The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-29
WHAT FARNIERs WANT.

i WHAT FARMERS WANT.
! The recent elections forecast all
/ kinds of agitation against capital in
favor OF higher taxes. for release OF
labor from consequences of militant
action against industries, and for an
other attack on the railroads
! Legislation antagonistic to the rail-
roads now can mean only one thing
bankruptcy and government owner
/ ship and operation. If bankruptcy
and government ownership meant
/ cheaper or better transportation serv-
ice. such an outcome might well be
welcomed. but experience in thiG
country and elsewhere demonstrates
that an opposite result would be suf-
fered. There is nothing to be gained
/ by the people of the country in oper-
ating railroads at less than cost and
paying the deficits out OF the public
treasury
The gentlemen who represent the
farmers at Washington declare that
the farmers want lower freight rates
on the railways. But what these
farmers actually want is not lower
freight rates but transportation.
The Duluth Herald devotes a page
to summarizing the distress for lack
of inland transportation in many
states and in Canada It gives pic
lures showing the overflow OF the
greatest grain elevators in the world,
piled in mountains in the open air or
beape;i up in extemporized shelters
At Buffalo the grain comes faster
than it can be moved out There is
an accumulation of 100000 bush
els, and railways and canaIboats can
move only one million a day.
At Montreal the elevators cannot
receive another bushel. Scores of YES
sells are awaiting loads. and only five
or six clear daily. At Port Arthur
there is an accumulation of 100000
bushels, and 21.OOO.OOO more is on
wheels rolling toward the elevators.
Many records of railway efficiency are
being broken, but railway inability to
meet the farmers needs is beyond
doubt
The politicians remedy is lower
freight rates, to weaken further the
railways. The dirt farmers want land
transportation, regardless of rates.
They daily see their crops bringing
AAAOAG Al lAAC SNIPOlAS III lllS
land markets. On paper the farmers
are a billion or two richer' than last
year. but they do not yet touch the
money. The Duluth Herald estimates
their loss at a half billion dollars. On
potatoes alone there is a loss of s25.-
100000. on fruits 100000, and
so on.
For many years state and national
regulatory bodies have limited freight
and PASSENGER rates and the revenues
to be derived therefrom. Coincident
with that limitation of income, there
was no compensatory Limitation of ex-
pense- Under such a policy the net
earnings of the railroads steadily di-
minished, upkeep was neglected and
the financial resources of the roads
became so bad that their credit was
impaired.
Following that long period of
strangling regulation came the period |
of government management when
there was a studied increase of cost
of operation, Generalization of the /
operating forces and no correspond
ing increase in revenues. The roads
were turned back to their private |
owners in almost a bankrupt condi-
ton. but with an opportunity under
the provisions of the transportation
act to restore themselves to some
where near a satisfactory business ba-
sis.
At present there is a shortage of
cars and locomotives, which shortage
is bringing loss to many a producer
who has goods to ship. Construction
and extension of terminals has not
kept pace with the growth of indus
try thruout the country. Double
tracks. sidetracks and other improve
ments designed to facilitate the
and economical handling of
traffic have been necessarily neglect
ed If the country needs any one
thing today it needs an improved, a
dependable and a prosperous trans
portation system. ready at all times
to carry all the goods American pro-
1ucers have to offer.
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