The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-30
sTArE moan ExrENsIoN.

STATE ROAD EXTENSION.
It is probable that in some quarters
! there was surprise when the double
loaded editorials advocating an extern
sion of the Western and Atlantic Rail-
road from Atlanta to the sea at Sa-
vannah attracted no attention and
called forth no comment worth men
tiOning. The reason was that those
who gave the matter a moments
thought saw that it would be folly for
the state to make such an investment.
The immediate occasion of the edito-
rails in question was the report that
the Louisville and Nashville Railway
had passed to the control of the South
ern Railway, and that the Western and
Atlantic would be practically bottled
uD. The idea of the writer's of these
editorials seemed to be that the state
could build the Western and Atlantic
to Savannah at a cost that would be
insignificant by using the state con-
victs. 1t was also assumed that when
the Western and Atlantic was thus
extended it would have a paying bust
ness at once that could never be taken
away from it. The scheme looked
mighty nice on paper, but, as already
stated, it would not bear examination.
Mr.. julius Brown, formerly general
counsel Of the Western and Atlantic,
has furnished the Atlanta Constitution
some interesting and valuable informa-
ton as to the cost of building a road
from Atlanta to Savannah or to Bruins
wick with the convict labor of the
state, and the probable value of such a
road when built. 1t is to be presumed
that his figures are approximately cor
rect, since he has had considerable ex-
perence with railroads. The figures
which he submits show that the cost
of the suggested extension, even if
built with convict labor would be be-
tween $4,000, 900 and $4,000, 900, and he
ventures the opinion that when the
road was completed it would not be a
paying one for the reason that it would
have nothing but a local business, and
that would not amount to much until
the country Immediately tributary to it
was brought to a high state of pro-
ductiveness.
Mr. Brown points out that it would
take at least five years to grade to
the extension with the convict labor
which the state controls. The ques-
ton arises. where would the state get
the money with which to feed, clothe
and guard the convicts during the time
they were grading the road? OF course
the people would have to be taxed. And
when the road was completed it would
have a debt of $10000,O00 or $12, 600, 900
upon it. provided such an amount of
bonds could be hoated upon property
of doubtful earning power.
1t might be asked, why it would be
only a local road. For the very rea-
son that it was proposed to extend the
Western and Atlantic-it would be
practically bottled up. The great rail-
road systems which now surround the
Western and Atlantic control all of the
connections inside and outside of the
state.
OF course we should like to see an
other road from Atlanta to Savannah,
but we have no idea that one will be
built, at least not in the near future.
And if one should be built, it would
not be by the state. AS pointed out
by MIR Brown, until it was leased, and
except the time Gov. Brown was pres
ident of it, the Western and Atlantic
was bad investment for the
state. In fact, the state has not prof
tied by its investments in railroads ex-
cept in so far as it's resources have
been developed by them. point has
been reached now, however, where pri-
vate capital will construct roads where
ever they are likely to prove profitable