The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-16


New Orleans, and Mr.. Hargrove.
The matter was referred to the Commit
tee on Education, and the convention adj
journed until D. m.
SOuth's Trade Expansion.
Francis B. Thurber of New York adj
dressed the convention on the subject Of
trade expansion in the South at the night
session. Mr.. Thurber said that circum-
stances were now propitlous for the South
to make an effort for expanded trade
and the results only depended on the eff
fort put forth. He prophesied brilliant
trade future for the South. He said, in
part
For many years have been student
of transportation problems from ship
per- point of view, and am now chairman
of the Committee on Railroad Transporter
ton of the National Board of Trade, and
l believe that the two things most needed
to make the South great and prosperous
IS the development of her industrial and
transportation interests.
81 have taken pains TO examine the traf-
fic statistics of two Of your great Southern
railway systems, the Southern and the
Louisville and Nashville. On the former,
the average rate per ton per mile on
freight in 1891 was 1125 cents. In 1899 It
had declined to 1887 cents. The average
rate per passenger mile In 1891, was 2.64
cents, and in 1899, Pa cents. During the
same time the progress made in safety,
speed and comfort of transit was even
more marked. on the Louisville and
Nashville system. the rate per ton per
mile for freight in 1880 was 1.6D cents; in
1890, 81 cents, and in 1899, ~ cents. while
the improvement In passenger transporta-
ton and reduction in rates were equally
marked. The same is true of the Illinois
Central and other lines serving the South
ern states, yet hostility in legislative halls
and in the jury box has apparently rot
abated. Taxation has been increased, and
these great agencies. which are doing
more to develop the resources of the coun-
try than any other one Interest, pay a
larger percentage of their earnings for
taxes than any other investment of capt.
tai. In the mining regions OF the West
when trader grub stakes" a
miner, and he finds a good strike
/ have yet TO hear of a case where a
miner crawfished on a fair divide, but
when man of unusual energy and enter
prise conceives a railroad, gathers a hum
bred or a thousand partners as stock
holders builds &c and charges half the
rate TO carry a passenger with comfort
than had been previously charged for car
ryng him by stage with discomfort; or
2 cents per mile per ton Of freight where
It cost 10 cents by wagon, and the rail-
road is there and cannot be moved, some
philosophical citizen, generally a candi-
date for Office, suggests that the great
monopoly is charging TOO much and the
charges should be reduced. 1 do not say
that railways or other aggregations of
capital are without sin or that they should
not be regulated and controlled II they
do what Is unreasonable, but ] dc say
when capital has "grub-staked" labo- or
has created value without any labor on
the part of the public, as Is often the
case, 1t is entitled to an equitable share
in the profits"
He was followed by Vice President Ed
win Brobston OF Georgia, who delivered
an address on 1.-THE Southern Industrial
Convention and Its Possibilities Of Use
fitness"