Wichita eagle., 1889-08-02
THE LONG LAND HAUL MUST GO.

Under the above caption the Galveston
News has an able editorial showing the
tendency toward deep water harbor on
the gulf of Mexico. We give it below:
''The announced intention of Mr. c. B.
Huntington to close out all his railroad
interests in the east and concentrate his
efforts upon the development of his prop
erty west of the Mississippi river creates
but little surprise in circles familiar with
the foresighted and able policy always
followed by that distinguished railroad
manager. He has already made one
large sale of eastern property, and it Is
said that others will follow until he finds
himself in position to devote himself en-
tirely to the development and perfection
of his grand railroad system west of the
Mississippi. This determination on the
part of the great railroad financier
Is pleasing intelligence for the peo-
pie of the southwest, and of Texas in
particular. for it is a recognition OF the
great advantages possessed by this sec
ton, which in the estimation of man
whose opinion on such subjects IS worth
having, are sufficient to counterbalance
and overcome those possessed by the
east. 1t was simply matter OF time
when this recognition would be gwen.
1t was absurd to expect that old plans
and old systems of railroad traffic that
answered well enough fifteen or twenty
years ago would meet the requirements
of the present day. Changes have been
taking place in all directions and it was
but reasonable to look for them in the
railroad systems of the country which
through necessity must conform to the
new order of things.
The mere facts that the great through
lines from the Atlantic TO the Pacific
were built and have been successfully
operated carry no weight as an argu-
ment in favor of such lines. At the
time of their construction they were
the only ones that were practicable,
and they were the results of circumstan-
ces and conditions rather than of
Judgment and preference. Since their
completion. however, some wonderful
changes have taken place. and some,
too, which promise at an early date to
relegate the great through lines from
east to west TO the dark ages of Ameri-
can railroading. The south and west
have developed in the most wonderful
manner, and the demands for a radical
change in railroad traffic are growing
more urgent every day. Sooner or lat
er the long land haul will break the.
backs of the railroads engaged in it" a
prominent railroad man has declared,
and it is very evident from his action
that Mr.. Huntington is one of those who
believe in the truth of his declaration.
1t would be folly TO attempt to continue
the long land haul in the face of rapidly
increasing production and demands OF
the south and west. Time and distance
are of too great value to permit of
anv such thing. Hauling general
freight such as grain, to a distant
port has always been dis
advantageous In point of econ
omy and now is becoming
almost impossible. A shorter and quick
err route must be found. and the people
of this section must be given transporra-
ton facilities commensurate with their
necessities. An entire change in the i'm
port and export business Of the south
west Is on the eve of naturalization, and
II is gratifying 10 find that such men as
c. =. Huntington and his associates are