Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-04
Interview With Railroad Men.
[ From Gath's Geo. Alfred TownsenO Lett
in II. Y. Sun of the 2nd.l

From Gath's Geo. Alfred Townsend) Lette
| in II. Y. Sun of the 2nd.]
That same evening l talked with two
Southern railroad men, William A
Turk and Fl. W. Fuller, the latte
representing the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway. Both systems are under
the control of the Pieryont Morgan
interest or combination. Mr.. Turk
originally met in South Carolina with
Mr.. McBee. the sun-in law of Preston
s. Brooks of Charles Sumner fame, anC
1 rode with those two in their private
car from Salisbury to Asheville.
Mr.. Turk is a very large man anG
was decidedly the biggest man at the
Gridiron Club dinner. He is a Vir
ginian. Mr.. Fuller has a farm in
Albemarle county, Va, though he
came from Vermont
Mr.. Turk said: ''The improbable
condition of the Southern railways is
due to want of population. The pc.
iitical unrest in the South is the ex.
preston of this desire for more popu.
latiOn, more cities, and more manu-
factures.'
Mr.. Fuller said: IL do not believe
that the population living immediate
ly on the line of our road is larger
than it was fifteen years ago Expert
mental cites have been doomed and
have again receded as the population
came to them and again dispersed.
The need of the South is for more
people, and a more mixed people. The
mere drifting hither and thither of a
population not skilled, or plant,
does not secure city, though the
houses may be put up. The surplus
populations out of the cold parts of
the North, with manual skill, steady
habits, and thrift, with a knowledge
of how to employ their savings, will
be of the greatest benefit in the South,
where splendid country, the strong
est country in the world, lies almost
under the eyes of the Northern peo-
ple."
Mr.. Turk then continues: THE South
is moderately fertile country. Take
1T in the altogether, it is kind in its
soil. It's best wealth is in it's climate,
which IS not subject to great changes,
nor does it require a large outfit of
warm clothing or the consumption of
much fuel in winter The wood which
grows, and which is cheap, is fuel
enough. The Southern people have
been highly impassioned for short
Lime, when excited by something un
Wonted, but at normal times they are
l quiet people, and many things are
here to live for which make life worth |
'he living; whereas, in the more ava
'icious parts of the country the man of |
Moderate expectations and modest con-
iuct is depressed because he has not |
he headlong business force | do not |
ay that in the South men can get rich |
IS quickly as in the North, but they
an We out their lives better; it is
Dove all places in the world the place
o make a good living with fair exer-
ion The railroads of the South have
ONE to the end of the period because
he expansion which was expected of
hem has been diverted. Our first need
for population, and that need is so
especially admitted all through the
etter South that Northern men will (.
nd no friction hereafter.
politics is at a very low ebb in the
outh. l believe that modern man
Ike Allison of Iowa could almost carry
ne Southern States in bulk with the
resent feeling. The subsistence of the
sctlonal friction is complete The
'ouble with Southern railways is that
hey nave no uniformity of support.
:" Poi oIOH VI tu6 year C1oy haul
otton, and for another portion they
aul consumptives, and along the
orthern lines of railway towns and
lctories are thick, and there is NOV
lg to and fro all the while of people
lvesters, laborers, tourists, &c. 7
now, as Virginiap, that our early
'ach1ug was against towns, but the
lclluation is now all the other way"
Mr. Fuller said, speaking of one of
lie important railways in the border
outh: TO tide over great obliga :
ons aud endeavor to extend them,
ith the certain fact that they must
met next year, was, think. mis-
.ke These are the times to take
Vantage of the bad state of business,
III reorganize on a smaller and firmer
Isis. The railroads now require rail
td men to work them Their sup
'rG IS not to come out of financial
htres after they have paid their
les. These centres may take care of
EN- for while, but if they have not
Organized to suit the times that re
SANITATION must come. A year is
TT span in the history of railroad"
Mr. Turk took his turn again: Eff
an years may produce extraordinary
anges Ill the entire railroad system
America. 1t is possible that those
J. ;nsy have another Revision and
Collie like the older roads of England