Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-17
FARMERS VITALITY CON-
CERNED In RAILROADS
WHAT THE EUROPEAN WAR MEANS TO
THE AMERICAN FARMER

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 food
stuffs-but IL 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
folly of permitting our railroads 70 get
into such a weakened physical condition
that they will break down under the
strain Of delivering the products of the
farmer and the manufacturer at our
ocean ports and thus largely waste the
great opportunity for profit which the
foreign war will unquestionably bring
US? This Is a phase of the present situa-
ton which commands the serious thought
OF every farmer in Nebraska and the
corn belt generally--for here Is where
the lions share Of the nations foodstuffs
are produced and here is where farmers
cannot afford to be >hampeTed by in
adequate transportation facilities Of they
are to make the most of favorable market
opportunities.
There is not q single manager of
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 require
ments Of several bountiful crop years
and yet they haven't the funds with
which to supply this equipment and thus
be prepared for the emergency when it
comes-as It undoubtedly will.
Farmers WIN 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 tradesmen or citizen.
So far as our manufacturers are con
cerned, while new markets are undoubt-
edly 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
products is certain to remain demoralized
and thus we will be fortunate IL we do
not loose 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
1 1t Is the American farmer, however,
who has no complications ahead of him.
and whose -four. pork. beef, mutton and
other foodstuffs must DO depended upon
to make up the shortage which is al
ready looming big In the distance because
the harvest fields Of the most fertile Sec
lions Of Europe have been converted
into a shambies for the contending
armies. Exports OF breadstuffs from the
United States in November were valued
at $40. $4,000, or almost four times as
much az in November. 1913. while meat
and cattle exports amounted to nearly
$14.oOo,o0O. or a gain Of over 20 per cent
over 1913, and this despite our miserable
shipping facilities on the high seas.
In the light OF these facts, wtN there
ever q time when the farmers of Ne
braska and other corn belt states can
view, the future with as much assurance
or when they can SO we'll afford to treat
fairly ever other great industry In the
nation as nowf ~
Putting IL In the terms of sound busl-
ness. policy, was there ever time when
they should do their part to the end that
American labor may be profitably en-
ployed in all the great channels OF in
dustry, and that our transportation sys-
tenn may be kept UP to a high point OF
efficiency. so that 1t may adequately dis
charge the heavy shipping burdens which
viii undoubtedly descend upon It In the
not distant future7
More Railroads Needed.
No other single agency in the nation
has had more to do with the advance
ment of land values than have the rail-
roads, and as evidence of this fact the
proximity of a farm to the market al
most invariably fixes it's selling value.
( Nebraska and every other central or
western state Is still in dire need of hun
dreds Of miles of additional railroad mile
I age, and these new lines will not be
built until American railroad securities
are re-established as q paying invest
ment-and this, on the basis of present
railroad earnings. is out of the question.
Nearly all our present lines were built
/ years ago. when railroad investments
were looked upon with favor at home
and abroad, and hence. IL there is a class
of citizens In the land who should be-
vitality interested in rescuing the rail-
roads from the pitiable plight in which
they find themselves at the present mo
ment It is the. farmer. AS a matter OF
fact. were 1t not so tremendously far
reaching in its effect. the controversy
over a slight increase in railroad rates
largely resemble q tempest in a teapot
a matter which should be settled In the
brief space Of time required 20 apply
the remedy. When a private industry
great or small. advances the price OF it's
commodities we take il as a matter of
course and say nothing about it--and in
the past we have opposed advances for
the railroads largely because perhaps the
attention Of the people has never been
directed to their importance to the COM
munity and the nation. because they
were angered at occasional abuses which
strict governmental regulation has for
ever eliminated, and because for some
years designing political opportunists
have found abuse OF the railroads an
easy road to public preferment That
public sentiment, however, is changing
rapidly. and that we will soon reach a
sane understanding between the people
and the railroads. which are so vitality
essential TO the agricultural and COM
merciai progress OF every community in
the nation. Is becoming more and more
apparent every day. (Paid advertisement
To be ecntinued).