Barton County democrat., 1915-01-01

phase of this problem which calls |
for profound thought at the hands
of all thinking citizens, and espe-
cially the farmer. In last weeks |
article we cited the fact that in
their desperate efforts to make
both ends meet, many railroads
are burning the candle at both
endS"-that in order to bolster
up their securities and keep out
of the hands of receivers the roll
ing stock and rOadbedS of many
lines have been deteriorating ra-
pidly for a number of years and
hence are in no position to ham
die big seasons tonnage. should
the strain of a heavy crop year
suddenly descend upon them.
That the great foreign war will
produce the highest prices ever
known Tor the fOOdStuffS produc-
ed by the farmer is admitted on
all hands, and if there ever was a
time when he will need adequate
and efficient shipping facilities
it will be during the next two or
three yearS-and yet we are ac-
tually facing perhaps the most
prosperous period the American
farmer has ever known with
many American railroads in a di-
lapidated physical condition. No
sooner had the great European
| war burst upon the world than
Congress realized that our mer-
chant marine was utterly weak
and inefficient. Steps were at
once taken to make the best of the
situation and to repair as speed
lily as possible our neglected ship
ping facilities upon the high seas
and that the handicap has al
ready cost the American people
millions of dollars during the last
few months is so patent that it re-
quireS no extended comment. 1t
is one thing to have markets in
all parts of the world which have
heretofore been supplied by the
great warning nations begging for
American goods and foodStuffS-
but it is quite another thing to
have American ships in which to
deliver these cargoeS.
Will we now add to the neglect
of an adequate merchant marine
the further folly of permitting
our railroads to get into such a
weakened physical condition that
they will break down under the
strain of delivering the products
of the farmer and the manufac-
turer at our ocean ports and thus
largely waste the great opportun-
ity for profit which the foreign
war will unquestionably bring
us? This is a phase of the pres
ent situation which commands
the serious thought of every far
mer in Kansas and the Corn Belt
generally-for here is where the
lions share of the nations food
StuffS are produced and here is
where farmers cannot afford to
be hampered by inadequate trans
portatiOn facilities if they are to
make the most of favorable mar
ket opportunities.
There is not a single manager
OF Central of Western railroad
who will not admit that the pres
ent supply of firSt-claSS freight
locomotives and box cars could
not successfully meet the require
mentS of several bOuntiful crop
yearS-and yet they haven't the
funds with which to supply this
equipment and thus be prepared
Tor the emergency when it comes
as ii undoubtedly will.
Farmers Will Profit.
In this connection, it is oppor-
tune to say that the American far
mer is certain TO reap a larger
honS which exist in Europe than
any other class of tradeSmen or
citizen. So far as our manufac-
turerS are concerned, while new
markets are undoubtedly beckOn-
ing 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 products is GER
tain 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.
1t is the American farmer, how
nr-on IL L.. .I...