The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-05-29
THRoTLINC A GREAT INDUSTRY

i hhot LiNO n uhbht LNDCoiNi
Such is the heading under which
some time since the editor Of Leslie's
Magazine discussed the general move
ment against the railroads. which
practically began under the reign Of
Roosevelt, has continued with intensi-
flying yower to the present and prom
Uses to protract its work until the
railroads, hopelessly crippled, will be
compelled to seek, or consent to gov
crnmental ownership and control.
or until the public shall be brought
TO appreciate the real condition and
the present obsession give way to
Il more rational and healthful senti-
mcnt. Until this comes to pass, there
will be naturally, u decline in the
spirit of investment and development
and capital, always seeking to pro-
tcct itself will decline to be utilized
in any Of the great public industries.
it will shrink from sight and hide
itself in strong boxes or in foreign
lands sooner than risk its integrity
amid these dangerous conditions. The
writer above referred to goes on to
say: Next to agriculture the rail
roads form the greatest industry in
the country. They collect and dis
tribute wealth as does no other single
agency. They employ 1851 900 peo-
Pile and pay in wages every year ST.,
239, 425. 2S4. This does not include
the railway supply industry employ
ing almost as many more.
But to the plight of the railroads
the people have become callous. To
take more money out of railroad
treasures, to compel them to pay
higher wages, to buy better equip
ment, to employ men, to pay in taxes
and at the same time make them
charge less for what they have to sell
has become the most natural thing
in the world.
Between 1890 and 1913 railroad
taxes increased l7S per cent per mile,
although the net capitalization in
creased but 20 per cent per mile.
Since 1910 there has been an increase
in the amount paid to labor of $l03,-
100000 although the number of em-
ployees has been reduced by 1892.
Powerless to raise their rates, to
charge more for what they give, the
railroads have had to see the margin
between operating revenue and epen-
ses steadily diminish without SEEM
ing to interest the public in their
plight.
Less Than Twenty Years Ago
Once the public did grasp the
plight Of the railroads. That was
when over 80 per cent of them were
in the hands of receivers and it was
not so many years ago. either. A
cry went up to give them chance.
For a brief period they were not har-
assed, were not legisIatcd to death
and the rebound was marvellous. But
must there be rcversiOn of the dark
days Of 1896 before the truth is again
brought home TO the people,"
No doubt this and former raids on
railroads and other corporations have
been useful both to them and the gen
crdl public. We can easily remem-
Der when there was far less of cour-
tesy or consideration for the travelling
public than now. When every pigmy
official nj the ticket or telegraph win
dow felt perfectly free to snub the
tlmid traveller, even if n helpless wo-
man, or to insolcntly puff the smoke
of n cheap cigar or filthy pipe in the
face of any one presuming to ask q
question. We have, personally, and
many times, felt outraged mt the
treatment received from these nasccnt
railroad kings, swelling with their
fancied Importance. And many times
on railroad train we have been act
ually afraid to ask a question, even
of the butcher" for fear Of insult
and as TO approaching the lordly
brakeman or the imperial conductor
such dareing was rare.
But all this belongs to the past
and at present, and almost without
exception. in all stations, offices OF
trains, and from every official, not
excepting the president or general
passenger agents, the public expects
and receives real courtesy, and pos,
sibly more important than all this
we now feel assured when we board
train that the engineer is sober
and that the breath of the conductor
will not wreck with the train or ode
pared spirits"
And this happy change has been
brought about by the multiplication OF
lbdtlns mus elNllE lht pubiiN biit Up
portunity of choice and also the uni.
versal protest and denunciation of tn,
people. So that by these and othey
influences we are enjoying
A New Era
And in this new era we have a rail.
road service not only reasonably safe
and comfortable, but even splendidly
luxurious. The insistene demands OF
the people have brought about this
revolution. But this movement has
gone too far in that the people con.
tinue to demand more and more of the
roads, while insisting in multiplied
and multiplying ways. that their rev.
enues shall be reduced. The railroad
is vertiable Sampson in the hands Of
Phillistines, bound and helpless. Ht
must grind in the mill, naked ant
starving! If there be an accident
however unavoidable, the railroad
must pay for every injury. If an EN-
ployee is hurt he brings suit against
the road, and generally wins, fol
both judge and jury are "retainet
for the plaintiff" II a miserable
old COW, or pig, is killed., the rail
road must pay the damage, and il
these and many other ways we asser
that the wrongs, inflicted formerl,
by the roads on the public, have beef
paid, and are being paid, with larg'
interest. In our sober judgment, i
is time to call halt in this genera