The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-02-16
t,rI1 III FEBRUARY 1905. i
pnh1ic Attitude to Railroads.


ii public Attitude to Railroads.
81 =, ,,ner co1nscls Will prevail before the ne
III railroad question Is settled, but ~ lhe
# ,rcantit,1c. tho public Is getting rapiaiy
,,d,,ca fed on tho problems of transports
Is tlon as seen by tho railroad managers mana st'l
~ aud the result of this wider understanSu'-
ing will be OF real value in rea .c ns q
final adjustment. Perhaps we may ".
AZ l,ave some trustworthy and capable com com
a mission "a investigate freight rates for
HI he spurpose Of ascertainng Whet mel lnes
are too light. 1t would be emlha rra ass '
fif wo should make all possible prt eppai'tl-
tion and create all conceivable machinery
I for, E,oSering freight rates, only 70 ll 'Itu
mai ;i,ey we're already as low as they,
could ( be put without producing serious l'l
IS and irrctrieyable damage to our lla nay uru'
prosperity. AS a side light on TINS cues Ss
lion attention might BIO called = 9 th inc lazy a.
y that competent foreign experts attribute
American prosperity In large meas meas VI uro
y to tho greatly lessened cost Of i re
transportation In America rs compared 'a1
v;tl, Europc. But where bitter aniinosi-
ties or popular preiudices have once pee a1
II aroused logic and facts are not OF na MUG
avail Time and change OF attitude are
AZ necessary to bring about n better UNDER
standing. B
Il ,rhe genesis OF. the present condition OIL
III public evaporation is well given IN aSt me
Sorth American Review and upon Inns
part;nl and fuller examination the sins Of
ire railroads appear TO have been Tue
q rather TO the workings OF economic laws
than the Inherent selfishncss OF the trat-
( tic departments. (.
THE North American describes the great
railroad boom that lasted almost contin-
uously from 1856 to 1859 as q result OF
which America found Itself. with more
roads than traffic Naturally, once IN
view of tho proclivties Of human nature
Nc might say inevitably the managers
adopted for their guiding principle that
81 detcsted maxim, which declares that q
rate shall be "all tho traffic will bear"
Rate-maklng in those days was controlled
by the law OF club and fans The rail-
roads took what they could get; the ship
per paid only what he could not escape
q III tho fierce struggle for enough interest
charges 10 stavc off foreclosure, tho rail-
@ roads took no. thought for the future de-
vclopment at business by building UP COM
Inunites through low rates. They had no
MI time for such altruism, Their business was
Ito earn enough to meet the coupons and
GENERATING charges and they took what
they could remorsclessy, being themselves
II pursued by equally hungry and relentless
creditors and stockholders.
That course of action. cngendercd the
hatred that found expression In all sorts Of
&c hostile and r-pressiYe legislation. To-day,
the laws remain, the country has grown
SO enormously that the traffic at reduced
and continually lessening rates, is now
sufficlentsto pay not only the charges for
interest, but also satisfactory dividends.
i In other words, wo need and can profit
ably use MI our railroads to-day
81 From the standpoint of competition, the
situation has much improved III place of
multltude Of struggling little roads en-
81 gagged In the cannibalstic war fare OF un-
restricted competition, we have few
spowerful, wealthy organized and not un-
reasonably profitable corporations which
By reason of their extended territory and
diversified Interests arc able to develop
X new traffic and build UP new Industries
in a way that would have been utterly m-
II possible for the smaller constituent roads
The sense OF public duty and public re,
fsS snonsibllity has also grown, II is now nc
\ longer possible for any railroad magnatt
toirear back In the pride Of private owner
Il ship and give the everast!ngty outrageous
reply OF William II. Vanderbilt To Il re-
guest FOR better service, for The publ,
88reiiher can nor VIII be DID to-day, TIL,
chef objection 10 the present lnisdeed
VI railroads lstthe giving of rebates, anc
Inns is being rapidly and successful,
8 re.nedied. TO be sure. the Standard OF
ltust owes It's pre-cminence primarily Il
K corrupt bargains and Illegal contracts viii
renal or weak railroads. That state o
affairs can hardly he repeated under on,
y present laws, and the requirements OF tn
/. Situation are rather To curb diserimina
lion than 10 prevent oyercharsng twhic
"a is undoubtedly being done); the DANCE
is In seeking to hastenyby unnecessary,
y not palpably Inefficient legislation, II bel
4 ter understanding between the railroad
and The shippers. This mutual know
edge of each others needs and limitation
8 Is being brought about by natural cause
IA, and there ~ no Just reason 10 apprehen
3 q radical attack on railroad proper,ic
undsr The PROPOSED lasb The psi. " "