The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-02-17
MIN n EsOrA GOVERNOR POINTS OUT
ECONOMIC LOSS TO WORLD IN
FAILURE OF ROADS TO MOVE
CROPS WHEN RIPE.

CROPS WHEN RIPE.
by J. A. O. PREUs, Governor Of
Minnesota.
Editors NOte---J. a. q. Preus is
governor Of a great state whose wealth
has long been dependent upon It's
transportation facilities. Its greatest
products were wheat and wood and
the former is still its most valuable
output. Transportation. swift and
sure, has always been a dominant need
in the state and its leading citizens IN
all walks Of life have devoted much
thought to the problem. Governor
Preus IL no exception as the foil ow-
ing shows.
The transportation problem has be-
come the m st important and at times
the nest acute problem before the
American people. Previ US o the nine-
.eenth century, people got along with
out any general transportation sys-
tens They lived wher they could get
fuel. fod and building material at
close range. Clothing was mostly
homcspun. Commerce. such as existed.
by ship or carvan. was largely In lux
,rries Their was no general exchange
Of everyday necessities such as exists
today.
Under such circumstances q region
which was rich in some special re-
sources but which lacked in others,
could never hope for rapid develop.
ment. The fertile plains of the cen
trail states could produce fod to sup
port millions of people. bat those peo-
pie could net reach the degree OF COM
fort and culture which they enjoy to-
day without railroads to bring in an
abundance of fuel, lumber, machinery
and other necessities.
In like manner the coal regions of
Pennsylvania, the Gotten fields Of the
South. the Lake Superior iron districts,
the orchard valleys Of California, the
copper country Of Montana. and doz-
ems Of ether regions would be limited
to a small fraction OF their present
output.
The greatest era OF railroad devel-
.,rment came during the 25-year period
following the Civil war. when a net
work of lines was built all ever the
continent. Railroad managers were
criticized and rediculed for building
through thousands Of miles Of wilder
ness. But the rails turned wilderness
cped which taxed the capacity Of .he
railroads. Railroad building slowed
down, but BUSINESS kept on growing
During the last decade or two we have
seen all too frequently crops going to
waste and business Ct all kinds ham,
pered because railroads were unable
20 supply cars o., move materials expe-
sitiously.
ern states. Of which Minnesota is onA
supplies IS per cent CT the wheat. 81
per cent of the corn. 100 per cent 81
the fax. SIS per cent Of the iron ore
~ per cent Of the zinc. and more thar
half of the beef. pork. butter, cheese
eggs. potatoes and beet sugar pro.
duced in the United States.
The question new is: Shall We in
crease our production Of these things
as the demand increases. and exchang,
them for things which can be produce;
more easily andp rofitably elsewhere
Or shall we sloy up and begin produc
ing articles which we now import? W,
can dc the later II It becomes neces
sary. hut we prefer to do the formc
II we may. Our future course depend!
upon our transportation facilities.
1t has been estimated that $4,000.
oOO, 400 would be needed to supply tn
tracks. terminals and rolling stool
which would enable the railroads /
handle expeditiously an amount q
traffic such as they had to handle Il
1917 to 1919. Before investors will con
tribute money to railroad building.
will be necessary to increase the earn
1ngs ct the railroads. But ther Is
point beyond which freight and pas
senger rates canot be increased with
out destroying the business. That ia
become quite plain during the las
year and a quarter.
What then must we Co: We cannt
set along without the railroads. "
must see that their earnings are sui
ficient to enable them to maintain
high Standard CT efficiency, but v
Nnust develop supplemental transports
ton systems II we want to continv
our agricultural and commercial deve
opment. This must come along tn
lines: Better highways and create
use of automobiles and trucks Il
short hautsa nd greater use OF waite
ways for long hauls and bulky article
Most of the states have made
start along the right lines in highws
building. and IL they continue acOr'
.ng to present programs we will In
few years have an excellent syste
ct hihways. The use Of AUTOMOBILE
for passenger traffic long ago reac
Sd point where 1t seriously cut In
the railroad passenger traffic.
may. however. look for a much grea
~ use OF trucks for shcrt .hauls. Mu
of their business 10 new busines
hut they will also take away from 9
railroads much Of the short haul tra
nc which has never been very pro
table to the roads but which has, b.
much to do With congestion In tern
nails.
In the use Of waterways we ha
gone backward rather thanf orwa,
This is partly because our railroa