The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-27
DON'T FIGHT tn e RAIL ROADS.

/ From the Manufacturers Record.
| There is no State in tho Union more indebted
to its railroads for their great work OF develop
| mcnt than Virginia. They have made possible
1 the magnificent industrial progress already nc.
| complished. Not content simply to do an ordi-
nary railroad business and caro- for the traffic
that came OF its own accord, they have bent
overy energy to n sympathctic, broad minded
work OF development. Tho Norfolk and Western
in ten years has drawn into Virginia by the
most vigorous work upwards of S135 ,OG0,t 90, in
Guiding tho cost OF its own road. 1t
has made Virginia coal worldwide famous and
created business Mt Norfolk which is destined
to make that place ono of tho greatest OF Amer
ica's scaports; it has secured the building by
careful business men OF dozens OF furnaces, roll
ing mills and kindred enterprises that will make
Virginia one OF the leading iron States OF the
Union, and yearly add millions of dollars to It's
wealth; II is stretching out Its lines to the West
that it may open still wider folds for Virginiss
products and draw a vast amount OF Western stuff
to Norfolk for export. These but few OF
the things which that road has done and Is do
ing.
The Chesapeake and Ohio, although later in
in the field in this line OF work, has accomplished
marvellous results. Through it's connections 1t
has given Virginia the finest shipyard in the
world at a cost Of nearly S., 100000; a 100000
bushel grain elevator, regular steamship lines to
Europe that are building up an immense foreign
trade at Newport News; 1t has opened up splendid
mineral and timber regions and created towns
where open fields or forests stood two years ago;
it has given splendid transportation facilities to
bring to Virginia resorts thousands in search OF
health or pleasure, and is now spending great
sums to establish one OF the finest health resorts
In America.
The .seaboard Air Liuc, although no. so dis
tinctly Virginia road has been doing similar
work, and is now steadily building UP great
traffic at Norfolk and yearly increasing the
trade OF that port. And thus 1t has been with
all Virginia roads. To the measure of their
ability they have done their best for tho pros
pcrity of the Old Dominion.
And yet regardless OF these facts. the politi-
clans are seeking to impose the most burden
some restrictions upon every railroad in Virginia
restrictions that are so utterly absurd rs TO
provoke mirth, but for the tremendous harm
which they would do to the State and to the
roads. One of these proposed restrictions Is that
every passenger train shall stop at every station.
Under such law what would become of express
trains, and who would travel on Virginia trains
when they could possibly reach their estimation
South or West in any other way!
The business men OF Virginia aTc the people
most deeply lnlCTcSLcQ III luc MattcE. i cS owe
it to the railroad for the marvellous work which
they have done, to themselves, to their own pros
perity and to the prosperity OF the State to de-
fe mt this unwisc and unjust commission BILL Its
enactment will do the State moro harm than the
debt settlement will do good. 1t is step back
ward, and Virginia cannot afford to take 1t.
She needs the friendship Of railroads and rail-
road capitalists: she needs their continued help
in making known and in aiding to develop her
marvellous natural advantages; she needs their
assistance in creating great scapor ts md indus
trial towns. Her farmers need their cooperation
Just as much as the manufacturers. These roads
have worked increasingly to help to diversity
agriculture, to encourage stockrasing and to at
tract the best class OF immigrants to purchase
and improve farm lands
The Manufacturers Record, seeking only the
highest good of the South, has for years fought
for whatever will help this section. 1t has op'
posed everything that promised to injure
the outh, whether 1t originated Mt home or else
where II has no friends except those who are
friends to this 90 ction, and no enemies except
those who arc enemies OF the South. With this
as its work. 1t urges upon the people OF Virginia
not to let this railroad bill become law. Its en-.
actment would do untold harm to the whole
State