The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-11
FARMERS AND RAILROADS.

The refusal Of Governor Northen. of Geor-
qia. 10 attend the reception recently given
Mr.. JAY Gould by the business men Of At
lanta, because he felt that his acceptance Of
the invitation 10 be present would make him
unpopular with the Farmers Alliance of his
State. bespeaks very discouraging and very
unhealthy state of feeling in "the Empire
State Of the South" While Mr. Gould
is most likely making tour of the South for
the purpose of carrying out plans which he
has carefully matured, there is no doubt that
he has the development of this section in his
mind. Therefore, whether he is working for
his individual interests or not, so long as these
interests are intimately connected and
identified with Southern progress.
and must necessarily be Of great
benefit to the South. our people should give
him a cordial welcome and be glad to see that he
has such abiding faith in the future of our
section rs to lie willing to invest his means
and give his time towards raising US up from
the depths into which we were cast by the
war. to our destined position in the front rank
of the States of this Union.
There is another view to take Of Governor
Northern position. however, which presents
il in still more unfortunate light, and that
is that the farmers of Georgia. at least so Gov
ernor Northcn thinks. regard railroads and
the builders of railroads with antagonsm.
This is truly most unhealthy condition of az
fairs. If there are any two classes Of people III
this broad land whoarc mutually dependent on
each other. they are the farmers and the rail
road managers Our iron roads are among
the greatest promoters Of civilization the
world has ever seen. without them. fertile
lands and. otherwise most desirable areas are
merely wldcrncsscs luxuriant in nothing but
vegetation. weeds and stately, but compare
lively useless forests With them. even in
ferior regions are made to become thickly
populated sections. from which thriving
towns spring up, while the country around
is made 70 blossom as the rose.
And while this is true as an abstract
proposition, it is especially true of
Georgia. which State. now - justly proud of
its wealth. energy and enterprise, would TO-
day be almost unnhabitcd and dcpopulated
but for the great work which railroads have
done within its boundaries OF what advan-
tagc would the finest, most fertile ind best
cultivated farm in the world be TO its owner
if the means for reaching market with his
produce were not afforded him?
All this, Of course, is mere truism, but II IS
not more manifesty true than that railroads.
in their turn, are dependent largely upon
farmers for their support. \ road, no more
than an individual. can live without work,
or unless it has business to keep il at work.
The farmer. with his produce to be shipped
to market, * the promoter Of much of the
freight, which is the food upon which the road
lives. and so, while the railroad is Of incalcu-
liable benefit to him. he is also on his part,
the benefactor Of the road.
As simple and plain as are these truths, it is
astonishing how little they seem 10 bcrcalized.
1t is no uncommon matter to see settlers of
section of country that they wanted developed
first clarmorng for railroad, and then,
after they get it, apparently doing
everything possible to fight against,
obstruct and embarrass it. The attitude
Of Governor Northcn to Mr.. Gould shows
how widespread and deep is the feeling Of an
tagonism between interests which should he
harmonious and united, and the sooner
that antagonism is uprootcd and discarded
and feeling Of friendliness and cooperation
substituted in its stead the better it will be
for all parties concerned.