THE TRANSPORTATION EMBARGO 81 



furnished but a small part of the cars necessary 

 for the transportation of staple articles of commerce, 

 such as coal, grain, lumber, fruits, and vegetables. 

 In consequence, mills have shut down, prices have 

 advanced, perishable articles of great value ha^'e 

 been destroyed, and hundreds of car-loads of food 

 products have been delayed in reaching their natu- 

 ral markets. In other territories there have been 

 so many cars on the lines of the carriers and in their 

 terminals that transportation service has been 

 thrown into unprecedented confusion, long delays 

 in transit have been the mle rather than the ex- 

 ception, and the operation of established industnal 

 activities has been made uncertain and difficult. 

 These conditions have made necessaiy a far-reach- 

 ing investigation by the commission and now ur- 

 gently demand prompt, decisive action." 



The circulatoiy system of the nation must function 

 freely and adequately. Failure to do so not only in- 

 creases the cost; what is far more important, it de- 

 stroys production., It discourages the farmer and 

 the manufacturer. Probably no single agency, ex- 

 cept the private monopoly of land and mineral re- 

 sources, is as responsible for monopoly, for cui'tailed 

 production and the high cost of living, as the private 

 ownership of the railways, with the car shortages, 

 disciimination, and high cost of service. This is 

 true of coal, of oil, of raw materials, of food and the 

 necessities of life. 



In spite of the orders of the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission and the agreement of the railroads to 



