The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-06-07
THE PgBLIC
AND RAILROADS.



recently adopted resolutions condemn
TX che hostile attitude Of the public
t6ward TIE railroads OF the country ard
usging the utmost hberality, toward
onaDortotion companies believing
that by 20 doing the commercial and N.
dlatrial interests Of the country will
Is benefited and that trade viii be ln-
vigofatod propOrtionately. Similar
action han bern taken by Boards oi
Trade and various other commercial
fkTouehont the country This Is an
f,dicati0n that the public Is discardlng
TIE anfaQonistir split that was 80 pro-
nonnced for some time, Is prone 20 hear
the RAILROADS, side Of the controversy
and 81 willing 70 eoncede that the eounr
tty largely owes its growth and deyei-
oaaent 70 them.
Ths resolutions recited are; The
I.oegiaVille Board Of Trade believes that
the population, prosperity and wealth
- K entuclgy would be greatly enhanced
By the construction Of q very large adj
difionel railroad mileage for the pur-
pose Of opening up and develOpipgs and
making available the enormously yaiu-
able resources Of the State, now largely
unavailable because Of the lack OF
tsansp ortati0n facilities.
"ln this project of upbuilding our
State and developing her resources
every good citizen Is interested for
himself, and Tor his children without
regard 20 wealth or occupation, but
may properly look to the development
AZ K entncky as a place to establish
their own fortunes and as satisfactory
abode for the generations that are to
come after them
EXISTING CONDITIONS.
TO secure these additional facilities
almost any reasonable sacrifice or effort
consistent with public morality would
be justified. This State, the first dis
covered and settled west Of the Attain
~ eesboard, should now he foremost
IN poenlation. wealth education and in
dustrial development. She IL not 90,
la8Rely because she has denied herself
Sof has been denied the blessings of
TRANSPORTATION facilities. The property
valuation in Kentucky, on which as
aesemonts are levied Tor local and State
Governments, should exceed that Of any
ether State west Of the Allegheny
Mountains. How far short Kentucky
comes OF these standards Il wen known
and we believe that lack Of transp0rta-
ten facilities Is largely responsible for
the existing conditions,
faThis Board Of Trade favors the at
most hberality on the part OF the State,
county and municipal authorizes OF
kentucky toward al transportation
companies, who have, in good faith and
strict conformity with the national and
gfate laws. undertaken 70 furnish ua
TRANSPORTATION facilities. We believe
that IN order 20 enjoy the benefits that
come from the State development the
nublic should be willing that invest
ment In the means of transportation
should be profitable, and sufficiently 90
"a tempt those who provide the capital
for ench enterprises = whether residents
az the State on MOTTO rapidly increase
their investments IN the State until
everv part Of Kentucky that 70 now
inaccessible to markets for its products
ard supplies.
1--WE believe that the public has taken
such 4 critical and almost hOstile attis
tnde toward the railroad interests and
that the absolute necessity for the ex-
tensiVe and immediate development o.
the means Of transportation n our
State. X our State, ID even 20 maintain
IT. present conditions, ts being over
looked. It certainly should not Pc over
iqoirod h Kentucky. We should selze
tie opportnnity Ghat b presented By
leQfalation IA other States tending 20
male further, railroad construction
khere unproftable 20 attract railroad
eapital 20 Kentucky and an assurance
that those who are willing 10 benefit
Kenfncky ~ making Investments IN
tie State VIII have the good will Of the
neople. We shOuld also offer the equal
nrpfection Of che law, fair treatment,
fhe rood win Of the geperal public and
q PROMISE that those who are willing TO
braeflt Kentucky ~ making invest
recntut the State will be benefited By
~ pFOteetion Of her laws and the COED
wilio her people.