Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-09-26
WHOLE M. QE593.



The people of Georgia have lcarned
by experience that their railroad coni-
mission, instead OF proving a great help
10 them as its advocates claimed II
wonld, has proved curse 10 the Slate
and they are now moving vigorously
to have it amended so as 70 abolish its
most objectionable features. They see
BOW that it has kept millions 81 dol
hrs out Ol the State, and that IL ~ nec-
less to look for increased railroad
building in Georgia while this cum
mission continues to exert its present
despotic powers. The Manufacturers
Record has steadily and persistenlly
opposed the arbitrary railroad laws
that for a time were 50 popular IN the
South, and the decided change of sem
timent, now so noticeable in Tennes-
see, South Carolina and Georgia, the
three States in which this subject hats
attracted most attention, is worry graft
flying. Some OF the strongest champi-
ons in Georgia of the railroad commits
sion in that State when iirst established
have very wisely come tO the conclu-
sion that it is working great injury 10
the best interests Of the State. They
cannot shut their eyes 10 the fact that
capitalists will not invest their money
in enterprises, the control OF which is
absolutely taken from them by law.
Georgia has suffered from this and
will continue to suffer until her legis-
lators relieve the railroads of the in
iquitous laws that now control them.
lniquitous they certainly are, for as
suredly man has the right to have
some say in the management of his
own property, but this right has been
virtually taken from him, II his prop
erty consists Of railroad, by the State =
OF Georgia.
Tennessee tried the railroad com
mission business for while, but she
very sensibly dropped il, and unless
forced upon her again by political
schemers there is not much danger
that that State will experiment in this
line any more in the near future. Now
that Georgia has become aroused to
the importance Of curtailing the pow
er of her commission, il behooves the
people OF South Carolina to be NOV
ing in the same direction.
The Southern States connot afford
to discourage the investment OF capital
in any enterprise calculated 10 aid i'm
the development OF their resources.
OF all sections it most needs the help
Of outside men and money, and this
can only be secured by liberal dealing.
II is TO the railroads and those inter
ested in them, that much OF the won
derful progress of the last five years in
the South is due, and upon them de-
pends the future development OF the
South's great agricultural, mineral and
timber resources. Since 1879 over
S4OO,0O0,O00 have been spent in the
and development OF the
railroad interests OF the South. This
vast sum has very largely come from
outside capitalists. The good it has
accomplished for the South is almost
beyond measurement Instead OF leg
islation being unlriendly To those who
own, and TO those who would build
in the South, it should give
every possible encouragement 10 them.
There is no denying the fact that
many capitalists are disposed TO look
upon the South with suspicion, and
would much prefer to invest their
money elsewhere than in that section.
This feeling must be overcome. Leg
slative action has much to do with II,
and this very railroad matter has been
he cause of very much OF it. IL the
States that now have unjust laws regard
ny the management Of railroads will
abolish them, and thus allow railroad
owners the same privileges regarding
.he control OF their property rs are af-
iorded to all other Glasses OF property
holders, the South will make d great
ADVANCE in attracting the favorable at
ention OF capitalists, and thus very
benefit every interest OF the
whole section