The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-29

of the cause of the blockade was order.
ed, and in giving his testimony, ]. j.
Hill stated emphatically that the real
cause was that production in the north
west had outstripped transportation,
and that it would be impossible for the
railroad companies to keep up with the
production.
1t may seem strange that ever since
then Mr.. Hill has taken every oppor-
tunity from the rostrum, through the
press and by his employees to urge
and insist that the farmers could,
and should double their production.
The transportation facilities have not
been materially increased since then,
and the past winter, one Of the finest
on record for transportation, We find
them unable to handle the crop for
1912.
A few weeks ago in an interview in
the Twin Cities Mr.. Hill said the whole
trouble was in lack of transportation
facilities. A short time later in an
other interview he declared as en-
~phatically that the trouble was lack of
terminal facilities in the Twin Cities,
and that they were unable to increase
them, that they could not borrow a dol
lar for that purpose. Now If we are
to accept Mr.. Hills statements as true:
that production has outstripped
transportation, and that the railroads
cannot borrow another dollar to in
crease their equipments-then what
would become of the farmers IL they
had accepted the advice Of Mr.. Hill
and associates to increase and double
their production?
W. G.. Bierd Of the NJ. & st. l.. r. R.,
made a similar statement at Aberdeen
a year ago, only a little stronger in
that he said that they could not Dor.
row another dollar in this country,
nor in London, Paris or Berlin, for
further extension or equipments.
Mr.. Bierd lis also very anxious for the
farmers to double their production,
but how about getting it to market?
Elliott of the N. p, Huntington of
the 500, and railroad managers gen
orally have made similar statements.
Why do these men run down the credit
Of their properties? Have they one
story for the public and a different
statement for would-be investors? Are
they trying to lead the farmers into a
blind alley, by keeping their eyes on in
creased production as the solution of
our problems, while they secure in
creased production rates, or what?
Perhaps they are urging increased
production, and pleading poverty and
loss of credit to scare the farmers into
urging increased freight rates to help
them out.
The same week Mr.. Hill said his rail-
roads could not borrow a dollar to in
crease their terminal facilities, 1t was
cUdICu III lut uS"o iISLlc vi Iuc Il VIII
City papers that he had paid in cash
81 5000, 900 for two National Banks in
Minneapolis or st. Paul. Why did he
invest in those banks in preference to
those much needed terminals? In the
Pugo investigation it developed that
Mr.. Hill was one of the large stock
holders in the great banks Of New
York that control and dominate our
financial system and credits.
Strange is it not that he would not
invest another dollar or could not Dor
row another dollar, to increase the
transportation facilities of the rail-
road to which he owes his great
wealth?
AS b~eneficiaries of public f~ranshises,
as managers of public service utilities,
are these servants OF the public as
frank with the public as they should
be?