Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-01-14
A TIMELY SUGGESTION.

Will tOI ND
terial progress, contains the fol-
towing impressive and suggest
i've item in its last issue:
The Pennsylvania Railroad is
reported to have placed contracts
for $1,000 tons OF steel rails,
three-quarters of the order going
to mills along the line. The road
generally starts in early, in or
der to aid its line mills by the
encouragement which its exam
pie is supposed to afford other
intending buyers
Commenting on the above
that always watchful advocate
and leader of Southern develop
ment, the Baltimore Mauufac-
turers' Record, of this week, asks
the pertinent question-How
many Southern ra Iroads follow
this wise policy of the Pennsy1>
vania in giving all orders, as far
as possible. to enterprises along
their lines? This policy is large
~ responsible for the magnif
cent industrial Development of
the territory tributary to the
Pennsylvania. By this kind of
practical encouragement it Gre
ates and sustains industries and
it is repaid a hundred>fold by
the traffic thus created.
The railroads of the South
owe it to themselves and to the
people to encourage industrial
development, to aid to the ut
most in furthering the agricul
tural interests and in drawing
immigration. Such a line of
policy not only pays in the way
OF direct traffic returns, but 1t
creates a popular sentiment in
favor of the railroads the value
of which cannot be measured.
Instead of hostility to corpora~
tions and constant Efforts to leg
islate against them, there would
be a public sentimental their ia
vor that would in many ways
prove of incalculahie value to
railroads. The Illinois. Central,
the Seaboard Air Line. the Plant
system and the Kansas City,
Pittsburg & Gulf are conspicu-
Gus examples of the value of
winning public favor by. COM
vincing the people that they are
working for the advancement Of
all interests along their lines,
and are striving to increase the
prosperity of the people by
bringing in settlers, encouraging
manufacturers and advancing
the interests of farmers aud of
the railroad employees. Half a
million dollars would be a low
estimate to put upon the value
to the Illinois Central of the
public favor and wide commenda,
ton secured by the plan of
President Fish to enable the EN-
ployes to become stockholders.
aud the effort of the Seaboard
line to establish 100 experiments
tai farms aad to encourage the
raising OF better stock is worth
as much to that road, for it has
strengthened the sentiment Of
the whole South in its favor.
Concessions from the public
when wanted. rights of way for
new lines, municipal privileges,
a freindliness that will avoid
hostile legislation, are among
the direct results that become
valuable assets to these roads.
Other roads may be doing equal.
ly as good work, but if they are
they keep their light hid under
a bushel. No a travel
through the South without be-
ing impressed with the strength
of public sentiment in favor Of
some roads and of the bitter hos
tility to others. There must be
a reason for these things, and 1t
will pay the owners OF railroads,
the stockholders and bonddo4d
ers, as we'll as the officials, TO
study the whole situation and
see if the reason why the Penn
sylvania Railroad is the most ALL
round popular railroad in the
United States, and probably on
the whole the most profitable, is
not because of the fact that it
has for years pursued a line Of
policy that is being vigorously
followed by the Saaboard, the
Illinois Central, the Plant sys<
tenn and a few others.
THE LEGISLATURE AND DOGS
It may not be very elegant nor
wholesome to- the former to