the world, speaks for itself, but how
| about water transportation. for which
the government is responsible?
Herbert Knox s.n:th of the de
partment of commerce and labor In
recent report says that this govern.
ment has built about $500 miles of
canals, and that more than half, cost
ing over $S0,O00,000, has been aban.
doned
THE United States government, 10
years ago, commenced the construc-
tion of the Illinois and Mississippi ca
nal, Its length is rs miles, and 1t has
cost to date, with interest at 3 per
cent. over S9,00O.000, 100000 per mile
To maintain this canal in its present
useless condition costs the countrys
taxpayers 100000 year, exclusive of
interest on the investment. A freight
boat has never passed through it.
THE government has expended ap.
proximately s225,O00,OOO 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 1t was
30 years ago. Figuring interest on the
S225,0OO,O00 of tax money expended,
each ton of last years shipment by the
Mississippi river and its tributaries
cost the taxpayers 9G cents ton In
interest, in addition to the freight
charges.
Il have on several occasions urged
the improvement of the Mississippi
river and ! am not now talking against
II but only illustrating the unbusness.
Ike and slip-shod manner in which
the government is carrying ON Its en-.
terprises in handling the business of
its stockholders. who are the taxpayer
This extravaganza is the result of
Increasing expensive political machin.
cry
I'VE should have substantial but
economically conducted army and
navy. The area OF all Europe is only
S,5OOO00 square miles, The area of
the United States is 5000. 900 square
miles, In Europe there are five acres
TO one person. In this country there
are % acres to each person, and If
our development is again permitted
to go on and our country to grow and
expand as ii should. we need not fear
war with any country or combination
OF countries.
Il am not speaking against the
army and navy. only calling attention
to the growing expense of maintain.
ing them. Last year they cost each
family of five SIT. so every farmer
with a family or five has govern.
ment boar6er TO take care of.
The European nations are teaching |
us lesson. The controversies in |
England, the recent troubles In Spain |
The unrest in Russia, the quarre,ins
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
tn, man who sows and har.
vests than to build more battleships
and new guns.