The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-28

It is strange fact. but nevertheless
ltrue, that in times past the people OF
the average state have not regarded
their RAILROADS as an 'industry"-and
yet there is hardly q state in the union
In which the railroads do not pay out
more money for labor, fuel and sup
plies than does any other single enter
prise, however large. We brag about
our fertile farm lands and rejoice that
our cities are filed with big factories
with big payrolls which create a
market for farm products-but we for
lget that more workingmen's families
depend upon the railroads for living
than upon any other one industry in
either the average state or the nation,
and that their welfare is therefore
closely linked to that Of the farmer,
manufacturer and merchant not
merely because they furnish freight
and passenger service, but because the
millions they disburse in one way and
another contribute tremendously to
the prosperity Of the state in which we
live. Thus, next to real estate, the
railroads are the largest tax payers
in the state of Iowa-their taxes for
1914 having aggregated $3,13S, 5O4.2I--
and this tidy sum did it's full share
toward the support of every public
school, public highway and other
revenue expense Of the state.
In round figures, the railroads of
Iowa are valued at S313,969, 24S-
money which in years gone by was In
vested in these great arteries of COM
merce by thousands of men and wom-
en- who live all over the United States
and in Europe, and without whose
assistance the wonderful progress of
our great state would have been i'm
possible. II, thirty or forty years ago.
these people had invested their money
in Iowa farm lands instead Of Iowa
lrailroads-would not the investment
have proven infinitely more profitable
to them? On the other hand, If some
body had not furnished the money
win which to build the railroads, what
would be the present value of Iowa
farm lands? Is 1t not therefore appar-
ent that the people of this and every
ether corn belt state owe much to
those from the outside who furnished
the millions necessary to industrial
and agricultural development and
without which their remarkable prog
ress would have been impossible?
According to the last report of the
Iowa state railway commission the
railroads Of Iowa employed 46,476 men
during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1912, and paid out to them in salaries
the sum Of s31,922, 523.22-a these
millions did their full share to create
Ia profitable market for Iowa farm
products and to uphold the volume OF
business Of Iowa grocers, clothfers, dry
goods men, and others who depend
upon the patronage of the public.
Since the above report was made pub
lie, forced economy has compelled the
railroads to discharge several thous-I
and employees in this state-but the
fact remains that even at this time
they are scattering more than $780,
O0O, 900 per year throughout Iowa in
salaries to their employees, as well, as
paying millions Of dollars for Iowa
coal, Of which they are the heaviest
purchasers in the state.
Thus, when the people look at the
other side of the ledger-when, they
think OF the millions which the rail
roads disburse to their thousands OF
workingmen and the millions they pay
out for taxes, coal, and other supplies,
it can readily be seen that they con-
stftute an industry which deserves the
friendship and consideration OF every
thoughtful citizen in the state.
THE BRANCH LINES OF IOWA.
1t is we'll known fact that 1t is
ordinarily much more expensive to
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