370 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



grounds for suspecting that some of the officers of the 

 road are interested in the mine. 



" ' The railroad managers say that while the " fast 

 freight" lines may conflict with the interests of the 

 stockholders of a road, they don't injure the farmers. 

 I contend that they do. The rates of freight arid fare 

 are fixed with reference to the dividends that it is 

 desired to make. Anything, therefore, that reduces 

 the profits to the stockholders increases the rates which 

 the farmer has to pay. Suppose this Burlington road 

 should actually make only three per cent, this year, 

 don't you suppose they would raise their rates the next ? 

 At the same time the " ring," comprising some of the 

 officers of the road, may he making enough on " fast 

 freight " lines, " palace car " lines, and other inside 

 arrangements, to increase the dividends very greatly, 

 were the profits divided among the stockholders. These 

 are but a few of the abuses of which we complain. On 

 some of the roads there are " construction rings " and 

 " rings " of various kinds. All we ask is that the rail- 

 roads shall be honestly managed ; that the " rings " shall 

 be broken, and then we are willing to pay for moving 

 our crops such prices as will fairly remunerate the rail- 

 road companies.' 



" ' How do you propose to bring about this reform ? ' 

 I asked. 



" ' We hold, in the first place, that the Legislature 

 has a right to control the railroads. It has a right to 

 know just how much the service which they render 

 costs, and to enact that higher than certain rates are 

 extortionate. The act that was passed really strikes 

 only at unjust discriminations, and has increased the 

 burdens of the farmers at all competing points as well 



