Fayetteville Observer

How Railroads Injure Farmers.

Not long since a farmer of our State was bitterly complaining of a railroad to one who was connected with the management of the road. "Why," said the farmer, "I was fool enough to take stock to the amount of five hundred dollars, and I have lost every cent of it. And besides the cursed thing runs through my farm."

"And has greatly injured it, I suppose," added the other, smiling and looking the old farmer full in the face.

"Injured it!" repeated the farmer. "To be sure it has. Why do you ask such a foolish question?"

"How much damage were you paid by the corporation?" asked the other.

"In the neighborhood of six hundred dollars," the farmer replied. "But it was not half enough."

"Of course not," added the railroad man, smiling. "But permit me to ask you one more question. What could you have sold your farm for a dozen years ago?"

"I was once offered twenty-five hundred dollars," replied the farmer.

"And what can you sell it for now?" inquired the other.

The fellow scratched his head; and, after some hesitation, he confessed he had been recently offered four thousand dollars.

"Just as I expected," was the reply of the other. "Now let us figure up a moment, if you please. You have lost five hundred in the stock, and have received for land damages the six hundred, and the railroad has added to the price of your farm, according to your own showing, fifteen hundred, so that you fairly owe the Railroad sixteen hundred. Am I right?"

The farmer was compelled to confess he had made money out of the railroad, notwithstanding he had lost five hundred dollars in the original stock. Thus it is, and what shall we say of those croaking farmers who never paid a cent for the making of a road, and whose farms have been nearly doubled in price and value by it. There are hundreds such, and yet they are constantly heaping curses on railroads and their managements.
The above which we clip from a northern contemporary is alike applicable in almost every quarter of the country. It is well to look in the mirror sometimes, and we advise the querulent and fault finding to take a chance, and at least one eye on it.