38 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



hands of men of ability, and integrity too. Those men 

 are entrusted with these immense properties to make money 

 for the companies, and in this, are doing only what thous- 

 ands of good men would do under like circumstances. 

 The wrong is mainly in a system of laws and the 

 administration thereof that permits corporations to take 

 advantage of the people. 



u Here, then, is the railroad and warehouse commis- 

 sioners' report for the year 1884. These reports are made 

 up from the books of the corporations, and are said to be 

 substantially correct. On page 472 is a table giving 

 earnings, expenses and net income for that year from their 

 Illinois business. This table includes all the railroads in 

 the State, or so much of each one as is within the State, 

 and giving their earnings within the State also. I find 

 their total income from all sources for 1884 to be $56,457,- 

 238, and their total operating expenses, repairs and taxes 

 to be $36,473,227, leaving a balance of net profits on that 

 year's business of $20,097,554. 



" Pretty good. It is near 36 per cent, of the entire 

 gross receipts. For the year 1886 I find the balance of 

 profit to be some more, but will omit the figures. 



"Then what was the difference in profits between the 

 farmers and the railroad companies upon their respective 

 businesses for the year 1884 within the State? The rail- 

 road companies had a net increase of $20,097,554, but how 

 did the account stand with the farmers? Volume 22 of 

 the Agricultural Report shows that on the production of 

 the corn crop in 1884, there was a loss of $11,780,559, 

 and on the wheat crop for the same year there was a loss 

 of $8,897,389, making a total on corn and wheat that year 

 of $20,677,948. This shows a loss of near $600,000 more 

 than the railroad companies' net gain. To meet these 

 losses and pay the tax-gatherer and money-loaner mort- 

 gages had to be made. 



