The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-06-01
Railways Entitled to SEINE Gratitude.

The liabilities Of the railroad system of
this country are si0,000,000, 900. They paid
out in dividends 81 loco, 100000 last year.
They carry annually one-half billion of
passengers with q very small percentage of
accidents. They have increased their facil-
tiles at a ratio oue-third greater than the in
crease Of population. More than one.tenth
of the entire population Of the country live
directly or indirectly by railroads, yet in
spite of these facts, which can not be con-
trayened there is ever to be found rampant
an antagonism to railway interests. In
New Orleans the antagonism amounts to
folly.
One does not require TO be political
economist to arrive at the conclusion that
the benefits this city receives directly or
indirectly from the several lines of road
running into it are indeed very great says
the New Orleans Erenins- NeeS.-
The idea has been deep sown and taken
good root that railroad companies are the
legitimate prey OF any one who can make
them disgorge. When an untoward acct
dent occurs that detrimental to railroad
company's interest, such as was that which
occurred on the Illinois Central line, where
by its travel has been stayed, instead of
awakening public sympathy and regret,
feeling seems to be prevalent that no evil
dividends. But of course they are not
stockholders who harbor such feelings. 1t
cannot be denied that the several railroad
companies. whose roads run through the
sections of country that has either been in
undated or threatened by that dire misfor-
tune. have done all in their power to coun-
teract the ravages of the flood. The work
performed by the Illinois Central company
and the Mississippi Valley company has
been OF a nature so gigantic as to almost
exceed belief. The companies not only
recognized the fact that they had the self
ish mode of guarding their property from
total destruction, but also were aware that
they are, in the true sense CT tire tenn. the
publics servants and .sst bal3g SD u was
incumbent on them - co al trey could to
give their masters good service by not per-
uniting transit to be liDiiered. TO that
end the companies not only labored to
secure their lines from destruction, but
alse when sfcppage occurred at once for
mulated plans by which the pnblic's con-
venience was net one bit retarded, either
in personal travel or in the transportation
of merchandise. The railroad companies
are only the public's serv2nts-they fully
recognize that fact and are willing to do
servants work-both servants and slaves
have rightS-and surely one of those rights
is respect The officials of the several
companies whose termini is in New Orleans,
from the president down to the mar hold
ing the most subordinate position are
worthy Of our respect, for they at all times
are willing and anxious TO do what they
can to promote The comfort of and to evince
courtesy to their patrons-the general pub
lie. No better proof of this statement
could possibly be adduced than what &C
CURED recently, when the excursion train
on the Illinois Central road was be:ated at
Manchac. The officials of the road at once
did all in their power to assist the excur-
sionists, supplying those who were short
of money with that necessary evil, and
loing everything that could be thought of