The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-26

dence in management must be con- sidered.
 If rates. which between competi- tors must always be equal are to be arbitrarily adjusted so as to afford a fair interest upon the value of poor ly managed properties. then the same rates will yield to the well managed property a higher rate of interest.
 rates upon such basis, whether 1t be the Government or any other, must then undertake to decide which is the we'll managed and which the poorly
 This is a single and very simple illustration as to three lines from Montgomery to Sayannah. assuming that no other lines existed anywhere in the United States.
 From this 1t is easy to form some conception of the complexity of the problem of applying such method of rate adjustment to all the network of lines in the country. or even in your own State. v
 Problems t0 he Solved.
 I feel that I have already detained you too long. My excuse must be my deep and abiding interest In having you understand some of the difficult ties which surround railroad man. ager in the performance of q duty which in many respects has become a public trust. Each patron of his road can. in the nature of things, only get u pdTtldl N1eW OI tne SltudUOn. Tie lS apt to see only the things which af feet his own locality. or his own busi- ness. When the schedule of passenger trains do not happen to be the most convenient for his particular station. when there Is a temporary deficiency of freight equipment for his business. when there is an unaCcounted for de- lay to his shipment, when there is some inadequacy of depot accomodn- tions of facilities near his home. he sees it and finds 1t difficult to under stand why it is permitted. The rail road manager on the other hand. Is in an entirely different situation. Forced, by the obligations of his posi- tion, to consider the needs of a larger territory embracing a wide diversity of interests, with the obligation to re- concile as far as possible the conflict Ing claims of persons and of locali- ties, he must take large and compre- hensive views of his public duties and obligations. His obligation Is to utilize the means at his disposal. which are often limited. so as to do the best. un- interest. He would have been more than human if In some instances--if in many instances-he had not failed. and little can be the wonder that those whose attention 'is confined to their own locality and their own interests have found occasion for Irritation and dissatisfaction. It was likewise to be expected <hatA~.--this dissatisfaction WOulu De IoHfeuteO ny those having an interest in creating friction and inflaming the mind of the public against the carrier.
 But when the story of the Souths progress and prosperity is considered, and the place of commercial suprem- acy she is rapidly attaining is con templated. justice. I think. requires the admission that on the whole the work of the railroads has peen well and efficiently done. It is said that railroads have the power to make or mar the fortuhes and destinies of To- calities and sections. If this he true. what Is the lesson to he drawn from the great and unprecedented prNsperi- ty of the Southern States? Primarily due to the energy. industry and intel ligence of the people, 1t must be ad- mitted that it has not prevented. and in view of it's amazing proportions which are exciting the wonder of the world. 1t cannot justly be claimed that 1t has. been retarded, by inade- quate of inefficient transportation fac ilities. History Is the vindication' of all the forces. including the transpor- tation companies. which have been at work to create the new life and pros- perity of the South. I appeal from the