The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-20

intentions, its possibilities and to the re-
cent struggles through which it seems 10
nave passed in order To effect the con-
solidated line from New York to Tampa
and thence to Cuba. While knowing little
ABOUT Ire details of these matters, 1 do
not hesitate TO say that the young presi-
dent of the Seaboard Air Line, Mr.. John
Skeltor Williams, with the carrying out
OF MS plans as proposed, will have eStao-
lished his status in the front rank of the
worlds financiers.
The immigration Problem.
During my journey it was my good
fortune to meet with the vice president
Of the Seaboard Air Line, Mr.. E. st.
John, by whose courtesy was facilitated
IN many ways in my study of the South
ern industrial situation. 1 do not know
much about railroads, and therefore, am
unable to speak of this remarkable man
from a technical standpoint, but 1 have
mentioned his name because it recalls
and illustrates the phase of the subject
upon which have touched above. In this
connection, Il would remind you in reply
10 question which you asked little
while ago as to why this white element
had not been attracted to the South be-
fore now, that think the main reason
for it lies in the fact that the men who
nave devoted years of study to the i'm
migration problem were not in the South
but in other sections, especially the North
and Northwest.
Il have heard during my journey that
Mr.. st. John was one of these men. 1
have been so impressed by the rapid in
lux of immigration along the territory
traversed by his line that l have taken
time to inquire into the methods by
which he has brought about such re-
suit have been told that he spent over
thirty years Of his life in the West and
Northwest on the great Rock Island
Road and perfected a system through
which Minnesota and other Northwestern
states are to-day populated by thrifty,
bread winning citizens, the plain, hardy
population behind the city of Minneapolis
having forced that city forward with as
founding rapidty to the position of one
of the greatest jobbing cities of this coun-
try.
st. John and the south.
Il believe from conversation with Others
that the South has been great gamer
even from Mr. st. Johns short sojourn OF
the last five or six years ia that section
What he did for Minnesota and the West
he is now doing for the South, and while
not wishing to make any unjust compari-
sons, for all the railroads in that section
are doing great work, he is the only man
with whose methods am acquainted who
is pushing forward this great work on the
But in this comparison with the
Northwest the South comes out great
gamer, for its products are eighteen 10
twenty-four hours nearer to the great
marts of trade than are those of Minneap-
oils and Duluth In Mr. Williams and
Mr.. st. John, is, in my judgment, COM
bination of the South and West working
in harmony toward the real upbuilding of
that section, which is at once unique and
interesting, not only to the railroad, but
10 the financial onlookerS of this country
The officials of this road have been most
courteous to me in every way, and they
seem TO have been selected with reference
TO their technical fitness for their work
1 would not wish TO close myrem marks about
my weeks sojourn in the South without
acknowledging the good offices of General
Passenger Agent Allen, without whose IS
sistance 1 should have failed TO see much
that did see. The subject is large and
interesting one and presents many phases
upon which, for reasons you may mag
inc 1 cannot touch with good taste, but l
shall long remember the hospitality of the
people and return with a new faith in their
future.
':If the balmy South does not realize to
the full the possibilities predicted for it
by its late brilliant Georgian, Henry w.
Grady, it will be its own fault. The ell
mate is such as to allow long outdoor
work, free from rigorous weather. and
working in the mill and factory free from
much of the expense of heating and build
ing incident to the harsh climate of North
ern and Eastern states. The very rich
ness of its resources entails a greater re-
sponsibility upon its people, and if the
richest results are not attained from these
resources it must necessarily be on ac-
count of the poverty of effort put forward
by its people And 1 do not believe from
the history of these people since the Civ
hnf NV Will hay ri phf
to accuse them of lack of honest and ef-
fective effort"