Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-01-15
VITALITY CONCERNED IN
RAILROADS
What the European War Means to the
American Farmer @


war will produce the highest prices
ever known for the foodstuffs produced
by the farmer is admitted on all hands,
and if there ever was time when he
will need adequate and efficient ship.
ping facilities it will be during the next
two or three years-and yet we are
actually facing perhaps the most pros.
porous period the American farmer has
ever known with many American rail.
roads in dilapidated physical condition.
No sooner had the great European War
burst upon the world than Congress
realized that our merchant marine was
utterly weak end inefficient. Steps
were at once taken to make the best of
the situation and to repair as speedily
as.possible our neglected shipping tacil.
tiles upon the high seas-and that the
handicap has already cost the American
people millions of dollars during the
last few months is so patent that it
requires 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 weakened physical condi-
ton 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 to Us? This is a phase of the
present situation which commands the
serious thought Of every farmer in
Iowa 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 hampered by inadequate transporta-
I ton facilities if they are to make the
most Of favorable market opportunities.
There il not q single manager Of .
Central or Western railroad who will
not admit that the present supply Of
6rst-class freight locomotives and box
cars could not successfully meet the
requirements of several bountiful crop
yesrs-and yet they haven't the funds
with which to supply this equipment
and thus Be prepared for the eusFelncy
\ when IL comes-as It undoubtedly will.
FARMERS WILL PROFIT.
In this connection, it is olportune to
say that the American farmer is GER
tam to reap q larger profit from the
chaotic conditions which exist in Europe
than any other class Of tradesmen OF
citizens. So far as our manufacturers
are concerned, while new markets are
undoubtedly beckoning to the United
States, yet, on the other hand, fol-
several years to come, the splendid
trade which we enjoyed in Germany,
England, Faance, Austria and Russia
on our manufactured products is certain
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 req1ire some years to adjust our
selves.
1t is the American farmer, however,
who has no complications ahead of him,
and whose flour, pork, beef, mutton
and other foodstuffs must be depended
upon to make up the shortage which 10
already looming big in the distance
because the harvest fields Of the most
fertile sections of Europe have been
converted into shambles for the con.
tending armies. Exports of breadstuffs
from the United States in November
were valued at $40. ESQ, 600. or almost
four times as much - in November of
1913, while meat and cattle exports
amounted to nearly 81, 600, 900, or .
gain OF 20 per cent. over 1913, and this
despite our miserable shipping facilities
on the high seas. -r
In the light Of these facts, was there
ever . time . time when the farmers
of lows and other Corn Belt states can
view the future with % much assurance,
or when they can so well afford to
treat fairly every other great industry
in the Nation rs now
Plotting it in the terms Of sound BUSH
ness policy. was there ever time
when they should do their part to the
end that American labor may be profit
ably employed in all the great channels
of industry, and that our transpurta-
ton system may be kept up to high
point of efficiency, SO that it may
adequately discharge the heavy ship
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