The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-10-15
THE |. G, STATEMENT

1t 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
Pericles exemplified his precepts in
his own life the world has progressed
but little beyond the ethical law upon
which be insisted. The terms have
changed, but reduced to it's ultimat
intention, the dogma of almost 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
during that year it increased mater
tally both it's gross receipts and ex-
penses. The fact that the current ex-
penses of the road increased more
than it's gross receipts, ought not,
perhaps, to be argued by the pessi-
mist. The road has, at least, felt the
Joy of disbursing muniticently. 1t has
been medium of enlarged and won
derful activity, carrying more OF the
commerce and Gravel OF the nation
than ever before. 1t has, at the same
time cost the road more to carry on
its business than ever before, and the
ratio of increased cost has outstripped
l the ratio of increase in the gross in
r come.
Stated in the more exact language
of the figures of the report OF the dl-
rectors of the road for the year re-
e ferred to, it is shown that the increase
in gross receipts from traffic amounts
to 81 $40, 059. OF, while the increase in
S expenses Of operation foot up 81, 957,
IS 367. 96. The reasons assigned for this
disproportionate increase in operating
expenses are; The prolonged cold
season OF the past winter, the i'll
It creased cost of fuel and the increased
is wage scale of operatives. In the lat
!. ter item alone the increase is shown
e to have been 50, 400 ,499 %.
,. There is food for reflection in thi
! latter statement. 1t is sometime
bitterly complained by the working
- force that there is an unfair division
with them of the profits of the gigan
L tic industrial enterprises which trans
ID act the business of this Twentietl
e Century world. If there is reasUnabl
in foundation for this charge, it Ger
- tainly is not to be found in the fac
that the largest item of increase il
Il the expenses of this road for the yea
- is in the wages paid to its operatives
~ One moral, however, is certainl.
y pointed ont by this condition of AT
fairs. 1t is cumulative evidence O
Republican prosperity which consist
t. in augmenting the earning powe
o. of an individual, or of cor
IN poratioh, and at the same time in
:, creasing still more in proportion tn
essential expense account Of the earn
~ er. That the Illinois Central Rail
IL road should show such result at tn
rs end of its years business is not mat
al ter for wonder. 1t would bs if tn
result were otherwise. The road
. an integral part of the commercia
I, and industrial development OF tn
- United States, and necessarily reflect
prevailing conditions. The facts show
in the statement referred to indicat
how closely identified are the best in
" terests of labor and capital, and HOY
y impossible it is for the one to prospe
'e or suffer without involving the other
r. As the great commercial after.
n along which pulses the interchange o
business north and south. the ulinoi
Central Railroad is Of special interes
+ 10 both sectionE. As the chief OF tn
o many lines Of railway ceOterIng il
,s Memphis and discharging their swell
a ing tides of commerce through he
4 gates, the road is Ofspecisl interest Il
g Memphis. And hence it is with NOR
4 than ordinary qualification that Mem
phis unites with the rest Of the bus.