75 



Due to the general atmosphere of discontent 

 which is being evinced by Capital on all sides of late, 

 -and particularly noticeable in railway affairs, I do not 

 think it possible to press for elevators under the aegis 

 of the railways, whatever may be the extent of the 

 advantages to the railways thereby. 



On the other hand, elevators will not be possible 

 except with the active co-operation of the railways, 

 and any plan must fail which proposes to eliminate rail- 

 ways from having the first choice in undertaking to erect 

 them, or which in any way prevents the railways from 

 participating in the nature of the business. Neither is it 

 necessary to accord the railways any other facilities 

 for the exploitation of elevators than would be accord- 

 ed private parties, for in truth the transport compa- 

 nies will find theren a proper complement to their 

 business where grain handling is concerned. 



UNUTILISED EXPEDIENTS. 



For the railways, elevators are one of the most po- 

 tential resources yet attained in connection with 

 transport, just as they are for the farmer with refer- 

 ence to the marketing of his produce. 



That the interests of the railways lie bound up in 

 the advancement of the well-being of the farmer is 

 true, for the welfare of one is closely connected with 

 the welfare of the other. 



Their primary interests are the securing of 

 freight, the transport thereof at a minimum cost to 

 themselves and the obtaining of a maximum charge, 

 though equitable to both parties. 



The question of freight charges is one of the thorni- 

 est of our railway problems, and on its proper ar- 

 rangement depends, we are assured by the directors of 

 the companies, the whole economical working of the 

 lines and their existence in the future. 



The elementary duty of the railway managers is 

 to secure for their investors an adequate return on 

 their money, and for this they certainly should utilise 

 and be induced to utilise all modern appliances, in.- 

 cluding elevators in the case of cereals, which consti- 

 tute their chief source of revenue in freights. 



Can it be maintained as other than inimical to 

 their interests that for a few months each year, imme- 

 diately following the harvest, their lines are chocked 

 with traffic, whilst for the rest of the year the traffic 

 barely covers working expenses? 



