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THE TRUTH ABOUTH THE RAILROADS

objections, — many of which are not justified when the facts are known, — magnifying the errors, and minimizing the good work done?

The future welfare of the railway system of the United States is largely in the hands of the railway-user, and what will he do? Will he crowd the railway-owner so hard that the latter cannot produce the increasing amount of transportation needed for the free flow of the commercial life-blood of the nation? Then what? The railway-user will have several courses open to him. He can have a less rigid system of regulation and government red tape and encourage the railway business and the railway-owner to go on as does other business, subject to the great laws of supply and demand, competition, and the natural desire of the owner to manage his business in such a way that it will be a success, with the hope of profit, which is the main incentive of all business. Or, he can take over the ownership and management of the railways and become responsible for their operation and for the money needed for additions and betterments

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