78 THE AGRICULTURAL BLOC 



plus, all hinge upon the question of proper ad- 

 justment of rates covering the transportation 

 of products from our inland centers of high 

 production to the shipping terminal. 



The effect of these freight rates upon agri- 

 culture was not alone in the losses involved, but 

 they also served to enlighten our agricultural 

 people to their own interest in properly regu- 

 lated transportation. Heretofore the farmer 

 was seldom present when national policies 

 regarding railroads were drafted. About the 

 only time he appeared was to complain occasion- 

 ally when rates got out of line with the value 

 of some particular product. The individual 

 roads would make an adjustment which would 

 temporarily meet the demand and the disturb- 

 ance passed over without any permanent remedy 

 being developed. This system of adjustment 

 merely postponed a day when the entire sub- 

 ject must necessarily be considered. We are 

 approaching that day in surprising rapidity and 

 there is nothing to be gained in postponing 

 action further. 



