The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-10-15
The ]. G. Statement.

IL was an Athenian who reduced the
philosophy of happiness to two rules
OF action: Take much from life. and
give largely to the living. And in the
centuries that have passed since Per-
lcles exemplified his preceptS in his
own life the world has progressed but
little beyond the ethical law upon
which he insisted The terms have
changed, but reduced to it's ultimate
intention, the dogma of almest every
school of moral science from his day
until now is fairly stated in these
words.
Judged by this standard of happi-
ness, the year closing on June 30, 1904.
was an exceptionally happy one for
the Illinois Central Railroad for dur
ing that year it increased materially
both itsg gross receipts and its expenses.
The fact that the current expenses Of
the road increased more that its gross
receipts, ought not, perhaps, to be
argued by the peSSimiSt. The road
has, at least, felt the joy of disburs-
ing munifcently. 1t has been me-
dium of enlarged and wonderful activ-
ity, carrying more of the commerce
and travel of the nation than ever
before. 1t has, at the same time,
cost the road more to carry its busi-
ness than before, and the ratio of in
crease in the gross income.
Stated in the more exact language
of the figures of the report of the di-
rectors of the road for the year refer
red to- it is shown that the increase |
in gross receipts from traffic amounts |
to 81, Gas, 059 04, while the increase in |
expenses of operation foot uD So, ,957,-
367 96. The reasons assigned for this
diSprOpOrtiOnate increase in operating
expenses are: The prolonged cold
aeason of the past winter the increaS-
ed cost of fuel and the increased wage
scale Of operatives. In the latter
item alone the increase is shown to
have been So, 400, 499 25.
There is food orlrefection in this
latter statement. 1t is sometimes
bitterly complained by the working
force that there is unfair division with
them of the profits of the gigantic in
duStrial enterprises which transact
the business of this Twentieth Centu-
ry world If there is reasonable
foundation for such charge, it GER
tainly is not to be found in the fact
that the largest item of increase in
the expenses Of this road for the year
is in the wages paid to its operatives.
One moral, however. is certainly
pointed out by this condition of affairs.
1t is cumulative evidence Of Republi-
can prosperity, which consists in aug
menting the earning power Of an in
dividual, or of a corporation, and at
the same time increasing still more in
proportion the essential expense ac-
count of the Garner. That the Illinois
Central Railroad should show such
result at the end of its years business
is not matter Of wonder. 1t would be
if the result were otherwise. The
road is an integral part OF the COM
mercial and industrial development of
the United States. and necessarily re-
fleets prevailing conditions. The facts
shown in the statement referred to
indicate how closely identified are the
best interests of labor and capital,
and how impossible it is for the one to
prosper or suffer without involving
the other.
AS the great commercial artery |
along which pulses the interchange ,
of business north and south, the Hi
nois Central is of special interest to
both sections. AS the chief Of the
many lines Of railway centering in
Memphis and diScharging their swell
ing tides of commerce through her
yates. the road is Of special interest
TO Memphis. And hence it is with
more than ordinary qualification that
Memphis uniteS with the rest of the
busy world of commerce, North and |
South, in felicitating this enterpris-
ing line upon the splendid showing
made. The Illinois Central has been an
enlarged distributor of wealth during |
the past year. So much is evidenced
nv the annual statement. And in
that respect, at least, it is to be con-
uratulated upon having fulfilled what
pericleS denOminated the law of hap
niness. 1t has taken with larger .
grasp of the business of the world,
and dispensed with broader palm the
result of its winnings. - Memphis
ACommercial Appeal.