Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-26

General omes Broad Street Station.
P Phil s' E..
Executive Assistant
NV pear sir-Your papers commencing the law
New Jersey which places upon the railroad com
panies removing grade crossings There
one important this subject however which have
there is no crossings public
must be paid for and those who
for it. If the entire burden should fall upon the
in England there practically no grade cross
ns being that when the railroads were h built
was sure that make them
Therefore the position that there
should grade crossings In this country we had taken
position there would not have been many railroads
and the objectionable character crossings But is
certainly like the ostrich burog its head the sand to pass
placing the whole burden the railroad companies and
imagining that through such law the money going to come
May venture to call your policy which Mr..
Rea president the Pennsylvania Railroad COMPANY recently
set forth as in his opinion the proper one to be pursued " SOW
apubio Service Commissions on munioi-
paity, railroad a initiative should
designate such grade crossings should be
.erest to appotIon improvements with due
gard for the interest Of all parties eonosrnsd'
IVY l. LEE.
Mr. Lee who is 2 graduate of the Atlanta Boys High
School, of the Rev w Lee former pastor OF Trinity
Church and who occupies important position the pres
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad is right his statement that
the public can not egisate unlimited millions into existence
compel railroads spend money that they haven't got
1t is an impossibilty abolish immediately ALL Of the
grade crossings in the United States.
enough money in the United States to do that
work Immediately And legislation not CREATE money
The trouble Mr.. Lee and Mr. Rea will admit
in the past lack of the fair and reasonable attitude
taken by Mr. Rea recently elected president OF the rem
sylvania Railroad
Railroad management until recently has often been
giant unreasonable the most foolish legislator or the most
ignorant demagogue.
The railroads exist only by permission of the public
they get rights and their from the public and are
able to the public exercises its right OF eminent
domain in behalf yet the railroads have refused for years
to recognize in the public ANY RIGHTS AT ALL
Stockholders investors the railroads have been robbed
in every conceivable way Ut true that the Pennsylvania has
been an honorable exception in this regard)
Legislation that the railroads WANTED has been bought
with money
And legislation that they did NOT want has been killed
with money.
It is not unnatural that representatives of the public should
in their turn sometimes follow the example set by the railroads
and disregard the railroads rights the railroads have dsre
garded the rights of the public in the past
This newspaper however opposes unjust legislation against
the railroads strongly opposes public robbery by the rail
It is preposerous to say that every grade crossing should
abolished and that the railroads should pay the
pense -. :. 49,. seooooo
000 including stock not yet issued.
AND s6OO0OOOOO WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO ABoL
ISL ALL THE GRADE CROSSINGS OF THE PENNSYL
WANNA RAILROAD ALONE!
The would have to-day onequarer of its
railroad mileage if the railroads had been compelled to build
without grade crossings That would that the United
would be only oneuarer developed comparison with
its present development.
Mr. Rea statement suggestion regard railroad
crossings and his address made upon that subject recently
New Jersey reasonable and display fair spirit
The trouble has been past railroads and their
officials have used their power to prevent ANY NTERFER
ENCE EVEN WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS GRADE
CROSSINGS
railroad officials will follow example and
IN good faith submit public questions to impartial public off
Gals railroads and the public contributing their fair proper
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT DISHONEST
WILL NOT DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE AND WILL NOT
BE LED INTO PATHS OF CoNFISCATION OR UNJUST
ASSESSMENT BY THE NEWSPAPERS THAT THEY
TRUST.