Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-03-30

with the frontier and with cowboy
life and she has certainly made an
interesting tale. one which 10 wor-
thy Of wide reading. Kansas has
produced many writer's Of fiction and
none has done cleverer work than
Miss Lockhart. She IL q born story
teller and this story is well written.
RATES AND RAILWAY EXPRESS.
A New York newspaper writer,
commenting in a recent article upon
conditions in the railway world, per-
petrated the following epigrams, with
attending observations:
"Opulence begets extravaganza. Me-
cessity stimulates economy. Ameri-
can railroad companies have been
lavish in their expenditures upon
what might be called the ornamen-
tai, as witness the erection of veri-
table palaces as stations in the larg-
er cities. II the public refuses tol
provide the money for such pro-
jects, then there will be a lull in
improvements of this kind until con-
dItions again change for the bet
ter-and conditions in young and
progressive country are far more
likely to recover than to retrograde."
A prominent railroad man, inter-
viewed upon this subject, said:
"The paragraph quoted above has
been given wide publicity. No doubt
there are some who, caught by its
clever verbiage and yielding willing
lily to a somewhat human tendency
to cheer when the sound Of swat
Is heard-whether the blow be JUS
titled or not-will echo its senti-
ment.
"But second thought will be Of
some assistance. An analysis of the
writer's assertions will give a cor
rect Interpretation of the so-called
'extravagancies' and lavish expendi-
lures which have their manifesto
ton in the construction Of railroad
stations which deserve to be called
'veritable palaces
"These palaces are public places,
built for public use and public COM
fort. A railroad station, like a post
office, or a court house, or city
hall, is one of the most democratic
institutions in the country. There
the folk of high caste or low degree
meet on common ground, enjoying
the same accommodations, sharing
alike in the conveniences that are
provided, approaching alike the beau
ties and luxuries that have been in
stalled II the station be in keeping
with the times.
mo more unpopular place is num-
|bered among Americas public build
iags that the old, unsightly, dilapi-
Gated railroad station. Persons of
all classes deprecate the continued
use of such building, and all class
% ere Just as earnest in their praise
when a rickety passenger depot
gives way to structure of handsome
architecture and modern equipment.
"The public, which enjoys such a.
uilding's beauties and appreciates
rs comforts, does not regard the
expenditure as an extravaganza.
From the viewpoint of civic pride,
held by those who live in the city
where the expenditure is made, as
we'll as from that Of personal COM
fort, held by all travellers from all
sections OF the country, new-sta-
ton project is looked upon favor
ably. The critic who holds an OPP
posite opinion has failed to measure
pubic opinion.
1.-THE public Will not refuse to pro-
vide the money for such projects.
The public, on the contrary, wants
them. And in country like ours
it is counted wise to give the people
what they want.
Moreover, from the economic side
Of the proposition, these terminal i'm
provements appear in an equally ia
vorable light, for the building of a
fine depot makes busy dollars Of a
great many idle dollars-sends those
dollars to the pockets Of countless
individuals for the purchase of brick
and stone, cement and steel; for
other materials of various kinds; for
the employment of skilled and I'M
skilled labor. AL classes Of artisans
are benefited, Just as all classes Of
travellers are accommodated. So a
hundred good results come at the
call of the master builder.
New railway stations, then, even
though they be 'veritable palaces,
are both popular and practical. in
that they meet the wishes Of the
rnassoa ond nronnnfa nroanarftv Tho