Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-02-24
WOULD A RAILWAY COMMISSION RETARD
RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION?

p WOULD A RAILWAY COMMISSION RETARD
i RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION?
The principal argument OPPOSITION a rail-
commission of
mileage Idaho is undeveloped state There urgent
need railroads magnificent
We told that the creation of railroad commission would
drive out railway capital seeking investment block the
wheels of commercial We read this
every hand and from If this statement
med to unchaenged it will be accepted merely
cause of its persistent reiteration.
During the late campaign certain communities railway
officers promised branches and extensions the election
right that there would be adverse legislation The
principal railroad Southern Idaho distributed every sta
tion pamphlet insisting that railway commissions
states dscouagng railroad building Texas was pointed
out conspicuous example be that
has farther the matter of railroad regulation than
other union railroad can water it's stock or
give away its bonds in Texas And from the standpoint of
railroad watering of stock necessary and
important element in railway construction.
Mr. Smoot Of Idaho Falls advances the same proposition
in an article published in the Statesman January 6th 1911 By
singular irony there appeared the issue of the
paper indeed the side of the Sheet literally
but not otherwise backing Mr. Shoots argument certain
cs of railway building for the year 1910 showing that
built miles Of railroad than any other and more than
all OF the states the union combined which have railroad
commissions Texas also first in 1909.
Six ago Washington created commission with
tenslve Railroad officials and their friends had fore
told dire disaster the The has been one of
the ables IN the country Their 1910 report demonstrates
saving the people of the state of than two million dollars
What has been the result to railroad building?
In 1905 Washington had 1917 miles road: in 1910 had
increased 516S miles, During wears preceding
the COMMISSION there had been built 700 mesan of
~ miles During the first five years with commission
there have been built 1891 mes-neary year In
1910 Washington stood at the head of all the
railroad building except Texas 1t also 1909
Next to Texas and Washington North Dakota another
railroad commission state with 300 miles of lines to its
credit Then along with Idaho Minnesota state whose
railway law model and whose national
reputation for ability and efficiency And the line
including in their Oregon South Dakota California and
Oklahoma all of which have railroad copre
lensive authority.
Paradoxica though it may SEEM results demonstrate
hat the best railroad building place the
loads under the supervision and regulation of authority
encourages roads to discover that they be
I'd out by parallel lines by unfair competition by runous
ates at competing points maintained by the high of
competing points State legislation insure new
Dads deal in the for territory business and
encourages legitimate railway investments
Along the Snake River in Lincoln County vast irrga
ion projects the greatest in all Idaho There splendid
opportunity for railroad there many other sec
Of the state Capital Interested the 90
niles was built from Jerome Goodng The outlook very
promising The field attractive investors The
make River Valley felt the exhaation progress and evel
pement Suddenly all changed The construction GANGS
dischargedthe wheels stood still Was it because of
threatened adverse legslaon Mol Did investor lose CON
dence in Idaho Not at ALL The Oregon Short Line
the construction of parallel road and the new line
every town Exhorban profits have usually both the
and the nduement crowd rivals for hus
ess.
The complaint that railway regulation would retard railway
uildng first heard in the 70s Wisconsin Illinois
and Minnesota enacted known as their Granger
egsaton The injurious results to the railroads and to the
untry persseny advanced by railway men, However
to quote the figures they would demonstrate that
Granger states developed in railway construction more
pidy than those wherein there at
I'd enjoyed much lower rates.
Those opposing railway commission frequent ue of
homely illustration They remind of old recipe for
bbt fry: First catch your rabbit fry out the fat We
oud not put the screws on railroad capital until largo
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