Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1914-11-11

Price SOC, at all dealers. Don't
simply ask for kidney remedy-get
Doan's Kidney Pills-the same that
Mr.. Compton had. Foster -Milburn Co., j,
Props, Buffalo, n. Y.
at two cents per mile and the
same is true of freight rates,
which in many instances are
40% lower than those of adjoin-
ing states Or numerous inter
state rates which have received
the approval of the Inter State
Commerce Commission.
In the meantime, the recent
statements in the metropolitan
press to the effect that the rail
roads are asking for general ad-
vances of from 500 to 225% are
of course untrue and misleading.
In the near future the public
will be informed of the exact re-
quests which the railroads will
make.
AS general proposition, how
ever, the general public is in
clined to view an increase of rail-
road rates with exaggerated
alarm. An increase of 1O@, for
instance, over rates in effect now
on distances between 500 and
1000 miles would amount to be-
tween 8 mills and one cent on
the average suit of clothes, 3 to
4 mills on pair of shoes. less
than one mill per pound on
meats, less than two mills per
dozen on eggs. 12I cents on a
two horse plow and 93L cents
on farm wagon, and for hauls
of less than from 500 to 1000
miles the increase would be pro-
portionately less Is there,
therefore. anything about this
problem which should alarm or
inspire the antagonism of the
average citizene
For every postage stamp Mis-
souri, railroad uses it must haul
a ton OF coal five miles, and many
similar examples could be shown.
To give them adequate rates for
the services they render means
they can go ahead. with a compre-
hensive program of statewise i'm
proven ent, thai they will be able
to put millions of dollars into bet
terments and new extensions, put
many additional men at work in
every railroad shop in the state.
increase section gangs, improve
their road beds, install block sig
nails, buy new engines and cars
and otherwise inaugurate an era
of progress which will enable US
20 make the most Of our agricul-
ture, manufacture, mines lumber
and other interests.
As matters stand, numerous
railroads in Missouri are paying
out more money in the state than
they collect on Missouri freight
and passenger traffic. A notable
example of this is the Missouri
Pacific which, during the last fis-
cal year, paid into the state ST.
I128,126 in excess of its total
receipts on Missouri traffic and
which, but for its Interstate bust.
ness, would have been forced III
to the hands of a receiver long
ago. When the people of a great
state are actually receiving hun
ldreds of thousands of dollars
more from railroads than they
pay to them for service, should
they not be willing to meet them
half way in a fair and equitable
rate adjustment? Or. taking the
state as a whole, if the railroads
are now returning practically
every dollar they receive for ser
vice to the public in one way o,
another, should not the people be
willing to give them dollar anc
ten cents where they now receive
! a dollar, if the additional ten cent,
vii! save them from disaster anf
prove a powerful added stimulus
for every industry in the state
j The charge that the railroads
are merely pleading for the relic
against the abnormal conditions
produced by the European war Is
not true. While the foreign cri
sis has greatly intensified thei'
difficulties, the TACT remains tha
| the present rates have been unre
munerative for a number Of years
and a readiustment would hav'
had to come anyway.
| MISSOURI SHOULD STAND
FOR PROGRESS.
4 Before the wonderful resource
!, of Missouri can be fully developed