The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-26
rf There were No RaIlroadsl

Jacksonville Times Union.
 It would be interesting to consider what the United States would be today
 If the railroad and the telegraph were 1 unknown. How slow would nave peen | the development of the country If these means of swift transportation and rapid | interchange of intelligence were un- known. One can imagine the red In- l dian still roaming over the central | plains. preventing or harasstng com | munication between the Atlantic ano
 Pacific coasts. the congestion or popu'
 lation along the Atlantic coast with the states west of the Mississippi stili sparcely settled, news from the Paoiftc l States regarded as fresh If 1t were sev-
 eral weeks or even months oiq; ,.le .ne ! the links in a rope of sand. How long l a time would elapse before the result of a general election were definitely
 known and how great the suspense 1T | that election were a close one.
 The Pacific coast might De attacked and conquered before news that 1t was assailed by a foreign foe had reached Washington. Troops sent to relieve the harassed states would have long and toilsome march before them. Or, they would have to be sent the long jour ney around Cape Horn. Or. the United States would need much larger stand ing army in order to maintain an adequate force for all emergencies on both coasts.
 States like Kansas, for Instance. would be still undeveloped. their poten- tial wealth probably undreamed or. The number of states in the Union. or stars in the blue field Of the flag would be much smaller than now. There would be vast territories, like the ola Northwest Territory. from which wore carved such states as Ohio and her im- mediate sisters, appearing on the maps with few boundary lines, few names or towns and cities.
 more sections" in the country than there are at present--would grow into tealousies and prejudices against all others until the stability or the union would be threatened. The authority or each state government within its own borders would be weaker, the authority of the national government would oe- come almost nil. dismal picture than this by filling III the details. To be sures we might have a fine system of post roads, but with our swiftest means of communication the stage coach and the horse, It may well be conceived that the splendid pros perity of these states today would nor be even a figment of the fancy tn" splendid achievements of Amerlcans m conquering Nature and this eountryt command of the markets or the world would have been impossible.
 Wars would be more frequent ana would drag out over many years in- stead of being concluded in a Tew years. or even a few months if the world had neither railroads nor telegraphs. How little use would be the telegraph if the railroad had not yet been inventedl
 Yet, now that we have a magnificent system of railroads, many are prone to consider them, or their managers. as the enemies of the people. The rates they are obliged to charge Tn order to maintain tracks and equipment and pay sufficient dividends to attract capita to provide for extensions and develop ment are regarded with suspicion or hostility. As a people. Americans are prone to ignore the past and deny their blessings. Yet signs are apparent that a reaction against the recent bitter crusade on the railroads has set in ana that the railroad companies and the people who use the roads will come to an understanding that will secure peace and justice for all.