The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-29
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT Top1os-ooMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
HOW A GREAT RAILROAD WHEN PRO
PERLY MANAGED SUCCEEDS.

,PERLY MANAGED SUCCEEDS.
From the Harrisburg state Journal
We need not tell the reader who is ac-
quainted with the railroad developments of
the country, that New York railroad interests
for years controlled the passenger and trans
portation business of the country. The CEN
tire of commercial wealth, the port of entry
for foreign importation, and the financial
headquarters of the continent, New York rail
road men simply treated with contempt all
efforts of other men who presumed to COM
pete with them in this business. They ruled
railroad stocks Just about as corruptly and as
arrogantly as Napoleon ruled France, and Just
as that bloated imperial adventurer fell in
disgrace and impotence, when he came in
direct contact with rival whom he treated
with contempt, so are railroad men fading
away or being overleaped in contest with
the superior skill and honest and energetic
man'senS mia RSiroad This Tue contest tnnSSHa has
been sharp, quick, and decisive For years,
the boast was on the side of New York-the
journalists of that city regaling themselves
with ''brag" of what they could and would
do in this particular, but when the final con-
test came, it resulted in fixing the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad as the controller of that inte-
rest on the American continent. This is now
unquestionsbly the situation of railroad affairs
in this country. Pennsylvania is not only the
Keystone of the Federal arch, but she is the
key which unlocks the natural resources of
the continent affording means of travel
and carriage for freight between all our
great markets. From the Atlantic coast to
the shores of the lakes thence to the
Gulf, and in wide reach over the prai-
ries to the Pacific Ocean, this mighty enter
prise now holds supreme control of our inter-
nal commerce, and before long will exercise
potent influence on the trade of the world.
There is something sublime in the contempla-
tion of such fact, for the reason that it
proves what can be accomplished by fair en-
terprise and correct dealing. In restoring
the trade and prosperity of the South, there
is no doubt this road is now accomplish
ing as much if not more than is done by
acts of Congress and Ku-klux legislation,
essential a law may be, in cases like
this, it irritates and antagonizes, while a
great enterprise which invites TO rival
ries, which stimulates industry in CON-
munities, is always sure to mark its
progress by prosperity. 1t is singular fact,
too, that the Pennsylvania Railroad, more
than any other, was directly identified with
our military operations to crush rebellion,
Mr. Lincoln frequently expressing his re-
lance on this corporation as an efficient
auxiliary in the work of defense and attack.
By it Union armies, almost en- naGsse, were
hurled with the speed of lightning to annihi-
late Rebel hosts, and by it now, the regions
once devastated by war are reinvigorated with
trade, and brought in communication with
markets to which they never before had ac-
cess The same influence and results apply
and will affect the great West in all direc-
tions. The products of the prairies will ere
long be carried to the markets of the world,
with only one transhipment and by the same
bill of lading. By the connections of this
extending and consolidating line, goods
can be carried from our Eastern sea-
board to any part of the country where
q railroad extends, in the same car in
which they were first loaded. Its links ex-
tended to every commercial mart. 1t holds
in one mighty chain the rice, cotton, and
tobacco fields of the South, the inexhsustible
grain growing region of the West, the iron,
coal, and oil of the North and the Middle
States, and the manufacturing localities of
the East. 1t is the veritable golden circle set
in iron bands-a medium of communication
so tremendous in its power and irresistible in
its influence, as to make self-government and
the prosperity of free people no longer O
mockery and subject of ridicule among the
aristocracies of the old world. And as long
as such enterprises can be kept within the
channel of their legitimate usefulness
whereby this road secured its power for sue
cess, they will add annually to our pros
perity as people and greatness as nation.