Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/221

Rh that I am taking up a heavy load and trying to solve a difficult problem.

My experience for thirty-three years has been west of the Mississippi River, where some of the conditions are very different from those in New England, but where some are much the same. At points in the West there are complicated and congested terminals,—Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Superior, Spokane, Portland, Tacoma, and Seattle. In places the trackage is insufficient for the number of trains moving over it. There are branch lines that cannot earn enough to pay expenses, to say nothing of taxes and a return on their value. There is complaint, and discussion in communities about facilities, rates, and service. All of these conditions exist in New England.

The growth that has come and is coming to that great area west of the Mississippi River will have a reflex action and a great effect on New England, and there are certain facts that are most interesting. Minnesota, where I have Rh