The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-11-24
It SHOULD Be BENEFICIAL.
The Failure of the Ryan Syndicate
Deal.
SoClH OUGHT TO FEEL THANKFUL.
The seabOard Air Line In Yet nm In
dependent Line, Which signifies
Continued Competition.

continued Competition.
In Its last issue, the Manufacturers
record OF Baltimore produces the followine
article which is of general interest in rail.
road circles of the south.
The failure of the New York people te
secure controlling interest in the Seabna I'd
Air Line, as now announced should cause
profound thanksgiving, not only throushout
the South, but wherever there exists any
interest in the future of this section. That
the concentration of ownership OF all rail-
roads in the Central South in New York
hands would prove Il serious injury TO this
section. and eventually to all Southern rail
road securities admits of no question In
the first place. competition is essential to
the best interests of the South; 1t is essen
tial to the success of its merchants, manu-
facturers aud farmers it is essential to
the best railroad work for the upbuilding
OF It's industrial resources and the ,ncour-
aBencnt of Immigration. The SeabJurd Air
Line has given this much needed confetti
ton. No railroad company in the e, intry
haS uVlit bttttI anu DIIaNcr Work Tor the
material advancement OF the country trib-
utary to it than has the Seaboard II has.
in fact. during the last three years. accom-
pnshod more along its 1000 miles Of terri
tory than many roads have done with
double or treble the mileage. Under its
present management 1t has been a power for
southern Advancement, and the Record has
regarded its probable sale as a iaeuace to
the prosperity OF this section, even though
not intended In no al 8. Ia,
purchase of the Soahoard would rave been
regarded ly the South as the gobbing up
OF the last independent line north Of At
lanta. and this would have given the poll
tclans Of the populistc persuasion a new
fighting ground against railroads 1t is
safe TO say that under such circumstances
legislation would have been enacted in the
Central South of vast injury to all Southern
railroad securities. and thus to all Southern
business interests.
1T may very appropriately be said that
the record of the present administration
during the last three years of probably
unequaled business depression is one Of
which any company might be proud. In
that time this company has shown a most
marvellous increase in the magnitude of the
roads traffic. a wonderful development Of
passenger service by the establishment OF
through Pullman trains between Washing
ton and Portsmouth and Atlanta, Whcieas
three years ago there were only local trn ma
and no through passenger service, tba es-
adjustment OF Atlanta terminals. the en-
large ment Of Portsmouth facilities with
new warehouses, office building, enlarged
water front, etc, the raising of the stand
ard of the rolling stock from a very in
iericr condition to its present high grade
with the best locomotives and good ears.
All these things have been done not. as is
often necessary, at the eXpcuse of net earn
ings ON the contrary during this three
year period the gross ealnings have largely
Increased, but better by far than that is
the fact that. notwithstanding this very
great advance in the physical condition
Of the road, the net earnings have llade a
very large gain also.
with the announcement that the Sea
board will continue as an Independent sys-
TEN, the people Of the South nave an OPP
to stand by this company and
make sure of It's perpetual independence by
giving it the most liberal support. This
need not be done in any hostility to any
ether company, nor out OF any sentimental
consideration, but purely in se!f-d2iense
for the future. II IS scarcely possible that
any other great railroad system between
Baltimore and the Central South will ever
bc built The territory is practically oc-
cupiod. The concentration of ownership of
existing lines into one management would
for all time make Baltimore and the terri
tory from here to Atlanta dependent upon
one management. II would be too late to
fight. too late TO complain of railroad dom
nation, truo or imaginary, after that had
been accomplished. There would be no