Why farmers were angry at Railroad companies

Question

Why were farmers angry at the Railroad companies?

Answer 1

The farmers were angry at the railroad companies because:

1. The high cost of sending their crops to market. The one and only way to transport their grain was by railroad and their prices were very high for farm products.

2. The railroads also owned the big buildings where grain was stored. The Farmers had to pay to keep their grain there until it was sold. The storage costs were also too high.

3. The cost of borrowing moneywas also high. They opposed the import taxes -- tariffs -- they had to pay on foreign products. A number of tariffs were as high as 60%. Congress had set the levels high to protect American industry from foreign competition. However farmers said they were the victims of this policy, since it increased their costs.