Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1911 — Railroads and Farmer. [ARTICLE]

Railroads and Farmer.

One of the big railroad systems has announced Its intention of cultivating friendly relations with the farmers who reside along its lines. Possibly the farmers will be found responsive to this tender of the olive branch. There !s undoubtedly a deep-seated prejudice against railroads in many farming communities. Were ft possible to remove this prejudice the railroads and the farmers would both be the gainers. Most of the railroad companies in this country have never, troubled themselves particularly to cultivate friendly relations with the farmers dr with their patrons in general. As a result the roads have paid dearly for their lack of consideration. In many counties a railroad cannot hope to win a lawsuit unless it is Able to make out for itself an open-and-shut case. Failing in this the road is mulcted for about all the traffic vrlU bear. Railroads unquestionably are frequently compelled to pay damage claims that are exorbitant or unjust. On the contrary, many of them show a picayunish disposition in settling damage claims that are palpably just and reasonable and it is this pennywise policy that is largely responsible for the antagonism that exists in rural localities.—Louisville Courier-Journal