Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/64

close their establishments, reduce their expenses to the necessary caretakers and lose the interest on their investment until such time as their inclinations or the demands for their particular articles make it worth while to operate their plants. The railroad, however, cannot stop; once started, it must go on unless the owners choose to abandon it absolutely, and lose not only all chance of interest on their money, but the entire principal as well. The second is that most manufacturers can warehouse their product, hold for rising prices, and sell at some future time. The railroad cannot do this. It must have ample transportation ready at any given time and place, and if it is not used then and there it is lost, not only to the railroad, but to the consumer. The manufacturer of transportation must always be ready to furnish the maximum amount of transportation for the use of the American people. In other words, he must be ready for the “peak load” at any time. This “readiness to serve” means a great investment and a great expense which is given far too little con-