Evening journal., 1910-03-05
Editorial
Opinion
Mr.. Mocrea's Administration.

Trenton True American.
Thirty years ago James McCrea. then
an ambitions young man, said to friend
that he would rather be president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad than be president
Of the United states.
He has realized his ambition and that
bis aspirations were worthy Is shown in
the wonderfully prosperous era which the
Pennsylvania system is enjoying under
his administration.
Something of the Pennsylvania devel-
opment and prosperity is shown in a re-
port just issued. This report teens with
figures so enormous as TO be beyond the
comprehension Of the ordinary mind. but
which, when arranged for purposes OF
comparison, spell progress with every fig
urc.
The gross receipts Of the entire Penn
sylvauia system in 1909. says report, were,
in round numbers s3i5.5O0. 900
That is a sum equal to five times the
value of all the real estate in Tren-
ton.
This figure also shows an increase OF
nearly S39.OO0.0O0 over the systems gross
receipts for 1908. And the roads net reve-
nue. increased last year about s15,000,O ,OOc
over the preceding year.
There is much satisfaction in consider
ing that these figures show not only won
derfuly slSiIlful railway management, but
general revival of business as we'll
1t has been the wise policy Of the pres
ent and the preceding management OF
the Pennsylvania system to build up and
develop the cities that are dependent upon
1t for traffic facilities. II Is just as i'm
portant, from a railroads standpoint
that the towns along its line be progress
sive and prosperous as it is that it MAN.
tain its roadbed and equipment It is a
part of the railroad business to develop
tributary cities so that they will produce
more railroad business A fruit grower
gets poor returns from uncultivated trees
It is necessary that railroad cultivate
its cities
Ten and twenty years ago the great
trunk line railroads of the country were
expendlng their surplus capital and en-
ergy in developing and extending their
western branches. Now having laid their
steel tendrils upon practically every nook
and corner of the nation, they are turn
ing their attention to Eastern termini.
For example. the Pennsylvania has re-
Gently completed a hundred million dol
lar tunnel system in New York and has
built there the biggest railroad passenger
station in the world.
And there are countless minor improve.
ments wlich a few years ago were not
thought necessary or we're overlooked in
the headlong energy with which the rail.
roads were pushing their Western enter
prises.
There is another characteristic Of Pres.
ident Mccrea's management tha. may be
mentioned to the railroads great credit
Under his administration the Pennsyi-
vania has been notably free from the
practices that have brought other greai
railroads into public dislike and suspi.
cion, and it has been correspondingly
free from the Federal and State probes
and the general tendency TO railroad hos.
tility that have vexed many OF the bis
systems Of the country. II is fair to as
sumo that the management OF this greai
system has pursued more carefully and
conscienhously legitimate business poll
cy The "Pennsy" has devoted its en-
ergies and its pleasure to the develop
ment Of cities and sections and industries
and to the establishment of great trans
continental highway of commerce that +
as sound IN its economic and business
foundations as the government itself.