The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-25

without enlarging the neck, more time
| and work are required to I'LL and
empty it. That is exactly what has
! happened to the transportation BUSH
ness.
In 1907 trafic was blocked on near
4 ly all the principal eastern railway
lines. It took months to convey an
ordinary shipment Of goods from one
domestic market to another. The
deadlock was broken partly by panic
that lsssened the volume OF business
and partly by the efforts Of railway
| arrangements to add, by increased
efficiency. to the moving power OF
facilities at command. We neither
anticipate nor desire perp bust
ness depression. While the limits of
efficiency have not been reached, we
know that it cannot be made to cover
the demands of our growth in popula-
ton and production The records OF
any large city will prove this.
The freight ton mileage Of the coun-
try was less by seventeen and a half
billions in 1909 than in 1907, and
very little more than in 1906. Con-
trast this with the growth OF the
single year between 1909 and 1910.
The freight ton mileage grew in that
year eleven times as fast as trackage
and Ave times as fast as equipment.
This ratio will be subject to increase
rather than decrease.
II any manufacturer were confront
ed with such conditions it would be
clear to him that he must either re-
fuse business or more than double his
plant. The railroaN cannot refuse
business. II it could do SO legally,
that policy would still mean national
panic and individual ruin. 1t must
enlarge its plant. Just what this
means in the expenditure of billions
of dollars on new track and rolling
stock demonstrated more than six
years ago and the facts have now
been accepted by all authorities But
even the existing plant cannot be
worked to its capacity without larger
terminals. Hence the supreme Inn
portance at the very outset OF this
factor Of the transportation problem.
This matter is vital not only to the
railroads but to every business man.
1t is the immediate concern of every
large city. Cities can grow, they can
escape decline. only as the movement
Of business between anG. through them
is kept free. When the people find
that their busin ess cannot be handled
they must either move away or cease
producing and consuming.
No city can AFFORD to place its
trade, which is its life, on false
basis. When the commerce tributary
to it is handicapped by poor termin-
ais ..or overloaded with too heavy
charges on account Of the excessive
cost of enlargement, 1t will go else
where A city can never grow great
enough to defy afsly the demands
Of the laws of trade and its proper
accommodation. Should the decen-
tralization plan be forced on traffic,
some of our greatest cities would not
national growth. but they would sure
ly decline in business, wealth and
power.
Interest in this question should be
not local only. but national A rail
road terminal performs the sam ,
function as harbor. 1t is actually |
the largest and most valuable harbor
used by the nations commerce Prob
ably no greater volume of rail and
water traffic is transferred in any
city anywhere than in Duluth-Sup ar-
Tor. On the land side almost the
whole of this Is carried by three rail-
roads. 1t is received, transferred and
discharged without congestion in the
busiest SEASONS and with expedition
because the terminals there have
been specially created for the work
they have to do.
The nation has properly made the
provision Of adequate harbors. its care, |
and expended millions OF dollars on
our seaboards and the great lakes to
insure ample facilities for loading and
unloading cargoes. It is not to be
supposed or .sired that the nation
should furnish the money to provide
those great harbors known as rail- |!
road terminals. although they are
vastly more essential to the free !
movement of trade. But 1t should |
smooth the way and make easy the
task of those whose business it is to !
provide them.
When traffic is blocked and the
railroad yards of the principal cities
are filled with cars that cannot be
the railroad suffers the loss of
a portion of its earnings; but til > /
business men loses larger share OF
his trade, and the workingman his
e employment. No industry can do more
t,ian protract a starved existence I
when the currents Of transportation |
C aase moving freely.
Whenever we have big crop or
gen sral revival Of business, the coun-
try hears most of the danger of a car !