The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1904-11-05
TOTE FAIR WITH THE RAIL-
ROAD,


Jackson Evening Nows.)
All may be mistaken, but therc seems
70 oe prejudice among the people gener-
any against the railroads, and this pre-
ludice grows out of general ignorance
Father than any clear perception as to
what railroads do for the general deyel-
opment Of values.
Railroads are great civilizers, and no
one who cares to investigat nditions
before and after a road Ia built through
any section will doubG this fact. op5n-
ing up the country, a railroad brings
the people in touch with the outer world.
widens their views, begets higher ideals,
and improves the general moral condi-
tions, SO that soon after railroad is
run through any section, its improve.
ment materially and morally begins
Towns spring up, new business is deyel-
oped, churches and school houses are
built, and the people mentally and NOR
ally come in touch with all the progress
siye and eleyating influences OF higher
civiliza Mississippi is prosperous,
but md 4 her prosperity must he
creditedSo her railroads, without which
her products could not reach the mar
kets In competition with those of other
sections, and henoe would not be yalua-
PIE, as they now are. Indeed, the de-
development OF our vast timber interest
and truck growing would not be possi-
BILE without railroad facilities, and with
eut ehom our State would be tagging far
behind in the race for commercial gain,
Tor we would be shut out from the mar
kets in the great commercial centers.
In considering our indebtedness TO
railroads, we owe much Ia the Illinois
Central, which has done SO much for us
IN north, south and west portions OF our
state, and 1t is strange that SO many
seem 70 think that it is fair to mulct this
road through Rrejqdiced jurles, in dam
age suits for imaginary injuries, and 1t
would seem that some people are doing
their best to kill the goose that lays the
golden eggs.
ihe process indulged in has tend
ency to discourage railroads, and to put
a stop TO railroal building il our State,
and the sooner our people awake TO this
TACT and cease to pursue persecutiye
policy with the railroads, the better.
We have much undeveloped territory,
which can only be developed by railroau
facilities, and capital necessary to this
development can be had, provided those
who would invest it mad some guarantee
OF lar treatment, but to pursue the
policy OF bleeding corporations must
prevent capital, which az best is timld
from Investment wnere the puolic preiu-
dice seems TO De against IL.
Let US encourage railroads just as we
would individual investments, ana look
to our railroad commission to see that
the people are noe imposed upon, |or
whlen purpose this commissioa was
created, and is paid out OF the puDLc
funds, bullet US not encourage the seek
ing OF opportunities TO trouble and le-
galiy worry the railroads and cause
tnen TO regard US as their enemies, ana
TO cease TO improve facilities Tor state
development. We are aware tnat this
is not a popular side to take just at tnia
time, but At is right, AMI all people
should strive 70 DC Just, and 70 pursue
the best course 70 develop the values Of
tne State in general, which means the
increase Of the values OF the individual
units making up the wnoie.
Let US treat the railroads fairly, and
demand only fair treatmsnt from them,
and then the roads and people may work
IN harmony to the fullest development
OF the commercial values OF our great
State, which as yet have scarcely been
opened up, much less developed.