The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-08-27
FACTS AND FIGURES.
The Result OF the Railroad
Commission in Tennessee.
Injury Inflicted on the Industrial
Interests-New Charters
Dead Letters.

That industry which more nearly
contains within itself all the elements
OF scientific development, embracing
the whole scope OF the intellectual
business requirements, is the railroad
industry OF this country-a national
pride, the power and strength
OF the land, which permeates the
whole internal economy Of the coun-
try, and magically spreads prosperity
and activity from its approach as the
sun does light and heat TO the dawn
ing day.
From aieeble, struggling line, looked
upon with Indifference and subjected
to disastrous prophesy, the railroads Of
the Union have gathered the peoples
OF the earth together, built cities, es-
tablished prosperity and made desert
places bloom. At a single bound the
vast continent is spanncd and spider
webbed with inyigOrating lines, which,
like arteries, grow tense and full with
glorious life. Prosperity, energy, ac-
tiyity, intelligence and wealth are all
handmaidens OF this queen Of modern
industry. What land, what people,
what nation, what state, what county,
village, hamlet, neighborhood or man
dares in the face OF it's grand accom-
plishment cooIly to reject such an en-
terprise?
In the light OF present political sur
Ioundlngs in Tennessee and in the
gt0om OF It's present railroad future, the
answer is that, like Georgia and South
Carolina, IenVs'ee covers and cringes,
falters and mumbles out, that she has
added herself to the list OF the In
glorious, and frowns upon them with
in her borders. She puts it into the
history Of her people that, in 1882,
misled, blinded and stultified by the
voices OF score Of weak minded zeal
OTIS, she put an extinguisher upon the
glowing flame OF railroad advancement
and planted her loot upon its prosper
ity and growth, by inserting in her
Democratic platform the plank for the
commission advent. She heralded il
to capital---the most sensitive financial
plant, which anything less than a
breath closcs-that not only does she
intend 10 cripple those roads which
she now has, but, by her conduct and
code OF doctrines, that she will prevent
any further lines from being estab
lished in her borders. She says TO en-
terprise, energy and commercial pros
perity; 81 'n,ite you NTH my ieh han,
and cut your throat Nth my right"
She proposed, in that year of al
misadventure, to say to all railroat
projectors that they might come anC
toll and build, but when completed
they should have foisted, az oyerseers
over their skilled and experienced
servants, the arbitrary, unlearned ant
preiudiced judgment of three men
not one OF whom had had the leas
training for their special forum, anc
Who should WELD unlimited and DIES
potic powers. What has resulted
Statistics illustrate the disaster
which have followed, and which will
continue, unless sober and cool judg
ment is sprinked upon the passion
OF such leaders as have put this foil,
in existence. In 1882 the war upol
he railroads was inaugurated. 1t
baleful effects are to be seen when
6 nsldered that, Of nearly one hur
dred railroad charters now on file i
the office OF the Secretary of State
less than one hundred miles of raj
road have been built in Tennessee
since that period.
In 1883 there were built in th
United States $50 miles OF railroac
OF which the Southern States receive
l,7lG miles. The effect of COMM.
sions upon railway construction ca
be fairly illustrated by a compariso
OF three Southern States which have
mandatory commission with thre
Others which have none, to-wit;
With Commission. without Commissi
Miles Mile
GeOrgia.,,...,,.... e. FlOridn. 2
Tenncssce,,"... % L ouisianS.".........
BY reference to Poor's Manual
the railroads of the United States ic
1884 we are informed by the Stats.
clan that there were at the close
the fiscal year 1883 in the Unite
States l2O,552 miles Of railroad, ar
according to the report OF the Railroi
Tax Assessor of Tennessee for 1873
there were in the State of Tonness
at the same period emily 2,l03l mile
distributed among the counties in Il
three divisions OF the State as follow