Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-11
A TIME 70 BUILD UP.

UNPRECEDENTED prosperity would re-
suit in the United States II the present
administration would adopt the broad
and constructive methods which nave
been used by foreign nations to onset
stagnation resulting from the war,
The United States Is the biggest.
strongest, wealthiest, and most re-
so,trceful nation now at peace. with
half the world at war. with millions OF
the producers of Europe no longer pro-
ducing the United States should be
reaping the full benefit of it's own pro-
ductivity.
Yet, with the holders of British rail-
way stock looking forward to rand
some dividends the American rail-
roads are passing dividends or like the
Pennsylvania system, making enor-
nous bond issues, in order to keep the
engines and freight cars moving
The railroads, the banks, and big
business corporations, despite all legis-
latiye restrictions and harassing lnves-
tigations and the general lack of gov
eminent sympathy or assistance, nave
done their share to meet the situation
created by the European war. They
have borrowed money for maintenance
and improvements, and have shown
their faith in the future.
Nevertheless, with the United States
at peace, they are told that the reason
they are without profits Is because Eu-
rome is at war. Word comes from Lon
don that the English railroads are car
rying more freight than at any time In
their history; that all the roads are
consested; that freight rates are high,
and that the profits of the roads are
enormous. AS result, handsome divi.
dends will be paid to those who lnves-
ted their money in railroad securities,
thus giving the government transporta
lion facilities in times of war.
It ia admitted throughout Europe
that the American railroads are the
hest and most competently managed in
the world. There has never been any
nuestion of this. Passenger rates, it is
true. are higher in many instances than
the rates that prevail in European
countries but the freight rates are alb
normally lower. Railroads invariably
derend largely upon freight for their
profits, but the roads In America are
compelled to keep their freight rates
much lower than in Europe.
The loans that are being made by the
nations at war stagger the Imagination:
It was thought that Germany would
have difficulty in getting money. but
that nation has found it easy to raise
hundreds of millions from it's own
people. The German people gladly
buy the bonds backed by their govern
ment. Germany, England, France ana
Russia are utilizing their resources lot
the benefit of the people.
In the spending of the billions OF dol
lars that the governments of Europe
have raised, all the people OF Europe
are benefited Despite the fact that
the fields and the mills have been de-
pleted of workers, industry is still turn
ing out more freight than the railroads
can handle.
England is supplying only its own
needs, and yet it's railroads are con-
gested and are making large profits.
The United States has the whole
world for it's market and yet the rail-
roads in this country are passing dlvi-
dends.
Isn't it time for the United States
government to adopt more construc-
tive policy?
Isn't it time to give manufacturers
the assurance that the protective tar
III will be restored, and that If they
invest their money in new enterprises,
with view to displacing European
goods, they will be assured of a tariff
that will equal the cost of production
at home and abroad Washington
Post.