The San Francisco call., 1906-11-04


miles in Ohio there is fall OF only two feet
to the mile. From Chicago to the Pennsylvania
State line the grade does not exceed 16 feet
per mile. and In the entire distance of 75o miles
between Chicago and New York grade on
the route surveyed exceeds per cent. No doubt
the reader who looks on the map and observes
the snake-ike winding of the existing trunk
lines maryels as TO why they ever we're built
so crooked. but the reason becomes plain enough
when it is realized that many of the cities
from which these roads draw their industrial
life blood were located on the great rivers which
then constituted the only highways of trans
portation.
None of the great roads of today were built
with any idea OF catering TO through. direct
route passenger traffic from East to West, but
were merely gatherers-in of local traffic from
these river-bank cities, with their alluring
freight tonnage the main object sought. Thus it
came about that the routes of all existing roads
were crooked and rambling. taking the passen-
ger to his destination by routes that went round
many Robin Hoods Barn 1t must be
membered, too, that ii is only within the last
twenty-five years that the passenger traffic has
reached gigantic proportions. When the steam
roads were built the passenger was matter
of small consideration compared with freight.
but today, with the increase of national wealth
and consequent increased capacity for luxurious
travel, the passenger traffic holds forth allur-
ing prospects of profits 10 any road that
will equip itself for it and carry the traveller
TO the end Of his journey by a direct line. high
speed route that takes account of and doesn't
bother with freight on the same track
Passenger traffic with its constant demand
for higher speed. has made the Chicago New
York Electric Air Line Railroad reality; never
{e {n4 -.
overlooked. Freight will ultimately be handled
exclusive freight tracks and kept as distinct
from the passenger traffic as II two separate
roads ran side by side. 1t stands to reason that
1t won't be so very long before the freight ship
pers will begin to think that such direct
high speed line is as good thing for freight
as for passengers, and This, Of course Will ulti-
mately lead 10 spur tracks being run to the
main line from more than twenty cities of over
one hundred thousand inhabitants and prac-
teal absorption Of the freight business from
territory with population of about nine million
The main line runs so close to several large
cities, such Cleveland Toledo. etc. and
others are 50 near that spur tracks of less than
80 miles in length viii connect them with the
main line and then get their freight to
New York OF Chicago several hours quicker than
Is possible That is what confronts tho
existing steam lines today The plans for the
new electric line contemplate ample track space
for freight as well as passenger traffic when the
time comes to handle IT,
Such is the railroad situation; here is d.
rect route between Chicago and New York the
greatest traffic terminals the world has ever
known It is almost as level as billiard ta-
BILE for more than half its length and through
its entire distance Of 75o miles there is not
single mile in which there is a rise OF more
than 80 feet. How strange II seems that no
great railroad has appropriated this amazingly
valuable piece Of property. The fact is II re-
qnired men who were not railroad men to fur
nish the money It took 70 make the first start
and of course. It will take men who are rail-
road men to actually engineer the project After
much work this happy combination of business
men future great shippers) on the one hand
and railroad men. present managerial heads of
SOME Of the greatest railroads in the United
States the other. were brought together TO
launch this most stupendous undertaking of
century. These men have made the start but
It will be the plain. everyday citizen who will
complete the project It has been determined
that the people. the plain people. shall own this
great electric road.
1t is. of course. the votes of the people that
enable this road to exercise the right of en-
inent domain" law whereby the welfare Of
the people as whole is put above the inter
ests Of any one or set of men, and the
building Of railroads made possible By this
process Of State law railroad can appropriate
for its use (at a fair valne) any land that is es-
sential to its completion railroad is for the
whole people. not 1.-THE few and no intrigue.
greed selfish restraint Of progress can possibly
stop its building