Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1923-10-26
7estments of S15,OO0,000 and

vestments of $15,000,00O and
paid a dividend Of five percent. |
Three roads last year, with an
aggregate of 40,041 miles Of
road had receipts of S298,00O,O0O
After their taxes were paid they
had left less than seven cents
on the dollar.
1--WE want to tell you of our
troubles only so far as it may
have a bearing on the future
development of this country. 1t
is human nature to want to get
everything as cheaply as posi-
BILE. Idaho is getting relatively
less increase in rates than any
other state. Our expenses have
been greater. We have got to
pull together. 1t is a question
Of ultimate service and ultimate
development. The people who
have put money In are persons
of small means. We have $4,000
stockholders with an average of
$4,000 of stock. Nearly $4,000
of these are women. This road
is not owned by a few rich men,
but by 71,000 people who have
to earn their bread and butter.
"How can we get railroad SER
vice? One way is by keeping
the rate down, and balancing
this by increased taxes for
bonuses. Another way is straight
out government ownership. In
dividually, speaking for myself,
/ fear it. 1t is a bad thing for
the country and for the develop
ment of this region. The roads
would have 100000 more en-
ployes. A third way is to give
the railroads starvation wages.
The best way is to say that we
must have the railroads and that
they must be managed in an
honest, economic way, with just
returns.
National extravaganza is
question affecting all. There has
been a great increase in debts OF
towns, cities and municipalities.
The country is spending too
much money in many ways. We
have two million men employed.
Suppose that each could save
five cents day from his earn
ings. That would mean $30,00O,-
900 in a year. That is just what
we are trying to do. If we could
save an hour a day loading each
carload of freight, the total saw
ing would amount to 100000 car
loads. 1t is necessary for every
one of us to work and save.
Another thing is the tremen-
dous amount of interference by
the government. It is mistake
to rely on legislative action, and
believe that it takes the place OF
brain work and hand work. Good
hard work will do more than to
have the government do so
much. AS President Harding
said, "there should be more bus
mess in government and less
government in business" How
was this country built up? 1t
was built up by hard work and
long hours. l have no criticism
to make on labor organizations,
but they should work to be eff
cient and economical. When
they seek to hinder industries,
they become a menace and a
| hindrance to development. Short
hours make it more expensive
for all of us. There is necessity
! for more hands, more workers.
! This is the immigration problem.
We need more people. We have a
country capable of supporting
j ten times the present population.
'These ifs must be taken care
! of if you have adequate trans
portation; if you cut out extra
vagance and save money; if you
put your face against interfer-
ence by government. If you have
wise immigration laws, to per-
NIT labor to come. Each man
! in the United States can do
J something to help. Most bust
ness men are so busy that they
do not pay much attention to
making the rules. We are get
ting to the point where everyone
of us must do his part in show
ing the lawmakers how to get
back to first principles, and
spend less money. All can do a
part by disseminating good
wholesome doctrines.
Our development will go on
but we must have money enough