The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-10
TWO KINDS OF RECONSTRUC-
TON LEADERS IN THE SOUTH

The New York sun y recent date pub
nshed the following Significant communi-
To the Editor OF the sun:
Sf'-Ihe probiena OF reconstruction,
with whiCh the statesmen al Washing
Ion slrHSgled IN vain for many years.
Pracucal business man with d Few years
VI earnest, aggressive work. by the
.naslc OF business acumen and admins
HduNs talent OF unusual order, q grave
impeachment, which lay as a solid wall
before the onward march Of progress.
was overcome with signal ability and
The late Samuel Spencer. president ~
me southern Railway, was the most
ZIONIST of the age. He Mas reConstruc-
a PontfeN Maximus. who brfaae5 fha
broad chasm opened between the Nor,h
ana south by a long and disastrous war.
To his rare constructive and creative
genius p marvellous executive ability =
United country owes a lasting debt OF
rautud and honor.
The spirit OF commercialism ana rivalry
which divided the North and south INTO
nQsute sections was In turn the element
whlch, under changed and favorable con-
oitions and the directive genius OF a fer
tie and resourceful mind. reunited the
Two sections OF the country in a Arm arr
deal statesmen failed TO attain the prac-
uicsl ~nancio won with unerrinE skill;
that which the lawmaker accomplished
iu theory the fnancier reduced 10 an
active. potential reality.
The business uCumen and financial
genius Of the late MT. Spencer Mere tho
greatest and most effective factors in
the practical construction and rphabif-
taton Of the South. ORA wing the uoo-
Pic OF the two sections together upon the
common ground OF Necessity and ambition.
ana uniting them in "a close commercial
union by the element OF self-intcrest. ne
brought out or the chaos OF ruined IN
custries an Organization OF mutually CO.
operative and effective forces. Through
tile potent Influence OF the railways which
fc united In a Arm integral unit. Mr..
spencer brought the commercial forces
OF The North and South into "a powerful
activity. Like the road builders OF the
Roman empire. lie opened the way Tor
the rapid onward march OF progressive
forces.
Through the construction. operation and
perfection ~ his great railway system
ho accomplished more for the restoration
or peace. order, security OF lie and prop
crtr and the general welfare and pros
peritv OF tho South than any Federal
statutc or governmental policy.
Mr. Spencer found the railways within
the sphere Of his activities az mud and
c4aN. Pee left them as brick and gran
tc-urm and potential. The initial parts
nf the Southern Railway were "a loosely
Joined. disconuectcd-ofteu hostlc-fmpO-
tcnt road before they felt the touch OF
Dit Spencer virile genius. When ho faN.
like "A leader at the head Of large forces
90 men and vast commercial Interests.
De left a transuortation system which ox-
miratlon OF the whole world. The South
crn Railway. which De- founded and de-
velOred with mastery skin and Judgment
was like a mighty oak. rooted firmly and
with IFS aureadin~ hranrhe extending
ve1 into tho Norfh Thf- Vht vvstem
was the potent lever which. under the
ndminfstr7fiv I've ayin ~ : mu-l guauca~
construction ~ tho South. The trans
p0rtafion system. which united the vast