The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-04-04
ADVISES :
GREATER UNITY
Tells Railroad Men At Worcester
Convention to Keep Conser-
vative Course.
RAILROADS A VAST INDUSTRY
illustrates Mighty Power Welded by
Railroad Men--Urees Them to Re-
tain Sound Policy Which has
Brought Many Honors.

Worcester, Mass. April Address
ii.g the immense gathering of railroad
men today hundreds of them repre-
senting the powerful organization of
which he was once the head, Edgar
u, Clark, the railroad conductor who
became member of the Interstate
Commerce Commission bespoke
message OF conservatism.
Commissioner Clark told the men
of the brotherhoods what an impor-
tant public service they perform m
operating the railroads OF the United
States. The development of those
brotherhoods. he said. had come only
through fraternal unity and co-opera-
| ton.
1T has come" he said. "by having a
well considered and sound policy and
by adhering to il; by applying TO
every effort and desire the test-Ts
this rightg-Dy Withholding every
effort and resisting every desire that
would not stand that test
1T has come by pursuing a course
of conservatism which avoided on the
one hand that conservatism. which
beyond certain point means stagna-
tion. and on the other hand that, con-
servatism which, beyond a certain
point, means cowardice.
And the message wish TO bear 20
you is that the policy that has brought
to you so much of material welfare
and contributed to the relations which
bring about such gatherings as, this
in which the president of the United
States and the presidents OF the rail-
roads on which you are employed
gladly participate with you. is not TO
be lightly set aside. nor TO be depart
ed from except for imperative rea-
sons. In these men is represented an
important part OF our nations life
which has no need to change its
methods of conducting its business 20
keep within the four corners OF the
law"
) Commissioner Clark then went on 20
illustrate in a graphic way how vast
is the railroad industry in the United
States.
The total miles Of tracks" he said.
''of the railroads of the United States
is three hundred and twenty -eight
thousand. If the capitalization of
those roads were laid down in silver
dollars side by side. so that the dol
lars touched each other, the dollars
would extend over every mile of those
tracks and there would be enough
left over to more than encircle the
globe. !" -
: "If the annual revenue OF those
roads were laid down In silver dollars
in the same way. the dollars would
: extend more than twice around the
world II all those revenues were paid
in actual cash. the amount OF money
so paid to the railroads for transpor-
tation would equal the total sum oi
money in circulation in this country.
'Tf the money paid by these rail-
n roads to their employees every year
y were laid down the same way in sill
: yer dollars. II would extend twenty
II two thousand miles-almost once
= around the earth.
: "If the employees OF all these road.
9 rate of three miles an hour day an,
night. the single file would be eigh
: hundred and fifty miles long and I
a would require nearly twelve days 70
+ the procession TO pass a given point.
L "If the number of passengers car
'e ried one mile annually by thos
81 roads were formed in a parade tei
i abreast, that parade would requir'
e. sixty four years to pass a givei
81 point.
, '1f the freight cars of these road
N were coupled together they would ex
" tend from Worcester to Portland, Ore
$ then to Los Angeles. then to Jackson
III Vile. Fla. and from Jacksonville bac
81 to Worcester and there would b
he enough left over 10 put in cross line
W between Worcester and San Fran
ra cisco and Jacksonville and Portland
III ore.
rd "If all these were hauled In on
train moving at a uniform speed Z
ten miles an hour, day and night
would be sixty-nlne days after th
ed locomotive passed. before the caboo'
l. would come in sight"
tl