The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-11-25
A Good Thing for the South.

49,
board Air Line, as now announced, should
cause profound thanksgiving, not only
throughout the South, but wherever there
exists any interest in the future of this
section. That the concentration of own
ership of all railroads in the central South
in New York hands would prove seri-
Gus injury to this section, and eventually
to all Southern railroad securities, admits
of no question. In the first place, COM
petition is essential to the best interests
of the South; it Is essential to the success
of its merchants, manufacturers and farm
ers: it is essential to the best railroad in
terests for the upbuilding of its industrial
resources and the encouragement of i'm
migration. The Seaboard Air Line has
given this much-needed competition. No
railroad company in the country has done
better and broader work for the material
advancement of the country tributary to
it than has the Seaboard. Il has, in fact,
during the last three years, accomplished
more along its 1000 miles of territory than
many roads have done with double or
treble the mileage. Under its present
management it has been power for
Southern advancement, and the Manu-
facturers' Record has regarded its prob
able sale as menace to the prosperity of
this section, even though not so intended.
In the second place, the purchase of the
Seaboard would have been regarded by
the South as the gobbling up OF the last
independent line north Of Atlanta, and
this would have given the politicians of
the populistic persuasion new fighting
ground against railroads. It is safe to
say that under such circumstances legis-
lation would have been enacted in the
central South of vast injury to all South
ern railroad securities, and thus to all
Southern business interests.
With the details of the recent contest
for control, the Manufacturers Record
has nothing to do. 1t may, however,
very appropriately be said that the record
of the present administration during the
last three years of probably unequalled
business depression Is one of which any
company might be proud In that time
this company has shown most marvel.
Gus increase increase in the magnitude of
the roads traffic, wonderful develop
ment of passenger service by the estab-
lishment of through Pullman trains be-
tween Washington and Portsmouth and
Atlanta, whereas three years ago there
were only local trains and no through
passenger service, the establishment Of
Atlanta terminals, the enlargement OF
Portsmouth facilities with new ware
houses, Office building, enlarged water
front, &C., the raising of the standard OF
the rolling stock from very inferior
condition to its present high grade with
the best locomotives and good cars. All
these things have been done, not, as is
often necessary, at the expense OF net
earnings. On the contrary, during this
three-year period the gross earnings have
largely Sincreased, but better by far than
thai. .isAhe fact that, Notwithstanding this
very gTsat advance in the physical con-
,d5ition the road, the net earnings have
made every large gain also.
With the announcement that the Sea-
board will continue as an independent
system, the people OF Baltimore and Of
the South have an opportunity to stand
perpetual independence by giving 1t the
most liberal support. This need not be
done in any hostility to any other COM
pany, nor out of any sentimental consid-
GRAFTON, but purely in sell fense for the
future. It is scarcely p BILE that any
other great railroad system between Bal
tinore and the central South will ever be
built. The territory is practically occu-
pied The concentration of ownership of
existing lines into one management
would for all time make Baltimore and
the territory from here to Atlanta de
pendent upon one management. 1t would
be too late to fight, too late to complain of
railroad domination, true or imaginary,
after that had been accomplished. There
would be no room for another road, and
none would be built. This matter should
be regarded without any question as to
the management of other lines than the
Seaboard. Their management might to-
day be as helpful to the South as that Of
the Illinois Central now is, (the Illinois
Central seems to he more nearly perfect
in that respect than any other great sys-
tem), but tomorrow there might come
change that would be destructive to trade
betM cen B4ltimore and the Soth and to the
now rapidly developing interest Of this
section.
Baltimore and the South must strive to
maintain independent SYSTEMS, or else
they invoke dangers that may prove OF
untold injury. The Seaboard is indepen-
dent up to date, and the deal has evil
IDENTIFY failed. Now let Baltimore and
the South make some vigorous efforts to
tenn and the transfer of its ownership to
New York are forever impossible. This
way lies the safety Of future business in
terests of the territory between here and
Atlanta. Every business man, merchant,
manufacturer or property owneris vitality
interested in this. Moreover, everyone
interested in Southern railroad securities
is equally concerned, if he would prefer
not TO see legislation that would prove of
Injury to every business. Let the busi-
ness people of the South see to it that this
section in the future, as in the past, has
the benefit Of the competition of indepen-
dent railroad systems.-Manujacturers'S
Record, Nou. 10.