The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-30
T4ST.


 The importapce of the railroads of the country as an industry and con- tributor to the wealth of the nation is very great. The number of railroad employees is immense and the amount paid in salaries and wages reaches far into the millions. The roads are a fac tor of the highest importance in adding to the general public prosperity The bands Of steel reach everywhere and cross the continent in all directions Many in New Haven recall the deep in- terest created in this country when the Pacific coast and the East were united by the completion of the Union Pacific railroad. The event occa asioned great public rejoicing, and the American eagle Tapped it's wings considerably. The event did not begin to create such a stir here as did the news of the success ful connection of the new and the old worlds by the electric cable, at which time old East Rock blazed with bonfires and glory generally. But the connect ing of the Atlantic with the Pacific by bands of iron was great national event and was so regarded from Maine to Cal ifornia and from Oregon to Texas The government had hand in this great enterprise, and one of our former New Haveners had a hand in it. being one of the new roads first directors. Now, however, there are all sorts of railroads, by means of which one can travel from the Atlantic to the far off Pacific and with. accommodations palatial if de- sired. As will readily be seen, there fore, this is great, growing and won derful country, and the end is not yet, there being abundance of room for growth without emigrating to Alaska. The state of Texas alone has room enough left in it, for the maintenance of a population as large as that of France, Germany or England Our rail- roads in the west have been extended a little faster than occasion or necessity required, hence the many recent re- ceiverships of late and congratulations. But the country grows so rapidly that it will catch up and in time all the great railroad systems will find business enough and, if properly and wisely man. aged, will pay handsome returns to the stockholders. The Lake Shore stock, now considered one of the best railroad investments, was almost worthless not very long ago. The stock of our own Consolidated road has appreciated in value until it ranks with the cream of railroad stock investments The i'm portance of our own home road to the prosperity of the state was well shown by the figures concerning it in the rail- road commissioners recent report which showed the number of the big force of men employed by the road and the big sufn it rays out in wages to employees. The money value to the city of the To- cation here in New Haven of the com pany's great shops and offices is inn mense, greatly adding to the city's wealth and growth. A small army of skilled mechanics, clerks and railroad men Of all grades reside here our city being the business and official center of this great corporation. The New York newspapers nowadays invariably speak of the ConsoIdateds system as the '4New Haven road" thus briefly and clearly designating it.
 And thus it is with railroads all over the country. The railroads add q vast total to the wealth of the nation. The money represented in the multitude of railroad properties of this land is simply enormous. They are indeed a vast contributor to the wealth and prosperity of the nation.