The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-08-15

js$ Il m a ddress made by tho late Major
II Nv 4. d. Myers before tho students OF
" F1n,tandoluh- Macon College q few months
before his death, these very teresting
a facts on tho growth Of railroads were err g
collected: M I'll II u ri Ill
iss Tho population OF the United States e!
u has increased since 1850 not quito 81 per
cent 5ss II
5E88 z. The ton miles Of freight carried RI! by
THE steam railways has increased 2lo per
cent. n IN ia 1T 4,
8. The passenger transportation. l, las.
Increased 24s per cent.
1T 1. Il During tho same period the price
n paid BY the public per ton mile has de- tsi
creased from two cents to three fou |lt IS
of a cont, or a75 per cent.
Upon 5 our railroads.&c. Richmond.
Frederiok and Pc ton,ao "-- g. d Major
Il Myers, when I came into Its manage e.
81 ,nent In 1870. there was local freight
service measured by the u movement 81
Il Dos 900 mile tons per annunl,& with
4 revenue thorefrom Of $4G,AO0,, an average
Il rate per. ton milo Of over five cents. The
4 corrcspondin figures for 1904 were So,
\ B51 600 milo tons, at an average rate Of
& less than one cent per mile. The volume
II had Increased near glundred-fold, and
THE revenue less than twenty fold. The
N passenger business had increased five
6 fold; the average rate Of charge per mile
had decreased from 54-lo cents to 1910
cents. =, " &z8 4 u
sss5s We Of to-day are so accustomed to
these comforts and convenlences that
Il we are only too likely to forget how hard
s. Che conditions were before the railroads
" came Into being. ,rhlrty-tlYe years ago
Justice Paine OF the wisconsin Supreme
& Court was stil near enough to the days
$Sof the stage coach to- understand the
true measure Of service rendered by rail-
h .ro,ads ana In summing up his opinion Of
5theiK value to civilization, the learned
Justice said:
They have dono more to develop the
wealth and resources, to stimulate the
slndustry, reward the labor and spromote
tthe general comfort and prosperity Of
8the country than any other, perhaps than
all other, mere physical causes combined.
gE58s5..Thcre is probably not a man, woman
Or child whose Interest and comfort has
mot been in some degree snbseryed by
them They bring to our doors the pro-
auctions Of tho earth, They enable US to
anticipate and protraot the seasons
They enable tho inhabitants Of zach cline
4 to enjoy the plcdsures ana llxuries OF all.
they scatter the productions Of the press
Eand OF literature broadcast through the
country with amazing rapidly. There
5lis scarcely want, wish or aspiration OF
THE human heart which they do not Iii
some measure help to crafty. They
promote the pleasures OF social life and
Il OF friendship; they bring the skilled ply
4 sioians swiftly from distances to attend
the slick and wounded. and enable the
absent friend to be- present at the bed
sslde OF the dying, e 53
."They have moro than realized the
fabulous conception OF the Eastern
q Imagination, which pictured the genii as
4 transporting Inhabited palaces through
the air. They take train OF Inhabited
palaces from the Atlantic coast. and with
# marvellous swlftness deposit 1t on the
4 shores that arc washed by tho Pacific
500. In war they transport the armies
and supplies OF the government with the
greatest oelerty, and carry forward, as
H It were on the wings OF tho wind relief
tand comfort to those who are stretched
a bleeding and wounded on the field of
pattle.'
At present trust busters and politicians
are alike engaged In pursuing tho rail-
roads, often with right. but for tho sake
4 OF fairness IT IS gomet1mes well to re-
member the service rendered by these
powerful corporations.
4gsI5fb 4.NiLF. A4I.lN