The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-03-16
The Pennsylvania as a DIsburser.

Editorial in Philadelphia Press, March 10. Isg2I
The speech Of President Roberts at the an
nual meeting Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
was interesting in giving g novel and strik-
ing idea Of the importance TO the business
interest Of the community Of great corpo-
ration The public, except that portion of it
employed by the railroads, is apt to regard
them as a tremendous concern which simply
moves freight and carries passengers and
as q great absorber Of money. They do not
know, OF they forget, that the railroad COM
pany pays back TO the community in cash
promptly the larger portion ofits earnings
in wages, and that It is, besides, a large
purchaser of manufactures and patron Of
every department Of trade A purchasing
agent in this city recently bought for his
company some sewing needles and an an
chor on the same day. Il would be difficult
to mention any article of commerce in
which q railroad company in its capacity as
a consumer does not deal.
In his speech, Mr.. Roberts pointed out the
extent Of the Pennsylvania Railroads oper-
ations as purchasing and consuming por-
ton of the community. He showed that
during the last decade that corporation had
absorbed the productions of Philadelphia
alone TO the extent OF SIS. 500, 600, or at the
rate Of 81, $1,000 per year. The man or cor
poTation which adds 5000 per day to the
business of his city, and does it for ten years.
ought to be cultivated. The sum, it is un-
derstoOd, includes only the money spent in
actual improvements-in terminals, wharves
warehouses, shops in the city, &c, which
indirectly tend to make further increase in
commerce and trade in many directions
The total expenditures Of the PennsylYa-
mia Railroad are, Of course, much larger,
and after showing what the road had done
for the city, President Roberts took up those
figures. In the single year Of 1891 the Penn
sylvania Railroad expended in tais Com
monwealth the enormous sum Of So, ,O00, 600
or al the rate Of 81, 100000 per week. There
are not three railroads in the United States
whose gross earnings are equal to this sum,
fact which, after al, gives but small idea
Of The immensely Of the Pennsylvania dis
bnFsing capacity. as We believe forty other
millions were spent on portions OF the line
outside the State. The figures do not need
elaboration. They demonstrate at once
how much and how important part ofthe
community the Pennsylvania Railroad is,
and point out its intimate relations to ali
matters pertaining to business in a most
striking way.
The ultimate effects OF these large, con-
slant, and timely expenditures cannot be
contemporaneously known or pointed out.
We OF this generation can only see that they
have added largely to the convenience of the
public, that they have made the city more
accessible to freight shippers, that they have
increased on. eOaStwise and foreign trade,
that they have added 10 our manufactures.
and in hundred ways built I'D and pro
NOTED the stability of the city and Common
wealth. President Roberts snd his able
lieutenats are to be congratulated on having
done 50 much toward the development OF
commerce and the promotion Of all tends to
broader aud more benefoent civilization.