Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-02-09

their 'ege e.abies and foods. The
profits Of this industry are already
immense, but TIE industry is still in
its infancy aud its possibilities for
the future are immeasnrable.
< There is scarcely usefu.
mineral known to modern ciyiliza-
tiou that is n0t fouad and cannot be
successfully mined in Virginia. We
have zinc, copper, iron and coal mines
all - profitable operation, :.
and tiis products Of our furnaces are
distrihnted to all parts of the wocid.
: AircadY Ia Virginia aad the
eastern part IF West Virginia have
been tiscios' q amos, rs many square
miits Of coat, and of superior quality
as that upon which Great Britain es-
tablished her pre- eHinence.
Besides, the rivers that run from our
mountains to the seashore, the Pc
tomac. Shenandoah, Rappahannock,
Appomattox, James and others, are
possessed Of immense water power
capable Of operating large and iu-
Vulnerable establishments. In Ches-
apeake Bay we have the
finest aud safest bgiboIs ON the At
lautic coast, This bay. is the finest
body Of inland water in the world.
aud upon It's smooth surface could
ride the world's fleets and ma
vies. = The completion OF the
Panama Canal will make these the
most favored baFbors in the world,
ant must result ultimately in making
Chesapeake Bay the worlds CONNER
clAl, maaufao' ufipg aud industrial
oeutre. The growth of this section
ot Virginia IL recent years has bsen
marvellous, out, ike The tints Of the
morning sun, it but family foretells
the glory of noontime.
TIE story of Virginia's re-
hahllitatlUn from ruin aud desola-
ton at Apromat:ox to the present,
reads luo'e like romance than his
tory. Those years of patient suffer-
inE, patriotic perseverance, high
courage in misfortune, lofty resolve
amid difficulties, have made us an
energetic, conservative, strong, reso-
lutte people, aud we propose with
brave heart, with willing, toiling
hands TO build q still greater Vir-
giuia. The past of Virginia is
secure. The brightest pages Of our
national history are those illuminedI
by her deeds and the achievements
of her illustrious soos. The future
of Virginia is 10 our hands. If our
wisdom, patriotism and energies will
only lie Commensurate TO our pos
that future is also safe aud
secure and each receding year will
briag 10 the Old Dominion Increased
wealth aud power, greater and
richer radiance.
For Rich and Poor Alike.
While government creates
no wealth, it is the most potential of
all factors in distributing wealth
when once created. Honest govern
meut is that which permits wealth
to remain in the pockets of those
" no produce it. Dishonest govern
ment is that which, by special favors
and privileges, by creating monopoly,
takes the fruits of the toll Of the
many and gives it to the few. The
laws of this state, as far as possible,
should be such as to prohibit all
monopoly, either in the Industries
or in transportation, and should con-
tain no vestige OF special favors or
"A far aslaw can permit,
each citizens whether rich or poor,
high or low, strong or weak, should
have an equal opportunity in the
struggle of life aud stand equal
before the law.
To Regulate Railroad Rates,
There is not city or Sec
tion of this State the future of
which is not dependent upon the
rate ofits freight charges. Whether
the products Of our farms or factor
les can fad profitable sale in the
of the world largely depends
Oh the freight charges made by the
railroads. Com petition being
eliminated, as factor in fixing
rates, government must exercise its
and see that the rates fixed
are reasonable and just. The por-
tlon of our com merce that is foreign
or interstate can only be controlled
and regulated by the federal govern
inent. But, upon traffic confined
within the limits of the State, Vir-
ginia has the power to fix the rates.
= This power should be exer-
cised fairly and justice dispensed
alike to shipper and railroad. A
transportation company should be
treated as a partnership, of which
the public constitutes one partner
and the stockholders the other, each
entitled to full and fair considera-
ton. The arrogant claim of some that
railroads are private property, and
that they have 4 right 10 exact what
they can and please for their service,
is as vicious as the cry of the thought
less demagogues who would con-
fiscate all Investments on these
properties. The railroads have been
potential factors in the development
of Virginia, and we need aud desire
the building of others in many sec
tions Of our State. Our policy
should be such as to give assurance
10 those who have and will invest in
such properties that they may ex.
pect reasonable returns, and will re-
ceiye from us honest, fair and just
treatment. But. we should have it
distinctly understoad that so far as
We have powtr 10 prohibit, that