Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-04

is but the assistant Of the people. gu
may call 1t a selfish interest If you VIM
but all the great movements the "orid
has seen have been inspired by a motive
bearing on personal advantage or bene-
fit. You may say that the railroad wants
the agricultural and industrial interests
Of Maine developed in order TO increase
the amount Of transportation recelpts;
Such a reason might be technically and
narrowly correct, but the DEFINITE ana
important purpose does much iufthe ir
The railroad corporation Itself Is oniy
entitled for the holders of its securities
to such amount of money as represents a
fair return for the investment ana FISK
inyolved-all the circumstances being
cOnsidered-not more. .
The whole reason is that railroads
prosperity extends beyond mere growth
Of freight and passenger traffic. 1t rests
mainly on prosperous and progressive
communities, with citizens alive to oppor-
tunities and alert to the advantage of
whatever honorable means may appear
Men should feel that there Is something
ahead Of them; that they can. by con-
slant and reasonable effort: find what
they want, with room left for ambition.
and vet give newcomers plenty of chances
TO. make a start. 1t is not profitable for
a railroad TO have a general opinion pre-
vail that the best has been secured from
a community: that what remains is suta-
BILE for a mere hand-to-mouth existence
Rather. the sentiment should exist over
Whelmingly that only the half has been
accomplished anu llldl III al dlI5Iib Aci
the future the best results will accrue.
Such support, however, may fairly De
asked by railroad Of its patrons as
win prove an incentive to investors 10
contribute new money for the enlarge,
ment and development of our railroad
properties. in order that they may meet
the growing demands Of our progressive
communities for additional facilities ana
service, as more transportation Is re-
TIired.
So. in the industrial work Of the Maine
Central Railroad the main effort IS TO
stimulate ambition and Increase comforts
through additional activity. the direct
results of the work in the way of larger
transportation demands will not be seen
for years, but full value is found today
wherever there may be community
wherever a handful of men is encouraged
to go forward in the lines of progress.
The profitable return is wholly in the fu-
ture but there Is a heightened valuation
in the present when the people are
spurred on to make more of themselves
and improve their surroundings, just as a
dozen apple trees set In a pasture makes
a farm worth more year by year. al
though the direct returns from the fruit
is matter Of nearly a decade.
Most important of anything in the ac-
complishment of results is the co-opera-
ton of the people. In the great work of
bringing about the development of Maine
there should be mutual shouldering of
the wheel. The best method to achieve
success is for the railroad TO begin the
task and the people continue it-let the
railroad start the work and the people
push 1t along.
The faith Of the people Of Maine must
be shown by their works, else how can
proof be offered that here lie the oppor
tunties for men to secure comfOrta
BILE and healthfu living for themselves
and their families, with competence
laid by to make the pathway of age
cheerful and easy.
I These things we know-and by a unit I'd
effort We should demonstrate their truth. |