Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-24

/
wicfs his wife being the daughter OF
l the late George Martin of this city,
\ and associated with him on the direc-
| torste is our corporation counsel, who
pro Dably advised him to be present
here tonight.
President Tuttle expressed pleasure
| in attending the banquet, and said he
used to know more of Norwich twenty
years ago than at present. There were
more attractions here then. The city
he knew was one Of distinct New Eng
land tone, peopled by those who used
their gifts divinely; citizens of wealth
who used it in promoting good, which
III those days was considered creditable
and probably Is now. His subject
was Transportation, One of the Great
| Public Industries of the Country, and
lie proceeded to give a brief history of
transportation In a clean cut, interest
| ing style, which thoroughly delighted.
| IN nothing has there been such a
change, said Mr.. futile. in the past
half century as in the methods of com
merce and business. Telegraph, phon-
/ ograph, typewriter, stenographer, cleo
| tricity and many other things for the
rapid transaction of the worlds bust
ness have been discovered or evolved
within the memory OF many now in
active business. Our grandfathers new
er thought of such possibilities. Fifty
years ago such things would have been
considered the product of a disordered
mind We have, however, taken them
like a natural inheritance, but II is
wen to stop and see that they are not
a natural inheritance and need some
fostering care.
The fundamental basis Of all rapid
transaction OF the worlds business is
public transportation. He told of a
sale involving twelve million dollars
done by correspondence and telephone,
/ the parties never seeing each other be-
fore or after, all done ss routine bust
ness. which a few years ago would
have been considered beyond. the limit
of possibility.
AS the result of these expeditions
methods there has come Impotence and
a desire to regulate all but ones af-
fairs. We learn of great losses I'm diff
ferent parts Of the country and we
think there should be regulation and
| reformation. In none is it worse than
in public transportation methods to-
day.
Neither the railroad or railroad cor
poration was discovered by any one.
7 It is today the result Of evolution,
from no intent beyond the carrying on
of a purely private business. Follow
| ing the close of the wars in Europe
after the Punishment Of Bonaparte,
there was a chance for the develop
ment of commerce, trade, industry and
farming in many countries. England
started fist and soon the product was
so great that it could not be gotten to
market. McAdam then gave better
roads in 1878 and canals were dug
! between waterways which helped in
| breaking the congestion somewhat, but
| there was great need of public, uni
form and facile transportation. Loco
! motion was only in the minds OF in
yentOrs, the first locomotive being
| ,9,-
| worked effectively on level but not
| on an up grade. In 1914 Stevenson
had one more effective and when the
| operation Of coal mines. which re-
| q1ired getting the cars over hills, was
started he put into operation two Of
his engines there and that marked the
beginning Of public transportation by
steam. Then sprung up great UNDER
taktngs in that line, and in 1885 in
this country there were 1000 miles OF
railroads. Since then the number Of
miles has been greatly increased until
now there are 100000 miles Of main
! lines to every section Of the country.
The railroads have changed the coun-
try from a wilderness or waste land
TO great rival states. spreading civil
iZation and making this the greatest
nation on earth.
| Transportation is the life Of the busi-
| ness Of the country. We must bear in
mind that every corporation Is an in
| dustrial enterprise, like all other in
| dustries. only its product is trans
pOrtation. It is purely a private en-
/ terprise and the existence Of railroads
has depended upon people placing
| therein their money, expecting a rea-
| sonable return therefrom. When the
return ceases they seek other chan
nels. Every mile of the 100000 miles
/ has been built by such money, placed
| therein with the expectation Of an
! adequate return. and out of this pc
! Rod Of irnpatience has come a desire
/ to regulate and it has become the
! strangulation Of railroad product. 1t
| is about as impossible TO get new
/ money for railroads with an idea OF an
/ adequate return as for a philosopher
4 to try to lift himself by his shoe
/ straps.
The repressive force Of legislation
| has destroyed the possibility of ade-
uuate returns and caused the placing Of
! money elsewhere. Stop for one year
| the necessary extension of trans
portaGon to meet the demands OF trade
| and commerce and decay sets it. The
/ corporation IS looked on as an mani
mate thing which can be prosecuted,
/ which policy Is an exemplihcation OF
/ the fable Of killing the Foose which
| laid the golden egg.
| Isn't 1t time to stop and think on
these great questions which involve
| the well being of every individual and
| community? Five million are needed
/ to expand transportation systems to
\ look after the business arising after
| the depression Of the last year. Where
! Is It coming from? VIII you put in
your money unless you know there
viii be an adequate return? The pub
lie servants should be given the chance
/ to give this adequate return which Is
| expected. If the movement does not
/ come the public and not the railroad
will be the greater sufferer.
| President futile closed amidst much
| applause having shown himself thor
| oughly versed in his subject
Poem by Charles E. Case.
! The next number was a poem by
! Charles e. Case entitled The Old and
/ the New. 1t referred to a visit Of
| Major John Mason, one of the settlers
| tc Norwich recently and the great sur
prise he experienced from the many
| changes, the Merry Widow being one
| OF the big surprises. The poem was
/ given by Mr.. Case In his inimical style
(which thoroughly pleased and he was
! accorded much applause.
Mayor Avery of Holyoke.
| President Cary introduced Nathan
| P. Avery. son Of Edwin p. Avery, who
| in 80 was one Of the Is who responded
/ from Greeneville at Governor Bucl1ino-
| ham's call for troops. The son is now
| serving his fifth term as mayor Of Hol-
| yoke.