Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-11-12


roads up to high point of efficiency
but we must also build many new
lines and extensions into those sec
tions of the state where farmers and
local commerce and industry are still
inadequately provided with transpor-
tation facilities. The chief reason why
the farm lands Of Iowa and Illinois
are valued SO much higher than lands
of fully as good quality in Missouri is
because those states have about
double the railroad mileage found in
Missouri at the present time. But in
yestors will not put their money into
new Missouri lines ii we continue to
advertise to the outer world that
capital cannot get square deal with
in our midst. In an address de-
livered before the Commercial Club
at Jefferson City several months ago,
w. B. Mckinley, the big traction
builder Of Illinois, gave this as his rea-
son for not having built inter-urban
lines in Missouri up to this time and
until we prove to the investing public
that this is not the true attitude of
Missouri people we will continue to
suffer the penalty.
In many respects the American rail-
road problem presents queer and para
doxical phases. Whatever abuses may
have characterized their management
in some instances in 4he past and the
frequent charge that they are highly
"watered", the fact remains, as was
shown in a previous article, that they
not only furnish the cheapest service
in the world, but that they are capi-
talized for many thousands of dollars
less per mile than the state owned
railroads OF Europe and yet despite
this fact, the country is full of re-
formers who are. vociferously demand
ing government ownership.
The Government and the several
states already make the rates and are
now about to take the last vestige of
financial authority away from the rail
roads by supervising the issuance of
their securities. If the Government
owned the railroads, could it exercise
authority farther reaching? Would
Abo ,ac,,,,o ,n+;a., 40 q yrroy,a,y, ,,,op4 dab+
amounting to billions Of dollars Sc
cure greater rights or protection for
the people? Is it not barely possible
that these crusaders who are con-
tinually cropping about for new issue
are about to precipitate a state of af-
fairs which will make the gigantic
American railroad industry the tool
of the reigning political faction at the
National Capital placing in its hands
tremendous instrument through
which it can reward or punish any
section of the country as the ex-
pediency of politics may dictate?
A Vital Force for Progress
All thinking men admit that the
railroads are the very foundation upon
which rests the enterprise and indus
try Of the Nation. Pushing their way
across the trackless wilderness years
ago they made it possible for the
homesteader to follow in their wake
and send the products Of his farm to
the hungry markets OF the World. So,
too, they preceded the miner and the
lumberman and carried their cargoes
back to civilization. Everywhere
they have been the true pioneers
giant pathfinders, the advance guards
Of progress. And, yet, notwithstand
ing these truths, for the last % years
they have been the favorite subject
of attack for countless political OPP
portunists whose abuse of them has
paved an easy road to public office.
No other industry except the rail-
roads could have withstood the on
slaught. However, the very rocks
finally give away before the continual
assault Of the elements, and SO the
time has come when the railroads of
Missouri place their fate completely
in the hands Of the people confident
in the belief that they will see that
Justice is done to this great industry
which holds within it the future well
fare. Of the commonwealth. To this
end, we appeal to every citizen in the
state who believes in the justice of our
plea to make his views known to the
j different public authorities whose duty
i it is to deal with this great question.