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

After al their lean years fu1 of
felt that they were entitled to cen
erous treatment and reasoua bic
share Of the prosperity with which
the people were blessed
struggles Which Brought Abuses.
But the rapid construction OF rail-
roads and the s1rugEis for business
necessary to maintain them had
brought IN it's train certain abuses
for which the railroads were only in
part responsible, and without giving
them a reasonable time TO work ont :
satisfactory solution OF the urobIeu7
and open Pronunciation followed IN
rapid succession and IN the latter
part of 1906 a storm Of UNSURPASSED
violence broke upon the railroads re-
sultinS in the passage Of numerous
laws in practically al the states of
the Union the tendency of which was
TO curtsfI~ their revenues, increase
their expenses. and seriously en-
barrass them in the operation of their
properties The intense feeling of
hostility which existed at that time
has TO a very large extent subSided-
bur has not entirely disappeared
But there were other eubarrass-
rueues which followed IN the wake of
traffic increased 50 rapidly that a
practical rebuilding of many of the
roads was necessary More main and
side tracks were needed larger ter
mfnaI facilities and more equip
meut In the economical operation
of the railroads It was found ueces-
sary to haul longer trains This
necessitated larger locomotives
heavier rails more substantial road
beds. stronger bridges
From July L. 1885 to June 80,
IS0s-teu year-the Hartman lines,
including Union Pacific. Southern
Oregon Railroad & Navigation com
pany. expended for betterments the
sum of sIIS,40S, 304-70- In addition
there was expended for new equip
ment the sum Of S35-000-000- making
q grand total of S14S.4GS-3G4
impossible to Secure Railway Material
So great was the demand for rail-
road material during the period
referred to, that the factories of the
country. were overtaxed and it was
impossible for them to fill orders on
time \ delay Of six months or a
year IN the furnishing OF supplies
was the rule, and in many instances
It was absolutely impossible to get the
material at all recall 4 long delay
in the construction OF a branch line
because Of the inability of the com
pany 10 get spikes Everything else
was ready, but for the want Of spikes
the construction Of the road had to
wait
Ii was also impossible 10 get a
sufficient number of men TO do the
work With traffic congested, with &
market unable to supply the needed
CONTINENT or material for track ex-
tensions and improvements, II was
i'm possible TO operate the roads adj
vantazeousIy. or TO make the net
earnings which the extent Of the
traffic seemed TO justify
Since the panic Of 1907, however
this condition no longer exists The
volume Of traffic declined and the
railroads were given an opportunity
TO increase their facilities
Railroads Not Uniustly Criticized
Far be II from me TO claim that
railroad Arrangements were not justly
subject TO criticism and that reguA- {
tive measures were not necessary or
proper
As long as railroads are operated |
by human beings. their management
Is subject TO the errors and mistakes
common to mankind and perfection 1
cannot be expected. But the extreme |
exhibited towards them dur /
ing the past five years was unfa1r 4
and cannot be justified
Railroad critics lost sight for the
time being Of the great debt the eouu-
Try owes to the men who contested
Kansas by rail with every market III
the United States. and made II pos
,fbIe for the farmer living in the in
terror Of the country TO sell MS
products in New York and Boston IN
,ompetftion with the farmers OF New
England and the middle states, who
i've within 4 radius Of two hundred
niles of those cities, who made II
possible for a resident of your capital
.ftv to. travel to Chicago in q night,
md TO New York in 90 hours
Railroads Ask Privilege OF Living /
They lost sight Of the fact that the
were the greatest single fac
Or IN the remarkable development and /
uctive state and that all the rail-
oads now ask Is the privilege OF Hv-
1g and growing and OF making
sasonahIe profit on their investment
1orm0us sums Of money great cour-
&c. ard a boundIesS supply Of euergv
nd perseverance to construct and put
! operation over eco miles OF rail-
bad stretching from ocean 20 ocean,
nd reaching every portion of our great
atom and that II takes time and
-isdom and patience 10 adjust condi-
OuS 50 that all causes OF criticism
-om shippers and travellers VIII De re-
lOVed- It cannot be done in a day
nd any body Of men, I care not with
hat extensive powers they may be :
.othed, will find that years of pains
liking care viii have to be given 10
le work II It IS sought to remove all
rounds of coupaiut against railroads.
nd even then there viii be many per
lus Stfu dissatisfied and finding
auIt-
'rinc1paI Cause of Complaints Gone.
The principal causs Of complaint
zafust the railroads was the matter
rebates Rebates should never have
zen given and the practice has been
.Sconrinusd- No one was more auxi-
Is 10 stamp out the custom than the /
sfIrOads themselves, but they were
0werIess 70 do 50 without the aid of
giSTaEiCn- The situation was not IN
ke that which existed in this state
" 50 many years with respect to
our tax laws It was well known that
Il property should be taxed at its act
Try. tia