The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-17
THE PEOPLE AND THE RAIL-
ROADS,
Their interests are Identical. Let us
Better Understand Each the

BETTER Understand Each Other.
Washington ID. c., July 8, 1907.
Editor, Abbeville Press and Banner.
Dear sir:~f take the liberty of seeking to
enlist your aid In q matter that ! oelieVe 10
be of the utmost importance to all the people
ofthe south.
agement OF this Company, / have been en-
deavoring. In every proper way. 10 orlng
about the most cordial relations between the
railway and the people along Its lines TO ihe
ern people and The railways Of the South,
which has made possible the progress OF the
past quarter OF q century, may be continued
and may lead to atill greater prosperity.
terests of q railway and Of the communities
along its lines are absolutely Identical; that
thu railway can not permanently prosper I'M
less the people served by 1t are prosperous,
measure Of prosperity to which Its resources
and the energies OF Its people entitle It un-
less IL is served by a strong and prosperous
railway, able to increase its facilities, 80 as
TO keep pace with the growing demand LOT
Ali modern business ia based on transpor-
tation. Ability to reach markets Ia as essen.
,,al to prosperity Pe nsS as y o ,s q, Sap psi1Say 1877 m PsSuqes
and limits the production OF any community.
It follows, therefore, that ANYTHING that tends
to cripple the railways and prevent their IN.
creasing their facilities is detrimental. not
only to the railways, but 10 all the people
served by them. 1.-THE people OF the South
are to prosper. II they are TO increase the
products Of their. mines, Of their factories,
and of their farms, they must favor policies
that will permit the increase OF the facilities
and capacity Of their railways. 4,
The ability of the railways to Increase and
improve their facilities depends IN very large
the action of the Federal and State Legisla-
lures. The regu alton OF the railways. IN 30
far as 1t ia necessary to prevent discrlmina-
lions between shippers and travellers ano 70
liant charges, 10 perfectly proper; and no
sound argument can be made against y. When
however, legislation passes beyond the neld
OF proper regulation ana become aes " ~ noe
only unjust TO those OF our fellow citizens
who have invested their means In railway
securities, but 1t will inevitably react upon
all the people Of the Try by Gripping Inc
ability Of the carriers TO Improve their facili-
ties. 1t must not be forgotten that II those
who rave already invested In railway. sc.
curities are denied The protection OF Just iaws
are unsafe, our ability to make q successful
appeal to Thorn or to others 10 make new IN.
vestments In these securities is impaired. II
not destroyed.
Unfortunately, at the present time, as a
result OF agitation carried TO an extreme
point, there is q disposition on the part or
some OF the States to subject the railways To
legislation of such a character that Investors
in railway securities have become alarmed
and the railways generally have been unable
to sell their bonds TO provide funds for new
construction and nave been compeIled 70 re-
est to take care Of existing obl1gatlons Tor
construction, though II Ia apparent that new
projects for improvements cannot be Dased
on such expensive credit.
AS illustrating the character OF legislation
which tends TO impair the credit OF the ROADS
by attacking their earning power and de-
pleting their resources, / may mention laws
.RsSpH slpftrs 40 5sd sna IsSs pfopo sGa l 70 i@!
pose penalties upon the roads for failure 70
perform services which IL would be TO their
interest 70 perform but when are 0eyona
fares, for instance, 1t Ia o we'll established fact
that the proftableness OF railway passenger
traffic depends almost entirely on I've
faotors-on the density OF population ana on
cities. A moments Consideration will oon-
vince you tina q rate Of fare that might be
fairly profitable IN q State like Massaohu-
sets, with q population OF S7o per square mile
and with IS per cent OF tho population living
IN cities, would be ruipously low In the
Southern States, with an average population
Of but 81 per square mile and with only 81
per cent Of the people living In cities.
lions no man can render q more valuable
service to bis State or to the Nation than by
contributing to the best of his ability 10 bring
about q spirit Of harmonious cooperation be-
tween the people and the railways and such .
public sentiment toward the transportation
companies as will assure them the protection
Of lust laws and will strengthen their ability
to Improve their service rather than cripple
It.
This harmonious cooperation for the in
crease of Southern prosperity cannot De
brought about by the railways alone. II the
railway officials who are working to this end
are to be successful In their Efforts, they
must have the support and assistance OF the
munities along their lines. I think It is de-
sirable, therefore, that the attention OF the
conservative thinking men OF the South
should be directed TO this subject and that
they should be asked to give IL their thought
along broad constructive lines, seeking TO de-
termine what ia best for the material ad-
vancement OF our entire section OF the coun-
II you agree with me, therefore, as to the
Importance OF this matter and as to the
urgent necessity for the improvement OF the
transportation facilities Of the Southern
States, I sincerely hope that you will throw
your influence on the side OF just and fair
treatment for the railways, under proper
regulation, and in favor Of cooperation be-
tween the carriers and the people for the ad-
vancemeut OF every Southern community,
and that, so far az you can consistently
proper method TO advance these policies. l
ask you TO do this, not as an advocate OF the
railways, but as . friend OF Southern progress.
LOUIE " NV y. W. Finley.
President.