neroden
Engineer
I thought this was an excellent article.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2021/...2l0E9x8qSrgJGLSjr0rs1RNPuiaLhe5COHyx8oAlhIHKU
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2021/...2l0E9x8qSrgJGLSjr0rs1RNPuiaLhe5COHyx8oAlhIHKU
"Amtrak Joe vs. the Modern Robber Barons".
- Thread starter neroden
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Very interesting.
From the article:
"Because of the ICC and the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890, railroads in that era were subject to far more regulation and antitrust enforcement than railroads face today. That’s one big reason why late-19th- and early-20th-century rail tycoons like James Hill or E. H. Harriman concentrated on building and improving railroads rather than on predatory pricing and demarketing like today’s financiers".
I always thought the application of term "robber baron", regarding James J. Hill and E.H. Harriman, is unwarranted. Hill did not charge unreasonable costs to farmers and crop growers, as he knew it would not pay off in the long run. He always wanted greater tonnage, for each train, so that he could keep the shipping costs to the farmers at reasonable rates. He also employed agricultural experts to teach farmers on best ways to increase crop yield. Hill was also very philanthropic in his later years. There was one incident where workmen, along the line, had to shovel snow in extremely cold weather, in order to clear the way for the train. Hill allowed the workers into his private and heated railroad car to warm up a bit. Hill then took one of the shovels and started to dig.
I guess there are several candidates, today, who would be considered modern day robber barons. My pick would be the TV cable companies.
From the article:
"Because of the ICC and the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890, railroads in that era were subject to far more regulation and antitrust enforcement than railroads face today. That’s one big reason why late-19th- and early-20th-century rail tycoons like James Hill or E. H. Harriman concentrated on building and improving railroads rather than on predatory pricing and demarketing like today’s financiers".
I always thought the application of term "robber baron", regarding James J. Hill and E.H. Harriman, is unwarranted. Hill did not charge unreasonable costs to farmers and crop growers, as he knew it would not pay off in the long run. He always wanted greater tonnage, for each train, so that he could keep the shipping costs to the farmers at reasonable rates. He also employed agricultural experts to teach farmers on best ways to increase crop yield. Hill was also very philanthropic in his later years. There was one incident where workmen, along the line, had to shovel snow in extremely cold weather, in order to clear the way for the train. Hill allowed the workers into his private and heated railroad car to warm up a bit. Hill then took one of the shovels and started to dig.
I guess there are several candidates, today, who would be considered modern day robber barons. My pick would be the TV cable companies.
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Elton Musk fits the Title to a T!!!
I have some suggestions as to where Joe could get some money to keep Amtrak afloat...... 
