Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-04-12

The following article headed Bill
lions for Ships; Restrictions for
Railroads." contains considerable
meat for thought. 1t is worth read
ing. The writer of the article says:
Consider, Mr.. Citizen, the differ
ence in the attitude of our govern
ment toward the shipping interests
as compared with its attitude toward
the railroads.
Billions of dollars have been spent
by the United States to provide and
maintain harbors for the water
transportation companies, and MIL
lions more are being spent on these
terminals for ships. Expenditures
of this character are apparently
deemed proper and necessary to en-
courage commerce.
Along the entire coast line-lake
and ocean--the government main
tains life-saving stations to make
water travel safer; at every harbor
entrance an extensive signal system
is provided and river and harbor
courses are marked by buoys to
guide ships in and out of ports.
Fleets of warships and other craft
are constantly on duty performing
some service for the shipping inter-
ests, and worldwide watch of wealth
er conditions is maintained to warn
and protect those who go down to
the ships and send their freight by
the water routes. For years one of
the big issues before Congress has
been that of establishing a ship sub
sidy as a means of further encourage
ing capitalists to invest their money
in boat lines.
In the pioneer days of railroad
building, individuals, communities,
states and the nation endeavored in
various ways to encourage the ex-
tension of railway lines. Then came
change in public sentiment, due to
mutual Misunderstanding on the
part of the general public and the
railways, and for years the railroads
have been the target for all kinds of
reprisal legislation The land car
riers have been regulated and re-
stricted in a way which has added
an immense load to the cost of rail-
road maintenance and operation.
Rates have been lowered, in most
instances without any attempt to dis
cover the effect of the reduction, and
a mass of laws and regulations, state
and national, built up to circumscribe
railroad operation.
Suppose the government aided the
railroads to establish and maintain
their principal terminals, furnished
steam shovels for track building and
for grade separation, bridged
streams and supplied block signal
service as well as crossing watch
men. That would be no more than is
being done for the shipping inter-
ests.
Congress passed legislation reg
ulating the operation of boat lines
and several big vessel companies
promptly announced that they would
not do business under such restric-
ton and quit. Suppose the railroads
should adopt this attitude.
Business is booming right now in
this country. The rush is so heavy
that the terminals and rolling stock
are inadequate to keep pace with the
demands made on the railroads, but
if the investment is made that is
necessary to supply needed added
facilities, it must be made by the
railroads with no aid from the gov
ernment-in fact, under government
tai policies unfavorable, in some fea-
lures at least, to railroad develop
ment. Good railroad service is as
important to the future business
prosperity of this country as good
water transportation. Why should
one form of transportation receive
billions in assistance and the other
be regulated into bankruptcy?
And occasionally man has money
in bank because he doesn't own an
"