Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-15
Americas, Ga, October Is, 1903.
MORE PUSH NEEDED BY OUR
RAILROADS.

Yesterday we called attention to the
remarks of President Emerson, of the
Atlantic Coast Line, with regard to
the good results accruing from the
home seekers excursions put on by
that railroad. and the fact that it ex-
pected to locate many settlers along
its lines through this medium.
A recent report states that during
the year ending July 10000 Americans
moved over into the Dominion of
Canada to take up farms. This prob
ably means that not less than Is, 1000
farms were established in that cold
region by sturdy American farmers
from the West. 1t is estimated that
they carried with them cash and stock
and personal effects to the value of
sixty millions of dollars
Is there any reason to believe that
these farmers would prefer the rigor-
Gus climate of Canada to the delight
full climate of south west Georgia, or
that they would prefer country in
which their crop season is limited to a
few months to that of this section
where the year brings succession OF
money crops?
Is there any reason TO believe that
these 10000 Americans knew any
thing about the advantages offered
them in southwest Georgia, that they
| knew anything about the opportunities
| for diversified and money making
farming hereabouts. or that they
were at all informed as TO the values
of lands, the conditions surrounding
life here, or were otherwise in the
slightest degree posted as to what
could be done by an enterprising and
skilled agriculturalist locating In this
vicinity?
The railroads are said to be largely
| responsible for the emigration of SC
many thousands every year into the
British possessions north of this coun-
try. They food the west and north.
west with descriptive reading matter
they send agents out to meet the peo-
pie, they offer low rates and put or
special excursions. They do, in fact
everything in their power to stimulate
the movement of settlers into Canada
even though it be a heavy expense Il
themselves, knowing that in the END
they will reap the harvest from {
vastly augmented business coming te
| them.
If we had the same spirit on the part
of the railroads traversing this Sec
ton, if they were willing to get tc
work with the same vigor and determ-
ination, to spend some money and put
forth great efforts. there is no reason
to believe the results would not be
highly satisfactory. But there isn't q
railroad operating in all this great
| section of Georgia that seems to care
to lift finger to do anything toward
bringing settlers here, that makes the
remotest effort to advertise and push
this section. They seem to be Salts
fled to go along, waiting on the grad
ual and slow development of the
country from natural sources, indif-
ferent to the increase of business they
might bring about if they had the
pluck and enterprise that the rail-
roads of the West and of Canada have
displayed and are still displaying.
The truth OF the matter is, Georgia
needs more enterprise on the part OF
its railroad systems, and it needs ii
badly. There has been too much and
too long continued adherence to the
old policy of sitting down and taking
things comfortably, depending on the
established traffic and whatever mere
ment came to it without railroad eff
fort. This policy is short sighted
one, one that cannot commend itself to
people of push. 1t is certainly to be
hoped that the new agencies that are
apparently stepping into control of
some of our transportation lines will
put live current into o9eration and
bring about change in tnis respect.
If ever change of policy were need
ed it is certainly in this respect If
the railroads show some push they
can speedily enthuse the people and
the results will be agreeably surpris-
ing to both.