The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-09
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 Just how valuable and important a good railroad system is to, any coun- try is d;aacuit ts estimate. The pres ent generation is, so accustomed to railways thst they never stob to com sider their value. or how they would get along without them. In the older days, when all travel. trafic and trans portation was by wagoh. cart or car riaSe. or on the backs of animals. and before such thing as railroad was known or even dreamed of the people were probably content to follow the methods of their fathers. To load one or two bales of cotton on an ox-wagon and haul it fifty or sixty miles to mar Iket was a practics that some of the elders among us can remember, and if the trip consumed a week 1t was taken as a matter of course. Railroads in Alabama were not numerous, even half a century ago.. We have often wondered why the human family was so slow about find. ing some newer and swifter methods O. travel. During the many long centu. ries that elapsed after man, came to be an inhabitant of earth there was no change. The armies of Moses &sid Joshua could doubtless travel as fast as the armies of Washington or Na- poleon. The queens of ancient Egypt could travel wit as much speed as could the Empress Josephine os Mar tha Washington. It was as easy to convey freight from one point to an- other in Solomon's day as in Franklin's. Does it not seem strange that some in- genious man did not arise in the far of days to invent and construct a rail- road?
 When we think of these old times we are better able to appreciate the immense benefit that 8 railway system is to any section of country. Even now there are portions of Alabama that are little better off in this respect than they were fifty years ago. Perhaps a railroad is not so distant 4fom them as it was then, and they rzay get to marke: with less delay and expense, but there, is not much advantage over the old days. Tn most of the State as the advantage of railroad facilities be- comes apparent the desire flor them increases and the determination to have them grows and will not be denied.
 Another curious thing in connection with railroads is the change that has come in locating them. We remember to-have read that when the first ex- tperiments were being made in England the wiseacres of the ttime somewhat grudgingIy admitted that 1t might be possible to run train of cars over a perfectly level and straight track. but that crook or a slight declivity would form an insuperable barrier
 These old-time skeptics were unable to understand how a train could be made to run on a crooked line or how an engine could pull loaded train a hill. or prevent 1t from running wild when it started down. This in creduiity~ as to railway possibilities had not entirely vanish ed within the memory of persons now living, for all can remember when railroads were only built on favorable locations. It is very different now, as all know. If the projected. line comes to hill or a mountain too steep to pass over tl ey cut through 1t. If thats involves too much time and expense they go around it. Up, through. or around. .t is all the same. so that the road is built. All this leads to the argument that the building and operation of railroads should be encouraged in all legitimate ways. We do not believe in the idea of building>them with the public mon- eys, nor of offering a bonus to com- pany to build one. but we believe that State. county andk municipal govern ments should be fair and liberal in granting franchises, and that rights of way should not be prohibitive. In other words, governments and inuIvid. uals should encourage the building of new roads wherever they are needed. for this is a sure means of building up any country. When a railroad goes into successful operation in any section of the country it naturally leads to the construction of branches or com peting lines. and thus the business grows as long as there is a demand for more or better lines.
 And for the same reason that railroad building should be encouraged should they be protected in all their rights, A railroad is a corporation but 1t is not necessarily a criminal for all that, yet there seems to be a disposition abroad to treat them as if they were outlaws. The reform wave" which has of late had possession of the country appar- entity goes on the idea that a railroad company has no disposition or inten. ton to do right and tpsrefore 1t is necessary to make laws to restrain them.