MR. MIDGLEY S ARTICLE. CONTINUED. 441 



Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway. A blow at the 

 corporation falls with crushing effect upon these subsidiary 

 enterprises. The recent panic illustrated this truism. In 

 its fall the mighty oak carries down with it the clinging 

 vine. 



3. KEPAIRS. Bails and other constituent parts of a rail 

 way wear out. If a company is not allowed margin enough 

 to maintain its property in good condition, the public expe 

 rience the discomfort and inconvenience of a rough, poor 

 road. If otherwise, the enterprises that were advantaged by 

 the first outlay share in the profit of replenishing the road. 



4. SUPPLIES. Nearly every branch of industry is bene 

 fited by the operation of railroads. Several find them their 

 best customers. An extensive list might be given, but the 

 instances already cited will suffice to show that we are truly 

 a dependent people. Of what avail is it that our farmer can 

 produce a thousand bushels of grain, unless there is a mar 

 ket vfor it? And, going still further, what advantage is 

 gained from a bountiful supply and fair demand, unless facil 

 ities are provided to convy the products to market ? 



The companies sustain a mutual relation. They advan 

 tage the farmer by furnishing him the cheapest and most 

 expeditious means of getting his produce to the consumers, 

 and they benefit the latter by placing bread within their 

 reach and enabling them to buy it. This view of the case 

 may evoke a repetition of the rural cry, &quot; The farmer pays 

 for all.&quot; But where does ho obtain the wherewithal? 

 From the consumer. Would it better any one if the num 

 ber of consumers were decreased, and the producers corre 

 spondingly increased ? This must be the practical result of 

 an onslaught on the railways. Cripple them by hostile leg 

 islation, or menace them so that capital will avoid them, and 



the innumerable multitude of artisans that turn out material 

 19* 



