Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/298



In developing any new country, transportation facilities are a necessity. On the Ohio frontier one of the first questions that confronted the pioneer was, how to get his produce to market by a cheap and efficient means of transportation. Until government roads and canals were opened it was not practical nor profitable to carry products to any distant market. They found it necessary to convert their bulky products into a condensed form, for instance wheat and corn to whisky, or they raised livestock, which could walk to market. In Kentucky and Tennessee it was the same way. And in later years in the development of South Africa by the British government the first step was the construction of railroads. Russia used the same method in Siberia.

In every case we find that consolidated capital was the means of opening up the country, and developing facilities otherwise impossible. No individual would risk his entire fortune in such an uncertain venture. The Erie canal was scoffed at by the general public until it was proved a success. The Pacific railroad was pushed to completion in the face of strong opposition. All through history are instances of consolidation of capital, government or otherwise, for promoting the prosperity of the country. It has seldom resulted in monopoly, but monopoly is the natural tendency. In the development of a project all the parties interested concentrate their forces upon a certain plan of action. As the plans develop the organization becomes stronger and is more able to resist opposition and if they are in a position to control any essential feature of the project the outcome is the seizure of it as a sure means of success. When this is accomplished monopoly is assured.