Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-10-17
CALL TO ARMS!

Inc nearing lOmOTOTW DIT III COuIU Hou5C at 1O.OO a.
m. before the railroad and public service commission in
the matter of the application of the Northern Pacific
Railway company to establish a truck and bus service
from Billings to Red Lodge, will determine the future
progress of Red Lodge.
Should the Northern Pacific be successful in their APP
plication, Red Lodge and Carbon county will take a
backward step. On the other hand, should the railroad
and public service commission deny their application,
the future of Red Lodge is assured.
The preliminary investigation shows that the train
between Billings and Red Lodge is a decided revenue
producer. In fact, it shows that sufficient revenue is
received from this train to justify the railroad and pub
lie service commission in ordering the railroad to give
Red Lodge adequate and up to date passenger service,
run on schedule, and in addition to this the local freight
train run every day, except Sunday, on a decent SEIZED
ule, and the people of this county should demand such
an order from the railroad commission.
In view of the earnings of this branch line, there is
room for considerable conjecture as to what the real
motive of the railroad company is. This sudden at
tempt to outrage the public highways by the railroad,
makes one wonder just what the motive really is.
VIC. Sloan, general manager of the Northern Pacific,
bears the same name as the head of the General Motors
corporation. Whether these two men are relatives, we
do not know, nor do we know whether there is any con-
nection between the two. 1t might be interesting to
know the facts concerning this conjecture on our part
and it might also be worth looking into the make of the
trucks and buses being used by the railroads on their
transportation lines being operated on the public high
ways that were built by gasoline taxes paid by private
duJOmODle OWHeTS, ana, we might dQu, dIlef IneSe same
utomobi owners had paid an e~xorbitant freight rate
on the gasoline to the railroads.
1t seems to US that it would be a wise policy ON the
part of the public to insist upon an investigation of this
whole scheme of the railroad. 1t certainly would be a fit
subject for congressional investigation, or the Federal
Trade commission might look into it.
But, by all means, the people of Montana should de-
mand of the Montana legislature the enactment Of laws
that would forever prohibit the railroads from outrag-
ing the public highways, and demand of the highway
commission to protest such applications, as will be con-
sidered tomorrow at the courthouse.
No one is to blame for the private trucks on the high
ways more than the railroads. 1t is due to their refus-
al and neglect to furnish adequate service on the rails.
No one can compete with railroad transportation j. the
company wants to furnish the service, and it can be
furnished at a profit. If they do not get the business, it
is their fault and not the fault of the people who paid
for the construction of our public highways.
Tomorrow a question of vital Importance to every
citizen in this community will be settled. It must be an
swered one way or another. The future of this com
munity, whether it is to grow into a prosperous and
thriving city or whether it is to further deteriorate,
hangs in the balance.
The committee appointed at the meeting of the local
b and Z club Monday sounds a call to arms that every
citizen should not hesitate to answer. 1t is of utmost
importance that every citizen who possibly can attend
the hearing. Your future and that of your community
DEPENDS upon it.