Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-08
CHAIRMAN OF STATE oMMlSSloN
GIVES FARMERS FOOD FOR
THOUGHT ON RATES.
URGES VALUATION OF
RAILWAY PROPERTY
Declares That Railroads in Iowa Pay
Less Taxes Than in Any Other
Northern State-Wants Farmers to
Stand Back of Him in Fight For Bet
ter Rates.

erprise in the state of Iowa, of any
kind whatever, that does not take IN
ventory at least once year, IN oruer
that they may see what stock they
have on hand, and what that stock IS
worth. Why, is it then. that the peo-
ule of Iowa do not put valuation on
,bair railroads, as all other states In
this part of the country have done, ana
which Iowa has not done tor the past
forty years?
The value of the property IS the
basic principle OF the whole question
of rates, both passenger and trelshI
and there would be a much clearer uii-
outstanding of these rates IL SucA d
valuation was made, was the way
clifford G.. Thorne, chairman OF lhe
railway commission OF Iowa, sum iiieu
m the situation at the present llue
before a big audience OF farmers at the
second meeting OF the MarshaII Soun'S
Farmers Association in the court mousse
Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Thor1le was late in arriving pc
cause Of his train being delayed put over
200 men were waiting for him. ana
gave him their undivided atseh-
ton during the hour and MAJ
while he was speaking. Chelsea a
Howard. formerly OF this city, out now
OF Waterloo, talked Informally on 'i1e
adyisability OF securing a county agent
before Mr.. Thorne arrived.
Omelet Three Miles Square.
Nerrit Greene, Jr., introduced Tnorne
who began his talk with . few state
nents about the greatness OF Iowa
Iowa has more miles OF railway tAah
any other state in the union except
Texas. Illinois and Pennsylvania, ne
said. In speaking OF her farm pro
ducts. Thorne said that II a.. the eggs
produced by Iowa in one year We're
made into a gigantic o:nelet, Il Wou-l
be three miles square, or II SGetCAei
out in long golden string, 1t WouIa oe
20 900 miles long. II al the cdcHet4S
that laid these eggs We're put in a 70"
they would reach from here 20 New
York City and back, and then back
again. and there would still be some
ROSTERS left to crow over it.
Uroes Farmers to Organize.
Passing from the things IN which
Iowa was great, Thorne dwelt for
few moments on the things in which
1owa was surpassed by other states,
such as potatoes, sweet potatoes. and
,ners to give attention to these other
crops and not devote their entire acre
age to the raising of live stock and
grain. He declared that the develop
ment of cities was every bit as inn
portant as the development Of agri-
culture. and said that any decline in
population in Iowa was not a. decline
in rural population, but was due to
Lack of cities.
Turning to his main subject, that OF
freight and passenger rates, Thorne
showed conclusively by the use of mans
and illustrations that Iowa must be up
and doing, and get concerted action. If
she wants fair and reasonable rates.
The farmers must organize, he de-
clared, and they would then be the
greatest power in the country, greater
even than the railroads.
Iowa Disseminated Against.
Taking Fort Dodge as a typical ex-
ample of an interior Iowa City, Thorne
showed that that city has an advant-
age, or even an equality, in shipping to
only one other point in the United
states with ST. Louis or Chicago, and
that these cities have the advantage
over the rest Of the country.
In speaking Of the movement to adj
vance the passenger and freight rates
now being agitated by the railroads.
Thorne pointed out how the railroads
had been employing men with keen
legal minds to show to the public thru
the press, how much these railroads
needed this increase, and how wise
and Just 1t was, while no one had TAX
en- the time or money to present the
other side, and find out - this was
H..
in the passenger and freight tariffs
will mean in Iowa alone an increase
of s12,00o,000 In passenger tariffs and
, freight rates every year.
Reads Rail Statistics.
The facts Of the matter as presented
by Thorne We're tina. the railways com
,iled their statistics carefully so as
TO show that the increase IN rates was
an absolute necessity. To make this
illustration more graphic, Thorne reaG
statistics which gave the amount oil
money paid in salaries to all railway
employees Of all railroads for one year
including presidents and section hands
This amount was compared to ar
amount said to be the total wages OF
all farmers for like period Of time
The only difference was that the far
lners did not report to the census bur
eau the wages they paid themselves
and their sons, and so the statistics
looked very favorable to the railroads
Urged Railroad Valuation.
After calling attention to the fac
that the railroads OF Iowa paid less
taxes per mile of line than in any
other northern state except Soutt
Dakota, Thorne appealed TO the far
mers of the state to stand oy him il
his fight to secure justice, rs that wa!
the only way in which he would b'
able to omplish anything at all II
his closing words he told of the Nee
of putting a valuation on the railroad
property, and said that until this wa
accomplished, no tangible results coult
be expected.
Mr.. Thorne's statements regarding
the increased cost of freight rates an
transportation Of live stock aroused
great deal Of interest among the far
mers present, and he was besieged wit
questions after his talk, which was re
garded to be the best Of It's kind eve
heard by local audience of farmers.
Local Weather Record.
yQ-eight and above were tn
VA cur5av rom