The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-07-10
IF THERE WERE NO RAILROADS.

1t would be interesting to consider
what the United Staes would be today
If the railroad and the telegraph were
unknown. How slow would have been
he development of the country if these
means of swift transportation and
rapid interchange of intelligence were
unknown. One can imagine the red In
dian still roaming over the central
plains. preventing or harassing COM
munication between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, the congestion of popu-
lation along the Atlantic coast with the
states west of the Mississippi stiu
sparsely settled, news from the Pa
cific states regarded as fresh if it were
several weeks or even months old, the
states of the union probably still like
the links in rope of sand How long
time would elapse before the result
of a general election were definitely
known and how great the suspense if
that election were a close one.
The Pacific coast might be attacked
and conquered before news that it was
assailed by foreign foe had reached
Washington. Troops sent to relieve
the harassed states would have a long
and toilsome march before them. Or
they would have to be sent the long
journey around Cape Horn. Or, the
United States would need a much larg-
er standing army in order to maintain
an adequate force for all emergencies
on both coasts.
States like Kansas, for instance.
would be still undeveloped. their DO
tential wealth probably undreamed of.
The number of states in the union. of
stars in the blue field of the flag.
would be much smaller than now.
There would be vast territories. like
the old Northwest Territory, from
which were carved such states as
Ohio and her immediate sisters. ap-
pearing on the maps with few bouu.
dairy lines. few names of towns and
cities.
Each section-ahd there would be
more sections" in the eStntry than
there are at present-would grow into
jealousies and prejudices against AFT
others until the stability of the union
would be threatened. The authority
Oh each state government within its
own borders would be weaker. the ALL
thority of the national government
would become almost nil
Imagination could paint even a more
dismal picture than this by filling in
the details. To be sure, we might have
a hne system of postroads, but with
our sYiftest means of communication
the stage coach and the horse II NAV
well be conceived that the splendid
prosperity of these states today would
not be even a Pigment of the fancy
the splendid achievements of Ameri
cans in conquering Nature and this
country's command of the markets of
the world would have been impossible. |
Wars would be more frequent and
would drag out over many years in.
stead of being concluded in a few
years. or even few months, if the
world had neither railroads nor tele-
graphs. How little use would be the
telegraph ,if the railroad had not vet
been invented
Yet, now that we have 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 in order
to maintain tracks and equipment and
pay sufficient dividends.to attract cap
ftal to provide for extensions and de-
velopment are regarded with suspi
cion or hostility, AS a people Amer
leans are prone to ignore the past and
deny their blessings. Yet signs are
apparent that reaction against the
recent bitter crusade on the railroads
has set in and that the railroad COM
panies and the people who use the
roads will come to an UNDERSTANDING
that will secure peace and justice
Times-union.