Panama City pilot. (Panama City, Washington County, Fla.) 1907-19??, 1907-11-21

it penal offense to thus hold cars
might change conditions for the
better.
On the part of the roads no way has
been found to prevent dishonest rail
way officials from improperly using
the cars of foreign lines. Cars have
been known to have been seven years
away from the owning road. All this
time the car was in service, and some
dishonest railway was getting the use
of and profit from it. \ method can
be devised and successfully operated
whereby such a crime, for it is
crime, can be punished. In addition
to whatever the railways may do to
correct this abuse of equipment, the
Inter State Commerce Commission
should take up the subject and attiX
a penalty therefor that would stop it.
Combinations of connecting lines
/ IN the use of equipment, one vast
/ system made up of many roads, would
materially help the matter, and add
to the mileage made by the ears of
all the lines. If this were done it
would require central organization
to handle the car supply for all the
roads in the system. 1t would save
much in the way of lost mileage, and
prove efficient in getting through ears
moved much faster than they are
now. But this would require the
cooperation of the several States
through which the lines ran, and this
could not be had under the present
state control craze that is so popular.
In fact the present era of harrassing
railway legislation acts directly
against prompt movement of equip
ment, and tends to still farther aggra-
vate the case.
In some instances it is true that the
companies have not been as diligent
as they should have been in getting
new equipment. Other roads have
been SO dominated by Wall street,
that the earnings that should have
gone toward the purchase of equip
ment, and in increasing track facili-
ties, were diverted to the payment of
uncalled for dividends, and as the
business of these roads increased,
their troubles grew apace. National
legislation and an awakened public
conscience can correct these matters,
but it is goisAuS2 take time to do it,
whileGhe Presenc> dntagonistic railway
legislation, i'll states that are the
greatest sufferers for want of ears, is
still farther pOstpOning the day when
the companies will be able to increase
their equipment. These Legislators
are like moths that hover about a
flame until they are consumed, though
in this case it is their suffering con
stituents that are destroyed.
Another remedy that lies within the
power Of the bankers, business men,
anu ldl lllCI ., ID JllC IIOlOllllS DdChs anu
distribution throughout the year of
crops which are now forced upon
the railways and the market in one
fourth that time. Organizations can
be effected to do this. 1t takes CAPT
tai and an education of the people,
but it can be accomplished if fully
determined upon. This would not
only give the roads more uniform
earnings, and a better supply Of cars,
but would materially aid the farmer
in giving him better prices for his
crops. 1t is admitted that the low
price this Fall for cotton was caused
by the rushing upon the market of
more than could be cared for by the
manufacturers BY doing this the
cotton belt of the South will probably
lose 500, 600, 900, or more, in cash.
Is this not serious enough to waken
the people to provide a remedy! 1t
can be done. a true American never
says fail, and true craftsmanship and
broad business ability should Join and
save to the tiller of the soil and to
our Southland this vast sum that is
now virtually thrown away