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

fare as would be attacks unjust treatment of little be-
cause they happen to be poor and badly organized
We publish gladly letter which presents the side of the
railroads in important public question,
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY
Office, Broad Street Station
r IVY L. Is.
Executive Assistant.
Ny have been commencing the law
New Jersey which places the railroad com
panss Of removing grade crossings There
phase of this subject however, which have
There is that grade great public
removed But their removal
must be paid for who
ought If the entire burden should fall upon the
railroads Sou, delay the railroads would Be S n ps.
ns' the reason being that when the railroads were fT ou9
could take the position that there
such position there moth railroads
Everybody railroad officers included to the danger
Objectionable of crossings But It
certainly ostrich buyng its head in the sand to pass
placing the whole burden the railroad companies and
imagining through such law the going to come
out bankers Of Wall Street
Rsa president Pennsylvana Railroad recently
forth in his opinion the proper one to be pursued !" sol"
"Pubio Service Commissions motion either Of munioi
party railroad or on commissions should
nave "' ea" hJ bv or after besna all parties in in
to such improvements with due
gard for the interest of all parties oonoerned'
Respectfully
Mr. Lee who is graduate of the Atlanta Boys High
School, and son the w. Lee former pastor of Trinity
Church and who occupies important position the pres
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad right in his statement that
the public can not legate unlimited millions into existence or
compel railroads to spend money that they haven't got
It is an mpossbity to abolish Immediately ALL of the
grade crossings in the United States
There not enough money the United States to do that
work immediately And legislation not CREATE money
The trouble however MIR. Lee and Mr. Rea will admit
has been in the past lack the fair and reasonable attitude
now taken by Rea recently elected president OF the Penn
sylvana Railroad.
Railroad management recently has often been
giant and unreasonable the foolish legislator 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 build the public exercises its right of eminent
their behalf yet the railroads have refused for years
to recognize in the public ANY RIGHTS AT ALL.
Stockholders in the railroads have been robbed
in every conceivable way Ut 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 has been killed
with money.
1t is not unnatural that representatives of the public should
in sometimes follow the example set by the railroads
and disregard railroads rights the railroads have dre
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 peposterous to say that every grade crossing should
be abolished and that the railroads should pay the
pense. 1000.
The capitalization of the railroads is about 100000
000 including stock not yet issued
AND S6Oo0OOOOO WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO ABoL-
ISL ALL THE GRADE CROSSINGS OF THE PENNSYL-
WANNA RAILROAD ALONEl
The United States would not have to-day onequarer of its
railroad mileage if the railroads had been compelled to build
without grade crossings That would that the United
states would be only oneouarter developed comparison with
its present development,
MIR. Reas statement and suggestion regard railroad
crossings and his address made upon that subject recently in
New Jersey reasonable and display fair spirit.
that
officials have used their power ANY INTERFER
ENCE EVEN WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS GRADE
CROSSINGS
If other railroad officials viii follow Mr. Rea example and
in good faith submit public questions impartial public Off
Gals railroads and the public contributing their fair
share of any expense THE RAILROADS WILL, FIND THAT
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT DISHONEST,
WILL NOT DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE, AND WILL NOT
BE LED INTO PATHS OF CONFISCATION OR UNJUST
AssEssALEhLI THE NEMsRAPERS THAT THEY