The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-05

other reason. the railways must be publicly owned
because they must be called upon for public service
to be rendered regardless profit Transportation IL
huge collective job which must be performed with
reference to the development OF the nation rather
than any sort OF profit Germany. through her gov
eminent railways, Is able to develop part OF the
empire at will through railway service. We have
tried to develop industries by means OF protective
tarifs-and no man knows with reference to these
industries how much Of their prosperity is due to the
tari and how much to advantages Of SOIL people and
situation But government railway eQualize
conditions all continent, far the Nmita-
tions OF railway transport will admit. Government
railways could carry region devoid Of stone and
timber for instance whatever might be needed and
thereby create prosperity where poverty might other
wise reign. 1t could carry these things regardless or
profit All 1t need determine would be the question.
lis there here region on which population can os
supported II It's natural disadvantages are compen-
stated for by transportation
A government system OF railways must be called
into service carry back the depleted lands Of the
United States their lost fertility. The privately
owned railways cannot be justly asked to do this
cept at profit, but the publicly owned system would
assume the work clear duty Highways are nee
to the development OF the htnterlands OF the
world They are indispensable as are elevators for
the utilization Of the top stories OF high buildings
Symmetrical and uniform development Of the good
lands Of the world is not private question: but a
public one-a question Of worldwide significance. IL
be left solution along lines Of profit to the
owners of railways Railways in private hands fall
short Of the needs Of the occasion In modern cvilza
ton Just slavery fell short Of the Of ancient
times. No lands separated from the by continen-
tai distances. and unprovtded with waterways. can
ever % completely developed privately owned
ways-they must always remain in that stage OF ar
rested development In which such states Iowa and
the Dakotas find themselves and in which they
are mere feeding territory for the fully developed
communities Of the seaboard.
After all, why should profit be considered In tho
matter OF transportation? Absolutely free of rail-
ways for both freight and passengers would create
such property values In the districts reached that they
could easily carry the burden In taxation. To the
average mind the suggestion of free highways at once
calls up vision Of traffic blocked by both freight
and passengers, but freight would be sent for
amusement for other that to satisfy hui
man wants, and would travel save for some
object SO we brought to the conclusion that
humanity will be free to satisfy its wants until
the railways free the elevators free In great
buildings Free highways would bring to perfection
Bacons ideal Of q nation with "easy conveyance OF
men and commodities from place to another"
Does the thing look visionary Well take the
state OF Iowa Give her free railway transportation
to the lakes and the Take the city and rural
land values Iowa to pay the cost OF the building
and operation Of the railways Can II be doubted that
the values created by the free ways would pay TOT
their operation! Would It not pay q corporation
owning Iowa build railways for is free accommo-
dation? Then why would 1t not pay the people OF
Iowa? Free transportation may never come. but That
It Is an economic possibility under system OF
taxation I have doubt believe. too. that the
most economical way to pay transportation charges
would be at the court house rather than The railway
ONCE wicket.