Year: 1875

track over these beautiful prairies by our
| very doors. We want to see union be-


tween the transporting and producing ele-
ments of this great country. We are not
responsible for the present deploratle
condition efthe railroads. In the first
place the managers or builders of the
railroads are themselves to blame. They
have built tnem too fast; they have con-
structed them upon credit; they are
paper railroads.


Secondly, they are built before the
condition of the country demanded them.
They constructed them to obtain the
land grants and bonuses, and not to ben
eGt the communities through which
they pass. The originators of
the roads allowed themselves
to be swindled in building the roads and
in fact swindling has taken the lead in
everything connected with them since
they were built. The principle upon
which they were built-credit the con.
dition Of the country-living on inflated
currency; the swindling in building them
and the lack of business when and where
they were built, made it impossi-
bic for them to be paying institu-
tons. To meet these difficulties and keep
the roads the different companies have
issued bond after bond. based upon the
theory that their liberal land grants and
bonuses would carry them through. Now
what we farmers complain of is trying
to make these roads paying institutions
by charging exorbitant freights. all of
which comes directly or Indirectly out of
the farmers hard earnings.


| pass to the 9th ana last clause of this
subject, feeling that there is no reason
why the farmers and railroad companies
cannot cooperate and work in unison.
1t is for the interest of the railroads to
increase the agricultural products Of the
western States as much as possible. The
more there is raised the greater amount
of surplus grain they will have to trans.
port. Farmers produce the most of their
freight. Those engaged in agriculture
number nearly one-half Of the producing
class of the country.


Here is produced an interesting table
Of the industries and products Of the
country, which we are compelled to omit
for want of space.--ED. NTI-MoNopoL1sT.


Therefore, railroad companies instead
of discriminating against the farmers, in
favor of wnat are known as middle men,
should deal directly and honestly with
this great lproducing class. While |
claim that the farmers are nat to blame
for the present condition of tsk railroads,
l must say that the farmers are not
entirely to blame for the condition
in which they find themselves. All
other classes work by union to
better their condition. The farmers
never did until the Grange was instituted.
Let the farmers present united front to
all other combinations and unions; and
say we are willing to deal justly and hon
estly with you in every thing; and we
want you to do the same by US; we are
willing you should live and we want you
to let us live; we will furnish freights for
your railroads and pay you fair price
for transporting it to market; but
We want you to charge us reason
able rates and protect our produce
when consigned to your care. Make our
interests your interests and there can be
no trouble between us. We produce food
and clothing for the non-producing
classes OF the world, and you carry it to
them. We exchange the raw material
for the manufactured, and you bring i,
to Us. Therefore, we arc both necessary,
and let US work in unison.


l will close by stating that the Grange
is defensive and not an offensive insti-
tuition.