The sun., 1907-08-14
The South's Railways.

In reply TO an editorial article printed
the other day in The Sun under the
question will the South Strangle Its
Railways" the State of Columbia makes
a very encouraging reply from the point
of view of the more enlightened and
reasonable sentiment in South Carolina
Our esteemed contemporary says:
Viewing II from distance. and the action by
three States. North Carolina, Virginia and Alabama
being given emphasis BY the unusual legal pro.
eeedlngs. THE Sun is somewhat Justified In Its de
pressing prophecy. but having faith In the common
sense OF the people and with perhaps better un-
derstandng of local disposition VIC are not alarmed
Il must be remembered that the average citizen
does not intuitively appreciate the difnculty Of
a railroad In caring for two horse load with a
one horse equipment Nor Is II spontaneously
presented 10 his mind that n railroad cannot get
what II needs in the way Of equipment on a week 5
notice The average person and those much
above the average-is eIdspersted Uhcn he cannot
get cars 10 haul his material, also when his mail
10 habitually late.
Ciuzens OF the south we're acutey experiencing
the losses and disComforts resulting from lneCicnt
service about the time the war on railroads was
declared In Washington. Many OF them imagined
that all roads were as rich a. the Pennsy lvsnia
and all oiclals regardless OF the public interest
as HARRINAS represented to be: and before
President FINLsI could inauEurate Ills policy of
nlking frankly 20 the public the Legislatures in
several States reduced the passenger rates They
thought they were discipllning ths railroads. and
politicians did have much 10 do with disseminating
that idea. But the roads had politicians on their
side. also lawyers without discretion. and those
succeeded In sggraNatlng the troubles,
The eommonsenSe business man knows that
under existing conditions a tuo and = quarter cent
rs,e Is too low in North Carolina. and that reduc.
t,or Of nearly 70 per cent In the rate a. stroke
was unreasonable
Continuing it's remarks in the same
admirable tone and spirit the STATE says
The South needs for proper Development the
early investment OF iess tbsa s9sD DGaaOco In
additional steam ana long distance electric rail-
ways snd the del eIopnent OF dozens OF waterways
That. TOO, In addition TO the bctterment of equip
ment, the improving of roadbeds, the elimination
OF curves and the lowering of grades on almost
every mile ~ road In the territory Those facts
are recognized throughout the south. the necessity
for transportation facilities for doN Nelopment are
fully appreciated here As In New York. and the
railways will not be Strangled. There Is no anti
railroad sentiment In this part Of the country. Al
that Is necessary Is To appeal TO the common sense
Of the people the common sense OF the state LesIs
latures and the justice OF the State courts. There
will be 40 upon railroads; no Industrial dis
aster"'
There will be no war on the railroads.
no industrial disaster, no suicide by
strangulation, if the sanity said to pre-
Vail in the region for which our esteemed
contemporary speaks SO we'll with spe-
cial knowledge becomes contagious and
makes its way north, south and west from
that centre Of reasonableness and intelli-
gent perception Of opportunity.