The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-06-22
CHAPTER XI-

\ Breed had put an enormous
practical benefit: against their appeals
he had put an enormous practical ben
eft: against their attacks he had put
an enormous practical benefit. and the
tide of public favor. springing not
from the printed pages of the morn
ing and afternoon papers, but from lip
to lip set in so strongly In his direc.
ton that IL reached every investor.
Bread at cents-later at cost!
To the victor belongs the spoils, and
the spoils of this war were the prox-
les. Breed succeeded through Kelvin
in that apparently impossible dream of
every railroad man since Stephenson
invented the steam engine-the concen-
tration of every railroad in the United
States under one management. Then
he sent for Rollins.
well, kept my word" said Breed.
~ told you meant to have control
of every mile of railroad in the Unit
ed States. and now have it. have
sent for you to take over their man
agement"
Rollins was pale, and there were
dark rings under his eyes 81 don't
know II ! want II. There Is only one
condition under which | could accept,
and it would be folly in me to expect
you to grant me that"
"You might mention it." observed
Breed dryly.
"The condition is that / may do as
l see At, may work absolutely unham-
pered. Man." he suddenly burst forth,
"you don't know how many years |
have dreamed of this! 1t has been the
ambition of my life to put this great
public utility upon the plane of its
proper relation to the public"
THAT is my own dream" Breed de-
clared
81 find belief difficult" replied Rol-
Inns. Moreover | had imagined that
Mr.. Kelvin here was to have some say
In the matter of management"
Breed smiled and looked at Phillip.
81 have larger work for him." he said.
"Larger!'' exclaimed Rollins. "Can
there be anything bigger than to COM
bine a quarter of million miles Of
railroad. every foot of transportation
highway i'm the United States. under
one economic head. eliminating graft
and waste and putting them all upon
a working basis Of legitimate profit
and public So 'etyp
Breed waved his hand. "Much
larger" said he. This is only an In
cident ! wish you would tell me Just
what reforms you propose instituting.
Mr.. Rollins"
First of ALL" said Rollins earnestly.
reassured. 81 would secure for every
through line 100 pound open hearth
steel rails. made In new mills from
larger ingots. with the cones of i'm
purity cast entirely aside and the COM
pact residue kneaded into a proper con-
sistency by an entirely new system
OF rolls. There are other things that
need TO be done-the establishment Of
perfect block systems. of automatic
brakes and other accident preventing
devices and the abolition of grade
crossings-but the main matter of
public safety rests In perfect rails.
Ten years ago | tried to fight this
proposition, and | nearly succeeded.
The Tallahassee Iron and Coal com.
pany offered to make open hearth rails
to my specifications. The Unified
Steel corporation found that to control
the stock OF the Tallahassee Iron and
Coal company was much cheaper and
more profitable than to spend the
needed millions in re-equipping their
nlant.'
Your first step, then, suppose,
would be TO b <n fight on the Uni
fed Steel corporation" observed Breed.
THAT, in nutshell, is our problem"
declared Rollins s's+~'--a- -----r45
"Your problem is already solved. Mr..
Rollins" said Kelvin. with a smile.
"Mr. Breeds control Of the railroads
has left the Unified Steel corporation
high and dry. Moreover, we have Sc
cured entire control Of the Iroquois
Iron range. and, no matter what the
Unified Steel corporation does, we shall
set up our own rolling mills and make
rails by our own process from our
own ore." a.5~as
But the program will be left entire
ly to your own discretion" interrupted
Breed "You shall have a contract
for one year, renewable for ten years
II your preliminary steps meet with
my approval"
"A1low me to understand" said Roi-
Inns. "In that year am to be abso-
iutely without interference In any
way?"
with two exceptions" replied
Breed. ~ want a private rebate on
all shipments Of bread or cereal stuffs.
Next, here Is a list of names. These
men are not TO be employed in any
capacity nor benefited in any way"
Rollins looked over the list and
smiled. "There isn't man here
whom | would lift a finger to save.
There is not man In that list but has
had an interest In car company,
coupler company, brake company, a
locomotive tire company or some other
manufacturing concern which furnish
ed supplies to his own railroad at
enormous prices. There is to be no