The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-09-26
HERBERT QUICK TELLS CONStR-
VATlON CONGRESS OF lMPOR-
TANCE TO FARMERS.
FARMERS BUILD RAILROADS
lowan Says Not Only the Farmers's
Profit, but the General Cost of LiV-
ing Is Determined by the Freight.
Rates.

Kansas City Mo-, Sept 26.-That
the future of the United States as an
agricultural country depends upon a
closer relation between the farmer
and the railroads was the g,st of an
address before the National Conserra-
uOn Congress here today by Herbert
Quick, OF Madison, Iowa, editor of
a farm journal Mr.. Quick said, while
the relations between the farmers and
the railroads are not always amicable,
il was the farmers who really built
the railroads and We're then neatly
beaten out of their interests
Mr.. Quick placed emphasis upon
freight rates as an index not only
to the farmers profit but to the gen
,eral cost of living. He charged that
railways in fixing rates often con-
nived with great population centers
to the detriment of smaller cities ami
the country in general.
Mr.. Quick enumerated several in
stances of cooperation between far
mer and railway, of the introduction
Of improved breeds of live stock along
the lines of his system by President
Hill of the Great Northern, Of the
maintaining of demonstration farms
on Long Island by the Pennsylvania.
and of the running of educational
trains for the purpose of bringing
agricultural science into touch with
the farmers Railway aid to agricul-
ture, he said, has grown to be fash
ion.
But air these fine things he con
tinued. "have been done and are still
being done with an eye single to ton
mage We may trust the enlightened
selfishness of good business to push
this sort of activity to the limit Of
its profit. But i'll the great task or
conservation do the railways owe any
duty to the farms beyond what they
are now performing? This phase has
yet to be worked out.
THE greatest transportation facts
faced by the American people is the
problem of developing remote parts
of the country If the building of
national system of waterways be re-
sorted to, the aid of the railways must
still be demanded if success is to be
obtained.
The railways of the United States
have enormously retarded agricultural
Developments and added to the eN
pense of living, but permitting the
lodgment in our TRANSFORMATION sys-
TEN of that industrial parasite, the
express company. The express com
panies perform practically no func-
tons which do not belong to the rail
ways. Every dollar of the huge prof
its which the express companies make
is a burden upon industry, unneces-
sary and unjust.
THE farmer must be placed in such
condition that he can work up trade
in the city and ship in small rackages
to the consumer at just rates
Mr.. Quick then took up the matter
Of rate making in the interests of ma
tional development. As regards ma
tional questions, he said. the railways
must be enlisted in such policies as
may be dictated by patriotism.
The whole structure OF rates" he
declared, "as they now exist is de-
vised in favor o. long haul to and
from market. and make up with ref
renee to the demand OF certain trade
centers, and certain powerful tinan-
cial interests. some of which are close
" allied to ownership of the railway
He referred to the history of rates
on the border line between the Gulf
line between the Gulf Trade Basin and
the territory of the railways running
10 Chicago and the Atlantic ports. The
farmers of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebras-
ka. Colorado and much other terri
tory. he said, are entitled to the near
outlet by way of the Gulf. The bat
tie, he declared, was fought out not
along lines best for the nation but