The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-20
THE RAILROAD PROBLEM.

I Much has been said regarding the
future of railroads in this country
after the war. Since the taking over
Lof the roads by the government the
rush and confusion of getting war
ksupplies to the seaboard has been the
! is over it is understood the author
tiles will devote their energies to-
ward greater improvement Of the
roads and closer unification where
possible Under the law the gov
eminent will exercise its supervi-
/ sion for 81 months after the end of
the war and in that period there will
/ be time for more mature considera-
ton on the part of congress as to
what is best to do with the railroads
land for the administration to prove
whether government or private own
ersEip, with the same freedom Of
faction, Is best.
The policy Of the government, ac-
cording to the best information avail
able, will not be one designed to
tprove the advantages of public own
ersilip, but instead to present the
benefits OF some unified control and
uniform methods and practices
Throughout the country. It is safe
Ito say the public will never consent
kto a return to some of the useless
| lupiications and some other con-
Editions that existed before the as
ksun1ption of federal control necessi-
ftated by the war, and the adoption
know of many improvements seeming
kiy impossible before that time will
incline many to a continuance Of the
Epresent program.
/ Among the reforms so far achieved
Eare the introduction of a universal
kdemurrage system that has been a
sboon to shippers, and the beginning
Lof q systematization of freight rate
classification which will undoubtedly
HE carried on so that it will not re-
Iquire an expert in every jobbing house
FOR country store to determine the
rate on a. given article between two
ElDoints. The uniformity in railroad
tickets and the centralizing Of their
sale in large cities is a feature that
probably will be retained in any
/ event. But whether a net gain in
cost OF operation will be shown in
the next 81 months is a question yet
ITO be solved, and whether public con-
troll means higher rates is yet to be
learned.
The railroad administration has
fnearIy two years in which to try out
this great problem of public owner
ship and IL it can demonstrate that
Through a Capitalization of powers
and consolidation Of lines and work
ing agencies it can largely increase
wages, improve the systems and at
the same time reduce rates, the out
come of the problem win be plain
But on this point there is a wide di'
/ yergence of opinion and the question
very likely viii be one of the lead
i ing issues In the coming presidential
election.
( THE VALUE OF PRINTERS INK
al few years ago a Grand Forks
county FARMER had some fine bloodet
sheep to sen, SO he took them K
town and sold them to a buyer wh'
sent them to st. Paul. AT the same
time a farmer. living but twenty
miles from the other. wanted to buy
some fine sheep, so he went TO 81
PAIL and bought his neighor's fioei
but not at the same price the frs
farmer sold them for because Their
was the first buyers commission
the commission Of the second sellel
and the freight both ways added be-
fora tho sheep got back to Crane
Forks county.
iii 4 case like that it does not re-
1Iliss an upheaval Of the universe
49, aarrnfues az big Biz and