The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-10-29
"Tote" Fair With the Railroads.

All may be mistaken, but there
seems to be prejudice among the
people generally against railroads,
and this prejudice grows out of gen
eral ignorance rather than any clear
perceptions as to what railways do
for the general development Of values.
Railroads are great civilizers, and
no one who cares to Investigate con-
ditions before and after road is
built through any section, will doubt
this fact. Opening up the country,
railroad brings the people in touch
with the outer world, widens their
views, begets higher morals and ideals
and improve the general moral char
acter and conditions, so that soon
aftetr railroad is run through any
section, its improvement materially
and morally begins. Towns spring
up, new business developed, church
es and school houses are built, and
the people morally and mentally
come in touch with all the progress
sive and elevating influences OF a
higher civilization.
Mississippi is prosperous, but much
of her prosperity must be credited to
her railroads. Without which the pro-
ducts could not reach the markets in
competition with those of other sec
tons, and hence would not be valua-
bic as they now are. Indeed, the de-
velopment of our vast timber inter
est and truck growing would not be
possible without railroad facilities,
and without them our state would be
tagging far behind in the race for
commercial gain, for we would be
shut out from the markets in the
great commercial centers.
In considering our Indebtedness to
railroads, we owe much to the Hi
nois Central, which has done so much
for us in the north, south and west
portions of our state, and it is strange
that SO many seem to think that it
is fair to mulct this road through pre-
JUDGED juries, in damage suits Tor
imaginary injuries, and it would seem
that some people are doing their best
to kill the goose that lays the golden
eggs.
The process INDUCED in has ten
denncy to discourse railroads, and
to put a stop to railroad building in
our state, and the sooner our people
awake to this fact, and cease to pur-
sue a persecutive policy with the rail
roads, the better. We have much
undeveloped territory, which can on
ly be developed by railroad facilities,
and capital necessary to this devel-
opment can be had. provided those
who would invest it on some guaran-
tee. of fair treatment, but to pursue
the policy of bleeding corporations
must prevent capital, which at best
is timid, from investing where the
public prejudice seems to be against
it.
Let us encourage railroads just as
we would individual investments, and
look to our railroad commission to
see that the people are not imposed
upon, for which purpose this COM
mission was created and is paid out
of the publil funds, but let us not en-
courage the seeking of opportunities
to trouble and legally worry the rail
roads and cause them to regard us
as their enemies, and to cease to i'm
prove facilities for state development.
We are aware that this is not pop
ular side to take just at this time, but
it is right, and all people should strive
to be just, and to pursue the best
course to develop the values of the
state in general which means the in
crease of the values of the individ-
ual units making up the whole.
Let us treat the railroads fairly,
and demand only fair treatment from
them and then the roads and people