The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-08

approximately s3,171 900 900 Their.
twenty million families OF five per
sons each. The average cost OF Iiv
ing for these families last year wa:
approximately 1928 each. Railroad
transportation cost each OF these fam
lilies an average CT s15S.5o, or q
/ quarter OF its total expense. Presi-
dent Waters OF the Kansas Agricul-
tural College. recently said: Last
/ year -one-ffth OF the average cost OF
/ living IN the United States was due
Ito freight and expressage, or an av-
erage o. 1925 for each family
| Our highways OF sportation. OF
commerce ana distribution are now
IN the hands OF private Interest
whose selfish welfare IS opposed to
| lie ownership the government OF the
United States acting for and repre-
senting the people, will condemn and
purchase the railroads at their true
of equal service, without discrimina-
| ton between persons, cities and COM
munities
All the railroads need not be pur-
acquired in Germany and France.
1t is quite often assumed that all the
railroads OF the country-about
100000 miles Of them-would be
taken over "a the same time. There
is no reason for such an assump-
ton. A dozen of the greatest rail-
road systems OF the country have
valuation OF not much more than
three billion dollars. Control of
these roads by the government would
mean virtual control Of the railroad
business of the entire country. If
the railroad corporations with their
record OF reckless financiering and
stock juggling. can sell railroad
bonds and stocks and provide money
to build and equip the railroads of
the country, certainly railroad bonds
guaranteed by the government would
find a world market if they were not
all sold quickly at home.
The government need not bank
rupt itself in borrowing money to
buy the railroads. Four per cent.
nontaxable railroad bonds, in denom-
nations of one hundred dollars and
multiples thereof, the principal and
interest guaranteed by the United
States, can be issued under authori-
ty of Congress to pay their purchase
price.
National ownership and control
of the means OF transportation, and
the exercise Of the nations power
over the distribution OF its popula-
ton and products will accomplish
the following results:
First-Furnish an absolutely safe
investment, at a reasonable rate Of
interest, for millions OF citizens with
small capital. Under private owner
ship the stock gamblers and specu-
lators monopolize railroad stock and
bond markets to such an extent that
conservative people cannot afford to
risk their small savings, and the gen.
eral public is largely excluded from
participating in the ownership and
control of the second largest and
most important industry in the Unit
ed States.
Second-Co-ordina along natur-
al lines a great national system OF
railways and waterways. will make
maid of commerce. Instead of act
ing on the principle Of charging all
the traffic viii bear. it will nourish
and build up agricultural, CONNER
cal and manufacturing industries of
the country.
Third-End forever the war be-
tween water transportation that has
been fought so effectively and bitter
~ by the railways. The proper and
natural development of water trans
portation for heavy, sloW-moying
traffc-such as coal, iron, steel, and
their kindred products, salt, cement,
grain and so on-will reduce the
cost OF transportation of such COM
N ODDITIES to approximately one-third
Of the presen. railway rate. as has
been thoroughly proved by the de-
OF water transportation |
ON large scale in the German EN- |
pire. Extensive intelligent develop |
ment OF our inland water transpor- |
tation is impossible so long as il in |
terferes with the profits OF privately |
owned railways.
OF the need OF harmony between |