Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-09
THE DOCTORS DISAGREE.


The earnings of the Chesapeake and
ohio road for the lisc al year 1Sg6'
We're Slo7S7.5oS for the fiscal vea ~
1897 '9S, $ll,SI2lS5. an increase of more
than million dollars in one wear.
mere has been a correspondents in
crease since that time and the road is
-,--t4-'!ils f't-ttct tiT7r1I rvrT-- f1--tc rT
For tho same period the Norfolll and
Westerns earnings Increased from SIO
32S.oop 10 81, 26S.0 and is now earn
stock. e''
For the same period the Southern
RAILWAYS earnings increased from $40. :
&c.! Ia S2l.09S $50. and thai rond &c
now earning a dividend on stock which
has hitherto paid nothing.
The Atlantic Coast Line has oIco
IafSeiN increased its earnings and rs
Tor the roads of the North and West.
me increase is something enormous
ihe Chicago. Burlington and Quincy
shows gains in one year of more than
nine million dollars. and the Atchison
system more than eight Millions
Richmond Times.
Hasn't our contemporary seen the
poverty and suffering plea nut IN for
me railroads. in a communication to the
y. Y sun by Robert p. Porter, supcrin-
tendent of the last census, and which
mas since been printed and distributed
widely as u circular? Surely the Times
mas seen this "calamity-howl," with its
references 10 statistics. and its pa
theiIc appeal for higher rates.
Now, either our us-statistician
or the Times, is astouningly wrong
about the railroads of the country. ,rhn
Times roOvnsoptc ,ba,,, -. ,,
prosnerous' Porter says they are los
ing money. have lost money, and are on
the verge OF general bankruptcy. or
course. nobody beloved Por;er; and
TIE NIRGTNIAN-P PILOT. in calling
attention to his article some time ago
denounced it as an incredible manifes-
TO- having some sinister aim in view
Yet Porter is IAN authority" consid-
cred infallible by the Times when he
anu IL agree; and we should like to
SNOW now cur contemporary dispos IS OF
him ana his figures in Shis case.
We would be glad if porter's repre-.
sent'tions We're true. for thew would
indicate that some measure Of Just
retrihu,ion was falling upon the rail-
roads for The part They have taken in
accommodating silver and contracting
the currency; but our belief is that the
Times is right, and that these masters
o! TRANSPORTATION are taking advantage
"t all our farmers. planters and other
producers, III their sore straits for
money To exact every possible cent of
freight upon their forced shipments ana
sales Porter says that these producers.
ana especially the farmers. pocketcd
threc-iourths, or five-sixths OF the bal
ance OF trade In our favor for 1905; but
We know better. Before the products
That brought this balance from abroad
We're exported, they had been squeezed
of every cent of profit for the farmers
by nigh rates of freight and low prices
here the balance" tgot by undersell-
lng European paupers) going into the
pockets Of The exporters
Air. Tr.ss, of Richmond, too. has
''nut NJ a poor mouth" for the untax-
eu' pensionod, bountied and subsidized
national banks that lend the people
iheir own money at from to 10 per
'eni"-the people, besides, paying these
same banks per cent. year on the
hohGS they deposit in the Treasury as
security for the notes lent them FOR
N'illiNG' Wonder what howl would
arise. IT, ON the same terms. the Treas
u'E Tent the people their own money or
currency for nothing! Why. it would
crack The wclllin. THE NiRGINIAN-
PILOT insists, that ut any rate. the
h'ihs ana the railroads shall not at
tempt TO be calamity-howicrs, when
'h.N are in truth high on the list of
calamity