The Washington herald., 1909-03-27

Special 70 The Washington Herald.
Pittsburg Pa. March 26-Declaring
that the South is 'the land Of the pres
ent-day opportunity and praisinE the
Virginia corporation commission for its
passenger rate decision, President W. W.
Finley. Of the Southern Railway, delIv-
cred a notable speech before the Pitts
burg Traffic Club. which held its annual
banquet tonight.
In referring 10 the Virginia rate decl-
sion. which raised passenger fares from
. TO 2ls cents. President Finley said. in
part:
I need not tell a Pittsburg audience
that the public interest in efficient trans
portation service is supplemented by the
importance of railway wage-paying and
purchasing power as a factor in general
prosperity. The economic Importance OF
this is being more generally recognized.
One Of the most noteworthy instances Of
this was in the opinion Of the Virginia
corporation commission. accompanying its
recent order authorizing an advance IN
iEtrastate passenger rates from > to 2ls
cents a mile
Virginia Commission sound.
The soundness OF the views Of the vir-
ginia commission will not be disputed in
the Pittsburg district. where such large
proportion OF your industries are depen-
dent. directly or indirectly. upon railway
purchasing power. You know the wide
spread effects OF the enforced economies
Of the railways Of the United States dur
ing the business depression. I think that
no one viii disagree with me in the
opinion that the depression would have
been less severe and that the recovery
would have been more rapid II the rail-
ways had been able 10 maintain their
normal rate of expenditures
AS a result of the discussion Of the
past few years. the economic relations Of
the railways to the business Of the coun-
try are coming 10 be better understood.
The people generally are taking the view
that the primary needs OF the United
States in respect 20 transportation are
adequate facilities and efficient service.
Aids Development
They agree with the Virginia corpora
tion commission in its further admirable
statement that new capital must be sup
Piled if these needs are to be adequately
met. and we can induce new capital 10
seek investment here by pursuing a course
which will attract il 10 this State"
Accepting this as voicing the trend Of
public opinion not only in Virginia, but
in the United States. we can look for
ward 10 an era or more intelligent and
mutually helpful cooperation between
our people and their railways for the ad-
vancement OF their common interests. In
the social and material progress that will
come to our nation as a result Of the So
luton OF our transportation problems in
conformity with economic principles the
South viii be no laggard.
south Land of Opportunity.
1T is IN truth. Mr.. Toastmaster, a land
Of opportunity. with natural resources
unexcelled by those OF any other section
OF the earth. Its people have shown
their quality IN the courage with which
they turned TO repairing the damage
wrought by war. and in the splendid ag-
ricultural and industrial structure they
have erected upon the ruins Of their for
mer systems. They can point to that
which they have done as but earnest of
the things that they shall do and can
say 10 all the world:
Here Is bread and wealth and power
and education for every man who has
the heart TO use his opportunity"