The sun., 1903-03-14
Railroads as Cfvilizcrs.

| Railroads as Cfvilizers.
No doubt the extension Of railways
tends in an effective manner to break
down social and political barriers as we'll
as to promote commerce. The opening
in Cuba Of the railroad from Havana to
Santiago will undoubtedly do much to
hold together the Cuban republic by
bringing into closer harmony its several
parts and making difficult successful re-
sistance to its authority. An observant
visitor to Cuba recently remarked that
il the railroad had been built during the
Spanish regime the Spaniards would not
have lost the island. 1t ia probable that
other steps than the building OF railroad
would have been required to perpetuate
Spanish authority in Cuba; but it might
fairly be argued that the railroad would
have 80 bound together the interests Of
the people Of the island and so promoted
their progress as to make it easier for
public opinion to reach the palace of the
Governor-G General and to secure those
reforms which would have at least post
poned the day OF reckoning for the Span
ish Government.
The extension Of railways has proved
everywhere an important factor, making
for civilization and political unity. In
our own country predictions were freely
made when We acquired Louisiana and
Oregon that the great distance in space
and time between one part Of the terri
tory Of the Union and another would re-
suit in difference OF political aims and
a conflict Of interests which would cause
the ponderous fabric to fall apart OF its
own weight. The building Of the trans
continental railways put an end to that
fear. 1t is now possible to cross the con-
tinent in four days, and plans are making
to reduce this period materially.
Equally noticeable has been the sue
cess OF railway extension in bringing
commercial union and political unity
into the once disturbed conditions OF
Mexico. As was pointed out by Mr..
WALTER Z. WBYL some time ago in
an interview with Washington corre-
spondent, it was once possible for revolu-
ton TO continue gaining headway for
several weeks in q Mexican province
before even the news reached the CEN
tral authority and permitted 1t to act.
Under present conditions the nag Of in
surrection would no sooner be raised
than the telegraph would convey the fact
to the central authorities in the City Of
Mexico and a regiment would be on its
way by rail TO the scene Of the disturb
ance. Every extension Of the Mexican
Central and the other railways with
which Mexico is being gridironed makes
for the political union as we'll as the COM
mercial prosperity Of the republic and
justifies the belief that the condition OF
order which has been established and
maintained by President DIAz will con-
tinue to mark the admins tration Of his
successors.
The construction OF q railway In the
Philippines viii 60 far TO accomplish
there the results which have been
achieve in a measure by the same
means in the United States. Mexico and
Cuba. A railway which should circle
the southern and eastern coasts OF Luzon
would at once greatly simplify the mill
tary problem OF moving troops TO any
point Of disturbance and would bring
tho people who are now distant from
the capital into contact with civiliza ton
and the opportunities for industry af-
forded by the American development OF
the Islands The Civil Government Of
the Philippines Is sbundantIy justified
In Interesting iusslf actively In q step
80 important for the extension Of oiyill-
zation In our OrIsntal possessions. II
ls 10 Le hoped that ths necessary lines a
railway wiil soon In In process u oon-
s,r,,ction by American capital. nov that
Congress has authorized a currency
system whloh will permit saf. invest
a.nts without risk u shrinkasr In the
r-turns upob ihsm from . dsbas.ad
MONEY laying rails " likely 90 d.
found . mos. efficient ~sspon ~ oon-
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