The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-25

stretch OF 100 miles in Ohio there is n fall
OF only two feet 10 the mile From Chicago
to the Pennsylvania State line the grade does
not exceed sixteen feet per mile and In the
entire distance OF $50 miles between Chicago
and New York no grade on the route sur
veyed exceeds l per cent. No doubt the
reader who looks on the map and observes
the snake-like winding OF the existing trunk
lines, maryels as TO why they ever were
built so crooked, but the reason becomes
plain enough when II Is realized that many
OF the cities from which these roads draw
their Industrial life-bood were located on the
great rivers which then constituted the only
highways of transportation.
None of the great roads of today were built
with any idea OF catering 10 through direct
route passenger traffic from east TO west,
but were merely gatherers-in OF local traffic
from these rlver-bank cities, with their al
Turing freight tonnage the main object
sought. Thus 1t came about that the routes
Of all existing roads were crooked and RAM
bling. taking the passenger TO his destina
tlon by routes that went round many
Robin Hoods barn" 1, must be remem
bered. too. that It is only within the last
twenty-five years that the passenger traffic
has reached gigantic proportions. When the
steam roads we're built the passenger
a 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 alluring prospects OF profits
10 any new road that VIII equip itself for II
and carry the traveller TO the end OF his
that takes no account OF and doesn't bother
With freight on tho same tracks.
Passenger traffic. with its constant demand
for higher speed, has made the Chicago New
York Electric Air Line railroad reality,
nevertheless, II is not intended that freight
shall be overlooked. Freight will ultimately
be handled on exclusive freight tracks and
Kept as distinct from the passenger trafilc
as II two separate roads ran side by side.
II stands to reason that II won't be so very
long before the freight shippers. Will begin
% think that such a direct high-speed line
is as good thing for freight as for passen
gers. and this. OF course. will ultimately lead
20 spy tracks being run 20 the main line
from more than twenty cities OF over 100000
Inhabitants. and practical absorption of the
freight business from a territory with popu
iation of about 5000. 900.
Tho main line runs so close to several large
cities. such as Cleveland. Toledo etc. and
others are so near. that spur tracks OF less
than fifty miles In length will connect them
with the main line and even then get their
freight TO New York and Chicago several
hours quicker than is now possible That Is
what ConfroRts the existing steam lines to-
day, The plans for the new electric line
contemplate ample track space for freight
as well as passenger traffic when the time
comes 10 handle IL.
Such is the railroad situation: here is n
direct route between Chicago and New York
the greatest tralic terminals the world has
blllardtable for more than half It's length
and through It's entire distance of $50 miles
tuere Is Aot a single mile IN which there Is
a rise OF more than nfty-thrce feet How
strange II seems that no great railroad has
appropriated this amazingly valuable piece OF
property. The fact is. II required men who
were not railroad men 20 furnish the money
1t took 10 make the first start. and. OF course
II Will take men who are railroad men actu-
ally to 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. on the other. were brought together
10 launch this most stupendous undertaking
of a century. These men have made the
start, but 1t will be the plain. everyday citi-
zen who Will complete the project. 1t has
been determined TINT the people. the plain
people, shall own this great electric road
1t is, OF course. the votes OF the people
that enable the road TO exercise the right
OF eminent domain" law whereby the well
fare OF the people as a whole is put above
the interests OF any one man or set OF men,
and the building OF railroads made possible.
BY this process OF State law n railroad can
appropriate for It's use tat a fair vauel any
land that is essential 10 its completion. A
railroad Is for the whole people. not the
few and no intrigue. greed selfish re-
straint Of progress can possibly stop Its build
ing.