The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
THE /. c. STATEMENT.

II was m Authenian who reduced tie
philosophy Of happiness to two rules Of
action; Take from ne, and give largely
70 the living. And IN the centuries that
have passed since Pericles e~xempli6ed
bis precePts in his own life the word
has progressed but little beyond tie
ethical Law upon which he insisted
The terms have changed, but reduced
30 its ultimate intention, tho dogma Of
almost every school Of moral science
from bis day until now is fairly stated in
these words.
Judged by this standard Of happiness
the year closing ON June 90, 1904, was
an exceptionally hsppy IA for tho HI
nois Contra! RAILROAD, for during that
wear il increased materially beth its
gross receipts and its expenses. The
fact that the current expenses Of the
road increased luore than it's gross re-
oaIpts, ought not, perhaps. to be argued
by The pessimist, The road las. I
least, ioit the joy Of disbursinE munia-
Gently, II bas been a medium o' eularg-
o3 and wonderful activity, carryin ing
more If the commerce Of the nation tht n
efcs before. IL has At the same time,
cost TIM road more to carry its business
than before, and ;he ratio Of increased
cost has nutstripped the ratio oi~incrcase
jB the gross income.
Stated in tAc moro exact language of
tine fgBTes Of the report If the directors
Of the road for the year referred to, it is
shown that the Increase in gross re-
oeifis from tra!jo amounts to S7,645,- /
o1oyai, while the increase in expenses Of
operation foot mp $2,a57 3g7.08, The
reasons assigned for this d~isproportion
CITE Increase in operating expenses are;
The prolonged cold season Of the past
winter, the increased cost Of fuel and
the increased wage scale Of operatives
In the latter item alone the increase is
shown 10 kaye been 400, 1924.
There is feed fer reflection ID the lat
ter statement. 1t Is sometimes bitterly
complained by the working force that
there is aH unfair division with them OF
she profits Of the gigantic industrial EN-
tsrrriSes which transact the business Of
this Twentieth Century world. II tn, re
is reasonable foundation for such a
it certainly Is not to be found i'm
fact that the largest item OF In
crease in tine expense Of this road for
the year is la the wages paid to its OPP
~2ratjves,
One moral, however, is certainly point
ri oat by this condition Of affairs, 1t is
cumulative evidence Of Republican
prosperity, which consists in Argument
nc the earning power Of individual, or F..
NJ a corporation, and at the au time
increasing still more in proportion the
essential expense account Of the Garner. ,
That tie Illinois Central should show ;
Fuch a result al the end OF it's years
business Is rot matte for wonder, 1t
would he If the result were otherwise.
Thc road Is an integral part Of the com
aeraial and industrial development Of
ae United st8tes, and necessarily re-
aeets prevailing conditions. The facts :
.b0an In the statement referred to in
Iicate bow closely identified are the
iest interests Of labor and capital, and :,
Impossible 1t is for the one to /;
or suffer without involving the
!;
As the great commercial artery along
gAich pulses the interchange of bust
.ess north aud south. the Illinois Cen.
raj is Of special interest to both see
ions. As the chief Of the many lines Of
~eentertng In Memphis aud dis !
their swelling tides OF COM .
through her gates. the road is Of
peeiai Interest 10 Memphis. And hence
is with more than ordinary gratiica-
.oD that Memphis unites with the rest
the busy world OF commerce, North
1d South, in felicitatlng this enter
ilae uroH showing made. The
Central has been IN enlarged
istFi6atoF Of wealth during the past
EAR. No mueh IL evidenced by the an
val statement. And In that respect, at
.a=t, ii is 10 be congratulated upon
zving fHlaiIed what Pcricles dcnom-
aased the laa Of happiness. Ii has
lEen with a larger grasp Of the bust
css ut the world, and dispensed with
palm the result Of it's winnings.
Commercial Appeal.