The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-18
POWERFUL PLEA
FOR RAILROADS
Stilwcll Asks for a Square Deal
on the Rate Qucs
ton.
PIC T URlE sc ON DlTI0N S
Companies Are Not Allowed to
Take Just Earnings From
Investments.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. /

Especial to The Times Dispatoh.I
New York. September 1I.-Arthur
Edward Stilwell. president of the
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Rail-
way, in an interview to-day made Il
powerful plea for the railroads OF the
the rate question which he stoutly
maintains is necessary to the business
welfare OF the nation.
I'VE need business man ut the
head of the government of this pro-
gressive republic" said MIR. Stilwell.
MIR Taft is splendid gentleman.
with fine judicial mind, but hts en-
perience with law books could not
have been such as to give hi.n a cor
rect understanding of the Industrial
needs of the United States. Only an
organizer--a so-calicd captain or II.
dnstry-represented by such typcs az
the late Marshall Field, George NJ.
Pullman. Henry Westinghouse or AM
drew Carnegie. in my opinion. would
have the business Judgment 10 guide
tic country clear of the f1narciaI dis
turbances which are constant menace
TO our growth
MIR. StiIwell Is recognized here and
abroad as one OF the most remarl.,tie
figures In the transportation world.
He has been president OF three great
railroads. and lie always worked IN,
dependently of Wall street. Recently
he turned author and wrote a book
dealing with the unsettled condition
of business, which he called "Copti-
dence, or National Suicide?" Five edi-
lions have already been published, ana
for the sixth edition three new chap
ters have been written, the titles of
which are what Is Water?"
.'fhreateninr storms Can BE Averted,'
e, al font tppS
On the Other side of Fcncc.
In discussing his campaign in hc-
half of the railroads, Mr.. Stilwe!l said:
Il will admit that state laws enable
the State Railroad Commission to- re-
duce railroad rates and take from cap
ital. which Is tied down and cannot get
away. Just earnings But while we are
considering the so-callcd swollen val
ues of the railroads look on the other
side of the fence.
Land values in Kansas have risen in
the last ten years by leaps and bounds
due a great deal TO the splendid rail-
road systems. Kansas has 52,iS0.000
acres of land There Is no doubt that
1t has risen in value SIS per acre on an
average. but call the increase $40 per
acre, this is an advance in land values
In ten years of S524,S00,0oo. Is this
swollen value?
''If it is fair for the farmer to have
earnings on these increased values, it
IS certainly fair for the railroads also
10 have at least the same rate for
freight per mile per ton that they had
ten years ago, when corn was half the
value that it is now.
Ut seems only fair that the railroads
should want TO share in this increased
prosperity And why not: Is not cap
+ ital in railroads entitled to share in
the prosperity. as well as capital in
vested in lands?
II predict that If you attempt to
thwart these laws or just compensa-
ton for all alike you will see condi-
lions arise that will put land values
back and reduce prosperity in every
State
Quoting extracts from the unpub-
lished chapters OF his book, Mr.. Still.
well added:
TT is claimed that the railroads are
public necessities II we admit this.
surely the capital that creates public |
necessities should have as fair a chance |
as money invested in retail or whole
sale trade.
1T is mighty easy to pass laws which
pass railroad over to a railroad COM |
mission to run and regulate the road |
as the commission pleases.
Would BE Vast Waste
II the present railroad restrictions
had been enatted te,f years ago there
would now BE Vast. unoccupied empires
In the West, given over to the cowboy
The juck rabbit and coyote. where to-
day are TO be found beautiful cities
and millions OF people"
MT Stillwell proudly declares that
the greatest satisfaction he had ever
obtained out of his profession OF build
sns railroads was in projecting a trans
portatlon line into a new and undevel-
nped country and watching the busi-
ness growth which was cure to follow.
Mr.. Sulwell makes this suggestion
as means III remedSing the conditions
ne considers unfavorabie for railroads.
am In favor of controlling rail-
roads by a fixed policy. making the re-