220 
NOTES ON PUBLIC QUESTIONS. 
Flokida Freight Rates. —The Florida 
Fast Coast Railway connects Jacksonville 
in the northeastern part of the State with 
Key West. It is the only railroad outlet 
for the fruit and truck growers of the 
eastern half of the State. The territory of 
Fast Florida is about 400 miles long and 
100 wide. The railway is about 600 miles 
long, the last hundre'd miles being built 
over the sea. Freight rates are high, al¬ 
ways have been high, and are now 'advanced 
until they are nearly prohibitive. Just 
at the beginning of this present shipping 
season the railroad filed tariffs with the 
Interstate Commerce Commission naming in¬ 
creases in rates on fruits and vegetables 
to all northern markets. The principal 
business of the East Florida farmers is 
the growing of fruit and truck for the 
early markets of the Northern States. 
These tariffs were suspended by the Com¬ 
mission pending an investigation into the 
reasonableness of the proposed advances. 
The Commerce Court has now granted an 
injunction against the Commission which 
allows the increased rates to go into effect. 
Before the question can be settled by the 
courts the present shipping season will 
have passed and Florida farmers will have 
paid the higher rates. 
Why Advanced? —The Florida East Coast 
Railway almost parallels the Atlantic sea¬ 
board and is built on very level ground. The 
cost of construction was very low compared 
with the average railroad of the country. 
There being no steep grades to climb the 
cost of hauling freight ought to be com¬ 
paratively low, and no doubt is low. Thou 
why should the rates'for traffic be high and 
going still higher? The railroad is the 
property of one of the Standard Oil group 
of financiers, Mr. Flagler. This road is his 
pet hobby. The last hundred miles of the 
southern end of the line is a viaduct of 
cement construction, a wonderful bridge-of- 
the-sea. At the south end of Florida lies 
a coral reef or string of islands, and the 
road is built over these islands, high 
enough and strong enough to withstand anv 
ocean storm. Key West is 90 miles only 
from Havana, Cuba, and Mr. Flagler has 
planned a line of car ferries from Kev 
West to Havana. This hundred mile bridge 
has just been completed and trains began 
regular trips a few days ago into Kev 
West. The railroad will be a link in a 
chain for the products of the tropics to 
northern markets. 
Capitalization of the Road.— This 
road, now 600 miles long, is capitalized at 
thirty-five millions, almost sixty thousand 
dollars a mile. The hundred miies over the 
sea has cost nearly .$290,000 per mile, a 
total of twenty millions, while the five hun¬ 
dred miles on the main land cost about 
thirty thousand per mile, or fifteen millions. 
This oversea extension is of no benefit to 
the farmers of East Florida, and without 
this extension fair rates on the cost of 
the road could be paid if much lower rates 
were paid. But with this huge increase 
of cost of road higher rates must- be 
charged if interest on bonds and dividends 
on stock are to be paid. The stock of the 
road is placed at five millions and all held 
by Mr. Flagler. There are thirty millions 
of bonds outstanding. Profits on this huge 
capitalization is what the farmers of East 
Florida are called on to pay. Is it any 
wonder that they object to "this form of 
something like robbery? 
Higher Oil. —Early in January the 
Standard Oil Company advanced the prices 
of kerosene and other oils and gasoline 
about 15 per cent over last year's prices. 
This must be a result of the “competition” 
of the various constituent companies into 
which the big company was “disintegrated” 
by the Supreme Court. If not that reason 
what is the cause in the present advance? 
No doubt there were some simple-minded 
folk that thought there would be real com¬ 
petition in the oil business, and that as 
a result the price of oil would drop. There 
seems to be no indication of a drop yet. 
History of Standard Oil. —The Stand¬ 
ard Oil Company was organized in 1882. 
It grew from a small business to a business 
employing 65,000 men. and with an invest¬ 
ment of about six hundred million dollars 
in 1911. In 1.899 its capital stock was in¬ 
creased to one hundred millions, and there 
it remained till its dissolution last De¬ 
cember. There were no bonds. During 
the last-12 years the rate of dividend has 
averaged about 40 per cent annually, going 
to 48 per cent in 1900. The profits for 
30 years have been a little over a billion 
dollars. The stock has been held at above 
the 600 mark for a decade, owing to the 
40 per cept dividends. Its career has been 
marked by destructive competition. It has 
ruined literally thousands of its competi¬ 
tors by all sorts of methods. It has re¬ 
ceived millions in rebates from railroads, in 
some cases receiving part of the freight 
money paid to railroads by its rivals. It 
has sold oil for less than its competitors 
in certain sections, even given it away for 
a time, till the rival was ruined, when it 
would restore the former rates or increase 
them. It has spied on its competitors and 
ruined users of oil from other companies. 
It lias ruined producers of oil. It is a mid¬ 
dleman paying its own price for the raw 
product and charging all it could get for 
its refined product. All these facts were 
proved in the trial of the ease in the Su¬ 
preme . Court of the United States. Last 
May the Supreme Court handed down a 
verdict convicting the company of "unrea¬ 
sonable” restraint of trade and ordered its 
dissolution by the district court. 
Form of Dissolution.— Being in viola¬ 
tion of the Sherman Anti trust law passed 
in 1890, the Standard Oil Company was 
“dissolved,” or as the Attorney-General of 
the United States preferred to call it. “dis¬ 
integrated” into its parts. The Attorney- 
General conferred with the circuit court 
in New York City and with the attorneys 
of the Standard Oil Company and it was 
arranged to “disintegrate” the company 
into 34 parts. Each stockholder under the 
plan was to receive shares in each and all 
of the 34 new companies pro rata with 
stock held.' It was assumed by the court 
that this would bring about competition 
between the various new companies. No 
one familiar with monopoly expected any- 
THI£ KURAb NEW-YORKER 
February 17. 
thing of the sort. It was merely a legal 
“fiction.” Why should stockholders in 34 
.companies want competition in prices? The 
same men are in control, the same plans 
will prevail, and the same monopoly of the 
market will continue. The price of the 
Standard Oil stock has not declined, in fact 
has advanced, showing that the “disin¬ 
tegration” has been a benefit rather than 
harmful. All this has given the new 
Standard Oil companies a clean bill of 
health by the courts. The court convicted 
the company of crime but took away none 
of its property ; rather added to it. as the 
stock is worth more than before the case 
came to trial. There has been no punish¬ 
ment. The thousands of ruined competi¬ 
tors have had nothing restored to them. 
The public will now pay in advanced prices 
for the cost of the suit that dragged 
through the courts for many years. 
Some Lessons from these Gases. —The 
private monopoly of our railroads must 
some day give way to a better control, that 
of a public monopoly. If the public owned 
the roads the farmers of east Florida would 
not lie called on to. bear the expense of 
excessive capitalization to satisfy the whims 
of some millionaire. They would be run at 
cost, with rates on a fair value of plant. 
There would be no watered stock to ex¬ 
tract profits from the public. Railroads 
are essentially monopolies. They are pub¬ 
lic utilities, and should be owned and 
operated by the public. We have been try¬ 
ing for 23 years to regulate them, but we 
accomplish very little in the line of 
“regulation.” The railroads do pretty much 
as they please. Of course the evil of re¬ 
bating has been largely stopped, but that 
was largely because the railroads had be¬ 
come consolidated into vast systems, and 
no longer were in competition for business. 
A year ago the roads were stopped in their 
plans for increased rates, and they cut 
down the number of track and train em¬ 
ployees until there was a long list of 
wrecks. What the public saved in rates 
they paid for in human lives. The rail¬ 
roads of Europe under public ownership are 
far ahead of ours in safety. Their rates 
are lower if all classes of traffic are taken 
Into consideration. The railroads here own 
the express companies, and thus skim off 
the cream of the transportation business. 
In Europe heavy freight and non-perishable 
products use the cheaper canals for trans¬ 
portation. 
In the ease of the industrial monopoly of 
the Standard Oil Company another prob¬ 
lem is presented. Industrial concerns are 
not essentially monopolies. There is some 
form of special privileges on which they 
are built. Sometimes industrial monopolies 
are due to tariff laws, sometimes to rail¬ 
road favors, sometimes to protection af¬ 
forded by patents, sometimes they are due 
to control of supplies. Every form of 
special privilege should first be abolished 
and then if. the monopoly still continues 
there must be an effective control by the 
Government. In this country Government 
has been too long controlled by monopoly. 
The Sherman law in its present form is 
not an effective agent in controlling big 
business interests. Other nations control 
monopolies and they can he controlled here, 
if we do away with all forms of special 
privilege and see that our laws are obeyed 
by rich and poor without favoritism. 
F. N. CLARK. 
Another Smoke-House. —B. B. (page 61) 
asks for an up-to-date smoke-house plan. 
Here is mine: A stone large enough for 
the foundation is laid; mine is three feet 
four inches by four feet four inches. On 
this brick is laid two feet high. On top 
of this a board structure four feet high 
is placed, being slanted three or four 
inches for the roof, which is another stone 
about 4x5 feet put on with cement. Cleats 
are nailed along the sides into which are 
slid scantlings 2x4 with hooks or nails on 
which to hang the meat. This may not be 
up-to-date, but it serves our purpose, and 
we usually have it filled two or three times 
each year by the neighbors, who like the 
way it does the job. We burn wood and 
the ashes from house are stored in it with 
perfect safety. j. d. s. 
We 
Guarantee 
More 
Milk- 
More 
Butter 
Good health for 
all your cows the 
year round and 
smaller feed bills, 
if you use 
p rattSj 
Animal Regulator 
It is a necessity to every farmer. Pratts 
Animal Regulator mixed with the usual 
feed is inexpensive and makes the best 
milk ration known. 
It increases the yield and makes the milk much 
richer in butter fat. Pratts Animal Regulator aids 
digestion and tones up the whole system. No feed 
is wasted, consequently every pound will bring bet¬ 
ter results regardless of what you may be feeding. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed 
or Money Back 
Try it with all or part of your cows and note results. 
Make the same test with your horses, hogs and sheep. 
25 lb. pails $3.50. Also in smaller packages 
and 100 lb. bags. Send for our valuable 
FREE Stock Book. 
Pratts Poultry Regulator guarantees you 
more eggs and better, healthier fowls. 
If your dealer can't supply you write us. 
PRATT FOOD CO. Dept. 55, Philadelphia, P«. 
■K*.. 
The question of the most profitable fertilizer 
for potatoes has been the subject of very 
extended investigations. 
a c, 
’ The conclusion is that 1000 lbs. per acre of 5% 
ammonia, 8/o phosphoric acid and lO/o 
POTASH 
for early potatoes and BOO lbs. of 3-6-8 for the late crop are the 
most profitable under average conditions. The Potash should 
be in the form of Sulfate. 
Many growers use double these amounts. 
Such brands can be bad if you insist upon them. Do not accept 
so-called potato fertilizers of low grade. 
Write us for Potash prices and for Free books with formulas 
and directions. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, Inc. 
Continental Bldg., Baltimore Monadnock Block, Chicago 
Whitney Central Bank Building, New Orleans 
Ask about our 
Special January 
Discount 
/ 
LIME 
Finely Ground—Easy to 
Handle—Needs no Slak¬ 
ing—Ready to Drill . . . 
WHY pay $25 per 
z 
ton lor fertilizers 
when by using 
lime you can lib¬ 
erate the natural 
phosphates, ni¬ 
trates and potash 
locked up in the 
soil. 
WHY not raise 
Alfalfa by using 
lime and cut down 
your grain ration 
one-third. 
WHY notsweeten 
your sour soils and increase the yield of 
grain,cabbages, beets,clover and Timothy. 
Send for circulars, samples and prices 
THE SOLVAY PROCESS CO., Syracuse, New York 
“PAQT-T 'TAT LTQ” This is our 
LAon 1 AiLvIVO Salesman 
The Fertilizer Materials Supply Co. 
a of pure s FERTILIZER MATERIALS F m R ixing E 
Also complete Fertilizers for general purposes, and 
Special Mixtures of any grade made up to 
order, under buyer’s supervision 
80 Wall Street, New York ’Phone 3958 John 
Hay at $25.00 PerTon 
With hay selling at $25.00 per ton. corn and other 
grains selling at a very high price, you want to 
secure the 
BEST FERTILIZER to INCREASE Your Crops 
Joynt’s Pure Canada Gnleaclied Hardwood Ashes 
are the Best Manure for worn-out Lands. THEY 
ENRICH THK EARTH. Write for information 
and prices delivered at your station. Address 
JOHN JOYNT, LUCKNOW, Ont., Canada 
LIME 
In powdered or lump form. Bagged 
or in bulk. Works at Ravenn, N.Y., 
and at Bellefonte. Pa. HUDSON RIVER 
LIME CO.. 1704 Ave. H. Brooklyn, N. Y 
Lime! Lime! Lime! 
FARMERS, Let us send you a sample and prices 
of our Granular Hydrated agricultural Lime. 
It drills excellently—will not swell and burst bags. 
YOUR LAND NEEDS IT 
THE NATIONAL LIME & STONE COMPANY 
Carey, Ohio' 
Saw Tables, Sawing' Outfits on 
■ Wheels, 24-in. Saws $4.50, 26-in. 
Saws $5.25, Gasoline Engines 
s from 2 to 12 H. P. Catalogue free. 
PALMER BROS., COS COB, CONN. 
DITrilTO that PAY. $378,140 made by Clients. 
Y A I L 11 I A Instructive 112-p. Guide Book Free ! 
■ o i L.U i u free report as to patentability. 
E. E. VltooMAK, Pat. Atty., 838 F St., Wash., D.C. 
CIDER PRESSES 
The Original Mt. Gilead Hydraulic Press 
produces more eider from less 
apples than any other and is a 
BIG MONEY MAKER. Sizes 
10 to 400 barrels daily. Also 
cider evaporators, apple- 
butter cookers, vinegar 
generators, etc. 
CATALOGUE FREE. 
THE HYDRAULIC PRESS MFG. CO.I 
137 Lincoln Ave., Mt. GUead, Ohio, ’ 
Or Room 119 L 39 Cortlandt Street, New York, N. ¥• 
A BEAUTIFUL FARM 
ing and trucking section in the world; fertile soil, 
and fine climate; also a beautiful water front farm 
witli timber. For full particulars address Samuel 
P. Woodcock. Salisbury, Wicomico County, Md. 
np/'X T> |7jVTnr Desirable Dairy Farms in 
TVHylN X Hoosick and Schagliticoke, 
Rensselaer County, N. Y. Good buildings; near 
creamery and markets. Address LEGIiAND C. 
TIBBITS, Agent, Hoosick, N, Y. 
From the Peanut Fields of Virginia 
To the Orange Groves of Florida j fi .. 
Thru the 6 Sou. States traversed by 
the S. A. L. Ry. You can be independent 
raising fruits and vegetables. Land cheap, easy terms. 
Ideal climate, plenty of water. 2 to 3 crops a year, net 
$500 to $1000 per acre in Manatee County, --v, 
on the West Coast of Florida. Booklet Ejf ~ 
free. J. A. Pride. Gen. Ind. Agt. 
Seaboard Air Line Railway, 
Suite 606 Norfolk, Va. M 
WOOD ASH 
SUBSTITUTE 
Contains all the valuable elements of natural wood 
ashes (lime, potash, phosphoric acid), with less 
objectionable features. Used with stable manure, 
it makes the ideal fertilizer for orchards. 
CALEDONIA CHEMICAL CO., Caledonia, N. Y. 
SPLENDID CROPS 
} n Saskatchewan (Western Canada) 
Bushelsfrom 20 Acres 
of wheat was the thresher’s re¬ 
turn from a Lloydminster farm 
during one season. Many fields 
in that as well as other districts 
yielded from 25 to 85 bushels of 
wheat to the acre. Other grains 
In proportion. 
Large Profits 
are thus derived from the 
FREE HOMESTEAD 
LANDS of Western Canada. 
This excellent showing causes prices 
to advance. Land values should double 
In two years’ time. 
Grain growing, mixed farming, 
cattle raising and dairying are all 
profitable. Free Homesteads of l(i<) 
acres are to be had In the very best 
districts; 160-acre pre-emption at 
§ 3.00 per acre within certain areas. 
ohools and churches In every set¬ 
tlement, climate unexcelled, soil 
the richest; wood, water and build¬ 
ing material plentiful. 
For settlers’ low railway rates and illus¬ 
trated pamphlet, "Last Best West.” and 
other information, write to Supt. Im¬ 
migration, Ottawa. Can., orCan.Gov, Agt. 
J. S. CRAWFORD . 
301 E. GENESEE STREET 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
CAROLINA 
COAST 
COUNTRY 
The GULF STREAM 
LAND OF 
MILD WINTERS 
Thousands of Acres—Rich, Black 
Sandy Loam Soil; Virgins Farm 
Lands, fronting on the ocean. 
Ample monthly rainfall. 
Nearby markets. Twelve 
hours from New York. 
Low priced farming lands. Monthly Excursions. 
Write for Free Colored Maps and Descriptive Litera¬ 
ture. Address W. W. CR0XT0N, G. P, A,, Norfolk 
Southern R. R,, Dept, D, Norfolk, Virginia. 
Choice Virginia Farms 
Along 
The 
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO RY. 
$15.00 AN ACRE AND UP. Abundant rainfall (4 in. 
per month) rich soil, mild winters, close liastern markets. 
lO acre farms $275. Write today for took let. 
Country We in Virginia” (134 pa$;es) and low ex¬ 
cursion rates. Address K. T. CRAWLEY, Industrial 
Agent, C. & O. Ry., Room 91, Richmond, Virginia 
Desirable 
Improved 
Grain, Fruit 
and Dairy 
FarmsForSale 
in Central New York at prices from $20 to 
$100 per acre, with good buildings. For full 
particulars write 
ITHACA REALTY CO. 
107 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, N. Y. 
Seat of Cornell University and New York. 
State Agricultural College. 
VIRGINIA LANDS 
Large and select list of choice stock, grain, fruit, 
dairy and truck farms. Water front properties: 
large tracts for colonization purposes. Timber 
tracts in all sizes, $10.00 per acre and up. Send for 
free illustrated catalogue. .J. A. CONNELLY & 
CO., Dept. F, 7tli and Franklin Sts., Richmond, Ya 
Eastern Shore of Maryland 
from Pooomoke, town of 3,000 people; 74 acres 
arable, 20 timber. Ideal land for potatoes, berries, 
g rain and grass. Best apple orchard in county. 
uildings new, 8-room duelling, slate roof, 3 large 
porches, beautiful shaded lawn. Price $6,000; $2,000 
cash, remainder on mortgage. Other farms $25 to 
$75 per acre. For description in detail, address 
M. L. VEASEY, Box H, Poeomoke City, Md. 
CA PMC Circular free. Dept. 151, Lelamls’ 
I HlllrfO Farm Agency, 31 Milk St., Boston 
Trustworthy Men orWomen 
Wanted as local representatives of responsible manufacturer. 
High-class merchandise anti clean selling methods. $12.00 per 
week guaranteed on easy conditions, with possibility of $30.00 
and advance. Experience not necessary.. 
MANUFACTURER, Box AY 278. Philadelphia 
