The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
WHAT THE RAILROADS ARE DO.
ING FOR THE SOUTH.
Tho Land and Industrial Agency system
devised by samuel Spencer.

boNtbCu W Se"uOh 0pcuCCGs
Tho magnificent union station at Wash.
Ington, which will soon be ono Of the great
monumental buildings OF that splendid
city, has been called the vestibule Of our
national capital. It might also be called
the gateway Of the South. That II, for us
OF the North. On the other hand, for the
South It will be the gateway Of the North.
The South, to be sure, has many gateways
along its northern frontier, as IL necessarily
the case with q boundary line that stretches
across the continent. But Washington.
from its nauonal rank and It's rela ton to the
denseet populations, both North and South.
Is preemi nently the grand portal Of the
section.
In our observations Of typical industrial
development as influenced by the railways.
strong contrasts and most interesting
comparisons are offered In proceeding from
one old section to another old section; from
densely populated New England to the az
yet sparsely populated South; from new
section in the EXTREMIST part Of old New
England into many parts Of the South.
where what perhaps are the richest fields
Of varied natural resources In the world
awaiting exploitation. We shall find the
same vital American spirit animatng both
sections, with many notable contrasts and
equally notable agreements and parallels.
The South, however. Is distinguished by .
marvellous revival OF the spirit that pro-
vailed there OF old. Broken by the blight
of slavery and OF civil war, only in recent
wears has it regainedi it's old time momentum.
1t is now speeding forward to marvellous
new outcomee.
There cannot be the least question as
to the fact that the present splendid ad-
vance, which marks a new era throughout
the South, has been made possible only
by the railways in their taking up Of the
most modern and enlightened methods
for the exploitation Of the territories tribu-
tary to them The railway development
OF the South in the antebellum days was
very important and correspondent to like
stages of development in the North. In
those days, however. the Southern rail-
ways, while including many trunk lines
Of great Importance, were broken up into
numerous fragmentary sections controlled
by as many independent companies. Among
these such traffic relations existed as were
possible under those conditions. But there
was little conference among them, and
equally little possibility Of action In unison
ments The era Of consolidation into great
systems began much later in the South
than In the North, but the process Is now
being carried forward in magnificent con-
summations.
ever Is not even half complete, as yet.
In many parts Of the North 1t has prac-
tcally attained It's full growth. In tho
IL L.
pared to those Of forest where the trees.
although large and hourishing, have yet
to double in size, at least, before they realize
the possibilities Of maturity. There ap-
pears to be general impression that these
great consultations mean practically a
monopoly Of railway transportation under
one control, as has been tho result in certain
other sections Of the country. This, how
ever, Is far from the correct Idea Of the
present situation. The South contains sev-
eral very large systems, ono Of them al
ready including considerably over 5000
miles of lines. But these overlap and
interlace to q very great extent. reaching
into the territories Of ono another and coming
together at various great central points.
Therefore. while there may be harmonious
relations. there is certainly great deal Of
competition for traffic.
1t has been fashion of late to depict
the railways as raging monsters, devour-
Ing the substance Of the land, delighting
in the destruction Of industries and blight
ing the prospects Of nourishing COMMUNE
ties. While there have been and doubt
Jess still are not few instances Of in
justice to individuals and communities,
It is evident that the seif-interest Of q rail-
way system lies in building up the terri
tory along it's line without favor or dis
elimination to its patrons. The ways in
which the railways have built up the South
in the past few years and are still building
it up in steadily acoelerating degrees find
probably their best illustration In the great |
work which is being carried out by the
land and industrial departments OF the
various systems and companies.
There was recently q meeting OF the
Southern Railway Land and Industrial |
Agents Association at Asheville, N. C. In
relation to this occasion it was said at the |
time that until the Southern railroads
began a systematic campaign for promul-
eating information concerning the South |
there was very little perceptible develop
ment in comparison with the newer sections
OF the United States. But in consequence
OF the effective work that has been done,
a great movement Of capital and industry
and of population toward the South has
taken place.
Altogether the South is now regarded
as the most prosperous section Of the United
States, and this fact appears to be chiefly
due to the systematic work Of develop
ment which has been carried on by the rail-
roads. How extensive this is may be seen
from the fact that the association in ques-
lion represents sixteen different railway
companies whose combined mileage is
over 10000, covering every part Of the ten
great States which they penetrate.
The pioneer In this work Of industrial
development was NJ v. Richards, tho land
md industrial agent OF the Southern Rail-
way. When that great system was created
BY the consolidation Of numerous smaller
lines scattered all through the South from
he Potomac to the Gulf Of Mexico and from
he Atlantic to tho Mississippi, the presi.
Dent Samuel Spencer, called Mr.. Richards
% him and asked him to undertake the
organization Of a great land and industrial
department for the biz nav company. |