Progressive Thought from Olathe, Kansas • 1

i 4 of EQUITY. AND DAWN s. LABOR 7 I Br WE LIVE, ONWARD AND UPWARD TO A HIGHER CIVILIZATION. WE jjj TRUST. Nos.

9 10. Vol. VI. Olathe, Kansas, September and October, 1898. them in labor certificates redeemable in the products.

This would bring unprecedented prosperity in three months, would removo tho shame of needless poverty from tho nation and would bo as simple and easy a solution of the economic problem as could bo devised; but then the government won't do it. The men in control don't know enough to initiate and put through such a scheme. If I hadn't any more sense than the average congressman I'd go drown myself. F. W.

C. CENTRAL EXCHANGE. A number of branches have been for some time advocating the early establishment of a Central Exchange, and considerable preparations have been made therefor; but from all appearances the time lias not yet come when it can be done to assure a success and nothing hurts so much as failure. The preparations will be continued, and in the meanwhile a move is on foot to establish freight boat lines and other transportation fa the L. E.

on the Welsh Mountain among the poor people, many of whom from neglect and necessity were in former years obliged to pick up a living as best they could altho it sometimes led to arrests and expensive court trials which cost tho county thousands of dollars and tho thrifty farmers and merchants a great deal of annoyance. This new plan promises to bo one of the very bost things ever undertaken by the sabbath school people, and it will not only educate and elevate them mentally and morally but will put them in position to enjoy the fruits of labor and to become wealthy and happy citizens and a blessing to their country instead of a burden. Wo hope other charitable, religious and labor organizations will do something worthy on this lino of work and report to us. a single rail could bo put on tho common roads. After awhile should such a road bocomo insufficient, then it would bo time to build a narrow guago road; for tho pcoplo will havo seen in the meanwhilo how it works and will, moro readily join in.

A narrow guago road is not only cheaper than a common guago ono, but tho locomotive can bo built in such a way that it will draw fully as heavy trains as they aro nowadays running on the common guago railroad. Tho locomotive can bo put on two or more buggies, but built in a different way; instead of four cylinders, uso only two, and yet havo all wheels connected as drivers. No doad weight whatever. Tho advantago of this principlo is that tho rails need not bo so heavy as thoy aro usually, where tho locomotives aro so hoavy and their whcols so near to each othor that they cannot pass tho short curves. Accordingly, my cilities in order that we may carry our own goods at more remunerative rates to the laboring people.

Remember we are a comparatively new organization, but steadily growing stronger, and time will bring to us the aid of all othor true reformers if we continue on correct principles. nOW TO BUILD A L. E. R. R.

In the May No. of P. T. I found the article, "A Labor Exchango Railroad," which interested mo very much, as it has been my do-sire for many years to help such a people's undertaking. I havo been working as machinist and enginoer on different railroads and locomotive works both in this country PROGRESSIVE PREACHER.

OUR HOPE. Progressive preachers will admit and in liiiropo tor many years and By labor and tribute we have helped to build and create much havo road a good many scicntiho wealth in the past forty years. works on this matter, and am therefore ablo to write something which will be of valuo to our friends. Friend J. T.

R. G. has explained We can point to a great many things which are in part tho result of our toil and ingenuity, and yet very ably the financial part of tho building of a L. L. railroad; now I will try to do tho samo for the technical side.

First I want to say that it is not at all necessary to build a common guago road at tho start, because it would cost too much monov. and a short lino would not pay for itself becauso of tho too small traffic. A narrow guago road would bo that all animals do thmk some less or greater degree, as they are advanced in the scale of development; but for a long time we had not heard so cutting and truthful a statement as was uttered by the Rev. J. in the regular church service in Olathe on the 2nd Sunday of when he, in short, substantially stated that altho tho human family was considered the highest type of the animal kingdom, the most of its members very much dislike to think if they could help it, and would only do so when compelled by pressing circumstances, and even then would avoid it if possible.

This coincides very much with what wo have stated many times before in many ways. We believe that all living creatures have some power to think, but as a rule they use that power only to obtain the daily necessities and their improvement on old customs are very slow; and it seems surprising that men, who have made progress on so many linos, will not stop to think on the most essential things which are also the simplest, if they would only exercise their thinkers. tor it would bo more remunerative. But even that I consider not best now; for tho organization of the L. E.

is not yet well enough spread to undertako such a task. And yet idea is that if tho weight of a locomotive was divided between moro wheels farther apart, tho rails sufficient for carrying tho cars would bo sufficient for tho cngino too. Still later on whon this railroad becomes moro flourishing and thero is need of greater transportation facilities, a common guago railroad could bo built and our improved locomotives could haul on tho ordinary rails twice as heavy trains. These big engines I would build after tho triple expansion principle, or uso at least compounding. Even tho small onginos could havo compounding too.

Now I would like to say something on the operation of tho road. Of course tho members of tho L.E. ought to havo uso of the road at cost; but I should think it not just to givo to tho other classes tho samo right whon thoy do not lend a hand to tho undertaking. I should think it proper to mako a difference between progressive organized labor and other organized capitalists who do not do anything good for tho working people. So I propose that the outside business men pay most, but something less than tho capitalistic railroads aro charging.

Organized working men ought to pay something less than tho business men, but a little moro than our members. Surely tho road ought not to pay any dividends on tho shares of stock; but tho not income ought to bo used to extend tho roads, or to help mako a start somcwhero elso. When the svstem is extended thru- by a system wo did not establish wo are in such a condition today because of not being land owners we cannot lay claim to anything except what we might take with us if we were to remove to some other country. Now under such a circumstance can wo lawfully say that we have a country, when almost any other country would deal with us with even more respect than this one? Wo know of other persons who never did anything of merit but through fraud have acquired much supposed wealth and who are virtually under the laws considered owners of this great country. To change this condition to a just one it needs tho proper education of tho people so they will co-operate on practical lines, and to that end we launched this little journal years ago and are contin-ueing tho work at many disadvantages; but we havo hopes that in the near future wo may be able to find enough justico in this country that we may say, with pride and candor, "It is our country," and point to co-operative institutions and personal holdings for good evidence of the declaration.

it is necessary to make a start of such a business, becauso it is badly needed, and is also necessary to show that tho people aro able to do something for themselves. I there fore advise at tho start to build tho cheapest way, and yet a good one, that is a railway with a single rail, which system has been very successfully tried in several places in France. As motors, could be used suitablo traction engines with a fiincrlo cruido wheel in front run ning on tho rail and the drivers running on tho ground. The friction on the ground is 13 times greater than on a rail. The drivers oiiL'ht to have tires of wood, bo- cause that is moro elastic; but built in a little ditlerent way than commonly done.

There are many IT COULD BE DONE. This government finds itself ablo to marshall and equip a great army for destructive purposes. How A GRAND WORK. Tho manager of L. E.

Branch No. 12, John G. Zook of Lititz, gives quite an account, in the Express for Sept. 9th, of tho doings of a few earnest Sunday School workers under tho heading of "Welsh Mountain Mission." A number of Mcnnonites in the eastern part of Lancaster havo associated themselves into a Sabbath school mission and instead of sending tho money and means to distant countries to educate tho heathen, they have established an organization similar to other particulars in which a wood easy it would bo for it to marshall out tho wholo Union, then all tho roads can bo worked at cost for everybody. In tho meanwhilo wo en tiro is superior to an iron one for running on tho ground.

Tho cars aro to havo ono wheel in front nnd one at back to run on tho rail and equip a great army tor constructive purposes! Tho covern- havo enough to do to enngnien an mcnt could employ every idjo man and woman on the continent in building manufactories and in pro and carry all tho weight, and on tho people, that our aims may prosper still more. Anthony Tittel. each side of the car is a balance wheel to run on the ground. Such Topolohampo, Mexico. ducing food and clothing, paying.