The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-07
Low AND UNIFORM RAILWAY FARES

We published yesterday report of con-
versation between the correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial and Mr.. Everett, the
English railroad man, who recently travelled
through the South. Barring the tone of inso-
lent and patronizing depreciation which runs
through this conversation on both sides, it
contains suggestions which are of value
not because they differ materially from the
ideas which prevail among our people, but
because they lend to our views the valuable
corroboration of practical man who has had
a large experience in railroad matters, and
who has invested his own means in the pro-
jects which he recommends. Mr. Everett's
ruling idea is that the great need of the South
is cheap transit for the products of the coun-
try to the seaboard, and this he proposes to
secure by constructing new lines of railway,
and consolidating connecting lines so as to
establish uniformly low rates. The purpose
is excellent; but as usual with persons who
have excellent purposes, Mr.. Everett deludes
himself with the idea that his objects can be
accomplished by means of certain amount
of talk in the way of lectures and ad-
vice. His great error is in presuming
that the Southern people are insensi-
BILE to the advantages to be derived from
cheap freights and augmented railroad
facilities, and that they need to be scolded
into investing their money in enterprises look
ing to these results. He tells them, for in
stance, that they ought to invest every spare
dollar in building new railways But in the
first place, they have no spare dollars and,
in the next place, their spare dollars are need
ed for the restoration of their agricultural in
dustry. Railroads are good things, but if they
absorb the capital which is necessary to pro-
duction, they lock it up in unproductive
works. and thence become a positive injury.
All that the Southern people can do is to re-
move obstacles which interfere with the in
vestment of foreign capital in these enter
prises and this, we believe, they are per-
fectly willing to do. But, above all, it is ne
cessary that the railway companies now in
operation should be convinced that
their true interests would be better SUBJ |
served by the adoption of uniform and low |
rates of fare and freight, than by COM
phcated system of unequal and high rates. |
4 MIR. Everett seems to think that because |
this has not yet been accomplished, the
Southern people are justly liable to censure /
for want of energy and enterprise; and he
gives, as an illustration, his own success in
achieving similar purpose. on the line be-
tween Memphis and Norfolk. With million
dollars in his pocket he found means to con-
troll recusant company, and bring it to his
terms; and he complacently tells us to 90 and
DO Likewise. Very well, Mr.. Everett; if you
have few millions more to spare, and are SO
veil convinced that your plan will be profit
lble to yourself as a railroad man, we shall
De very happy to see you carry it into effect
IN the main line connecting the North and
Vest with New Orleans. But we have not the
Millions, and we must, therefore, for the
'resent, at least, trust to the sagacity of the
xisting companies