nor pen, may attempt to describe
the marvelous results which will follow the introduction of an era of
good roads. In a brief way, I will try to give a few of the most
important. In the matter of travel and transportation, these free
highways, will annually, save millions of dollars to citizens of the
Republic, by enabling them to escape from the clutches of the largest
and most powerful of all monopolies; the railway monopoly. A monopoly,
that for many years, has held the public by the throat; exacting a
tariff so exorbitant, as to be almost prohibitory. A monopoly, which
has had the amazing gall to pose as the farmer's especial benefactor. A
monopoly, that while so posing, has robbed the country of one-half its
wealth, by transferring the same to cities. A monopoly, that in the name
of good business, has had the stupidity to decree through its tariff
schedule, that miles and miles of empty freight cars, shall daily,
throughout the land, roll past hundreds of thousands of farms, where
countless tons of heavy freight, in the way of fresh vegetables, lie
rotting for the want of a market. A monopoly, that never neglects an
opportunity for fleecing the public. A monopoly, so unscrupulous, that
for the pork trust, it will haul a hog across the continent for ninety
cents; while for indifferent service, it dares to charge the people,
from two and one-half, to five cents per mile.

"And yet, George, just think of it! In the beginning, this monopoly was
chartered to serve the people who granted the franchise. A monopoly, now
grown so bold, that when the public protests that the franchise is
violated, because the interests of the people are no longer served; a
Vanderbilt railroad king, insolently replies: 'The public be damned!' A
monopoly that has killed all healthy competition, by organizing all
railroads into one giant pool; thereby creating the mother of trusts,
controlling a corruption fund of enormous magnitude. A monopolistic
trust, grown so rich and powerful, as to be beyond the reach of law;
boldly corrupting courts, buying legislators, and turning the
administration of justice into a farce. In fact, this monstrous combine,
has become so dangerous to every interest of good government, that the
law of self-preservation demands that it shall be speedily wiped out, by
the government ownership of all railroads.

"We may now consider the ways and means, by which our co-operative
system of good roads, can control railroad fr