The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-12-10

munication with the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi River gateways. AS Char
lesion is the principal seaport in
South Carolina, your city has ever
had tho united support Of the state,
and the Legislative enactments of
Eouth Carolina show that since 1882,
it has been the continuous, persistent,
and cherished policy Of this state to
establish railroad from Charleston,
through Columbia, over the noun
tains to the valleys of the, Tennessee
and Ohio rivers. The carrying out of
this policy was delayed not only by
the difficulty Of surmounting the pny-
steal obstacles in the way, but, al
so, by the Civil War, which left all
OF our industries PROSTATE and the
railways Of our section almost de-
Stroycd. J. hope it may yet prove
That the Southern Railway Company,
by the amalgamation into a single
system Of diSjoinicd lines, by the con-
Str'ctlon of connecting links, and
through projects under way, has
brought about the realization Of the
persistent dream Of Charleston and of
South Carolina Of great highway
connecting your port with the intcrior
OF the south and with the gateway
OF the west.
| realize that Charleston may not
IN the past have obtained the full
benefits that were expected TO follow
from the establishment Of through rail
communication with the west, and
with The interior Of the state, but
/ hope that the results Of a arcccm un-
dcrSandln@ between The representa-
tivcs Of the City Of Charleston, un-
der the lead Of an honorcd member
OF this society, your able and encr-
gctic mayor. and the representatives
OF The railways, who met, not in q
spirit of antagonism. hut mutually
recognizing the intcrdcpcndcncc Of
their interests, will inurc to the ad-
vantage of Charleston and Of South
Carolina, and. through the advance
mrnt OF your prosperity, will be
beneficial to the railways. The
course that was followed i'm this
cas-" Is. | believe. The proper one to
be adopted in all eases where oucs-
il"nS arise between communities and
carriers rs to transportation rates
or service. TN such conferences
where each side has ample opportun-
ity to present lis facts and arguments
and to have them considered as pure
~ business qucstionS, | believe that
1t Is almost inevitable That an agree
meat will be reached which will do
SubSlhtial justice to all the interests
involved and will be based on sound
economic principle In The eases in
which it may be found impossible to
reach an agreement in this way, / do
h"i think there is reason for a~ita-
ti"n which, if carried TO extremes,
may disturb business and he injurious
1" the community, as well rs to the
carrier. There are Federal and State
tribunals with full authority to hear
these questions and to settle them in
accordance with the princi pies of JUS
Ice and cvca-handcd impartiality.
It is Of thc utmost importance, |
believe. that. in Ike consideration Of
all questions affecting iramSporla-
tom, and in ihr determination Of
public policies affecting transporia-
/ ll"m agencies. there should be kept
constantly in view the two basic
'r"mnmir principles that efficiency Of
transportation Facilities IS essential
{" the prosperity Of any community.
and that the prosperity of The com
munllirS served by it is essential to
! fhr prosperity Of lhr carrier When
'h"Nr two principles are thoroughly
I "idrr>t"nd. and are consistently act
"d upon. | am convinced il will be
! l"nnd thai. in every instance, The
! ultimate interests Of the community
and Of The carrier are identical. This
beng true, all chat is necessary for
| the settlement of any question is
that ihr community and the carrier,
, III the spirit Of the st. Andrews So
rlrty. shall have "a good understand
IN" and acquaintance with one al
"lhrr. and,' Keeping in view the
"r"n"mir laws which control The sill
uatl"n. shall debate il ont until tncy
reach conclusion as To the settle