The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18

nearer together by rapid and economical
methods of transportation. In this way
the entire country became more closely
knit together, and a state of agricultural,
industrial and commercial interdepend-
ence was created Farmers who had
been forced to depend upon their own
plantations for all the necessities of life,
began to devote their lands and labor
only to such products as were best suited
to their environments, and the territory
to which they looked for the products of
soil and climate dissimlar to their own
began to increase with an ever widening
radius. The manufacturer, as the rea-
tionship between all lines of railway be-
came more perfectly adjusted, could rely
with greater confidence upon the facili-
ties at hand to assemble his material, no
matter how varied it's character or how
widely apart the points of its original
production. The relationship between all
commercial centersb ecame more strength
ened, and closer unified by the bringing
of all railway lines up to one general
standard of condition.
II was absolutely impossible that the
great work of standardizing and welding
together the transportation facilities of a
great country. could be successfully car
red to completion without the establish
ment of some financial relationship
among the many integral parts which
were to be thus drawn together A rail-
road company with financial strength
sufficient for its own purposes would find
itself depending upon weaker connecting
lines for its traffic which would not
possess facilities necessary for the safe
or economical transaction of either local
or interchange business. And as a mat
ter of self-proteetion 1t would give such
financial aid to its weaker connections
as might be necessary to overcome the
disabilities under which they were strug-
Cling.
The supplying of funds for the pur-
chase of necessary rolling stock and the
raising Of the condition Of roadbed'
track and structures has often enabled
a weaker line to more effectively dis
charge its own obligations and. to be-
come more reliable medium for ex-
change of traffic with its stronger con-
necton.
Practical experience soon demonstrated
that in the great struggle for existence
no line could hope to preserve itself that
did not have such diversity in its bust
ness as would produce a constant sup
ply of traffic during oil seasons of the
year. 1t became apparent, for instance,
that a line so limited in extent and re-
sources that its principal revenue came
from the handling of a single item of
agriculture could not successfully exist
for the reason that 1t would be neces-
railroad, such appurtenances as would
| be sufficient to move the business of the
territory IL traversed when at its maxi
mum, and as this movement by its very
| character could only last for its season,
1t would result In its having to maintain
in idleness a considerable part OF its
property for the remainder of the year.
AS every properly equipped line of rail-
way must own sufficient equipment to
properly handle it's traffic at the moment
OF its greatest volume, unless its rails
reach territory with sufficient diversity
of traffic to supply business during all
periods of the year, it must necessarily
fail.
All of these conditions made II imper-
atively necessary that there should be
some unihcation of interests, between
these segregated lines of railway which
had been constructed to serve mainly in
dividual territory, or to transport special
items of traffic In no other way could
continuous lines of communication be
created, under best conditions, wider
markets provided for producers and
greater and better bases of supplies Gre
ated for consumers The requirements
+; OF agriculture. industry and commerce
alike cried out for easier and better
conveyance for man and goods from
place to place.
These necessities have forced the form
ing of financial relationships between
many lines of railway, which thus bound
together can give such strength, one to
the other as to make the general project
successful, the separated parts OF which,
II forced to stand alone, would certainly
result in financial disaster.
Another principle involved In this Is
not different from that which always
separates transactions upon a wholesale
! as distinguished from a retail basis. A
merchant with widely varied stock and
large volume of trade can almost al
ways serve his patrons with greater BEN
ent to them than competitor who must
handle more restricted assortment Oh