The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-26
FARMER VITALITY CON-
CERNED IN RAILROADS
WHAT THE EUROPEAN WAR MEANS
TO THE AMERICAN FARMER


known with many American railroads
IN dilapidated physical condition.
NO sooner had the great European
war burst upon the world than Con-
gress realized that our merchant ma
RI was utterly weak and inefficient.
steps were at once taken to make the
pest or the situation and to repair
speedily as possible our neglected
shipping facilities upon the high seas
and that the handicap has already
| cost the American people millions of
DO lars during the last few months is
SO patent that it requires no extended
comment. 1t is one thing to have
markets in all parts Of the world
Wnicn nave heretofore been supplied
py the great warning nations begging
ior american goods and foodstuffs-
put 1t is quite another thing to have
american ships in which to deliver
these cargoes.
WIN we now add to the neglect of an
adequate merchant marine the further
ioiiy OF permitting our railroads to get
INTO such weakened physical condi-
tion tnat they will break down under
the strain of delivering the product
OF the farmer and the manufacturer
at our ocean ports and thus largely
waste the great opportunity for profit
which the foreign war will unQuestion-
ably bring to US? This is phase of the
present situatio which commands the
serious thought. of every farmer in
Kansas and tn Corn Belt generally
for here is where the lions share of
the nations foodstuffs are produced
and here is where farmers cannot at
ford to be hampered by inadequate
transportation facilities if they are to
make the most of favorable market Op-
portunities
There is not n single manager of a
Central or Western railroad who will
not admit that the present supply of
first class freight locomotives and box
cars could not successfully meet the
requirements of several boutiful
crop years-and yet they haven't the
funds with which to supply this equip
ment and thus be prepared for the
emergency when it comes-as it I'M
doubtedly will.
Farmers VIII Profit,
In this connection, it is opportune
to say that the American farmer is
certain to reap a larger profit from
the chaotic conditions which exist in
Europe than any other class of trades
men or citizens. So far as our manu-
facturers are concerned. while new
markets are undoubtedly reckoning
to the United States yet on the other
hand. for several years to come. the
splendid trade which we enjoyed in
Germany. England France, Austria
and Russia on our manufactured prod
ucts Is certain to remain demOraliZed
and thus we will be fortunate If we
do not lose more than We can hope to
gain in new fields. with whose needs
we are not yet familiar and to which
it is certain to require some years to
adjust ourselves.
: It is the American farmer, however
who has no complications ahead of
him, and whose flour, pork, beef. NUT
ton and other fOodstuffS must be de-
pended upon to make up the shortage
which is already looming big in the
distance because the harvest fields Of
the most fertile sections of Europe
have been converted into shamb les
for the contending armies. Exports
of breadstuffs from the United States
in November were valued at $40,250,-
( 900, or almost four times as much as
in November of last year, while meat
and cattle exports amounted to nearly
S14.OO0.000. or gain of over 20 per
cent over last year. and this despite
our miserable shipping facilities on
! the high seas.
In the light of these facts, was
there ever a time when the farmers
of Kansas and other Corn Belt states
can view the future with as much as
surance, or when they can so we'll
afford to treat fairly every other great
I industry in the nation as now?
Putting it in the terms of sound
business policy, was there ever time
when they should do their part to the
end that American labor may be
profitably employed in all the great
channels of industry, and that our
transportation system may be kept up
to high point of efficiency. so that
1t may adequately discharge the heavy
shipping burdens which will undoubt-
eddy descend upon it in the not dis
tant future?
| No other single agency in the ma
ton has had more to do with the add
vancement of land values than have
the railroads. and as evidence of this
fact. the proximity of a farm to the
market almost invariably fixes its
selling value Kansas and every other
| central or western state is still in
dire need of hundreds of miles of ad-
ditional railroad mileage, and these
new lines will not be built until Amer
lean railroad securities are re-estab-
iished as a paying investment-and
this. on the basis of present railroad
ernings. is out of the question. Near
ly all our present lines were built
years ago. when railroad investments
were looked upon with favor at home
and abroad. and hence. if there is a
| class of citizens in the land who
should be vitality interested in rescu-
| ing the railroads from the pitiable
plight in which they find themselves
at the present moment it is the farm
er. AS a matter of fact, were it not
So tremendously far-reaching in its ef-
feet. the controversy over a slight in
4 crease in railroad rates in any great
agricultural state would largely resem-
Bile tempest in a tea pot-a matter
which should be settled in the brief
space OF time required to apply the
remedy. When a private industry,
great OF small. advances the price OF
its commodities we take it as a mat
ter of course and say nothing about
it-and in the past We have opposed a
square deal for the railroads largely
because the people did not understand
their Importance to the nation, be-
cause they were angered at Occa-
sional abuses which strict government
al regulation has forever eliminated
and because for some years designing
political opportunists have found abuse