The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-25

CT this be true or not, il at least ex-
plains the high reputation in finan-
cial circles which he enjoys. If, with
this reputation and the wealth back
OF him, he would throw his whole soul
into making the Atlantic Coast Line
what it ought to be-the Union Pa
cihc road of the South-he would
double the development Of the sec
ton tributary to his line and would
himself be amazed at the marvellous
progress which would follow such an
infusion Of managerial activity and
ability
The Atlantic Coast Line, like the
Louisville & Nashville, has been do
| ing a good deal of doubletracking.
1t has improved it's condition in many
respects. 1t is doing some things for
the development of the country tribu-
tary TO it, but it's people have never
yet shown that they have caught a
vision OF the limitless possibilities of
their country. Indeed, some inside
circles in the management Of the
road have repeatedly expressed the
thought that it's territory was mainly
an agricultural region and was not
fitted for industrial development. And
yet its lines stretch from Richmond,
one of the great industrial centres of
the country, to Tampa, the greatest
cigar-making place in the world-a
country having a wide variety of re-
sources for manufacturing, in addi-
ton to resources in soil and climate
capable, if properly utilized, of bring
! ing about larger development and
greater wealth than that Of Califor-
MIA.
Does Mr. Walters fully understand
the resources Of the country tribu-
tary to his lines. and is he ready tC
do, in proportion to the opportunity
what Flagler did for the East Coast
OF Florida, what Hartman did for the
West and the Pacific Coast and what
Hill did for the Northwest?
1t is time for an empire builder
whose work would be Of commanding
Influence in the world TO appear up
on the scene of railroad activity ir
the South. Who is the man? VIII il
be Walters, or will it be Fairfax Har.
lrison of the Southern or Harahan OF
the Seaboard or some one not yet Wis
!, ible on the horizon?
A New York capitalist who ha.
been instrumental in putting man!
millions Of dollars into the South
especially in hydro-electric develop
ments, some time ago. in speaking o
this section, said:
: THE South is sleeping on billions
, of value"
There are, indeed. billions and bill
} lions Of values over which railroad
. run without some of their official
realizing the extent OF these values
There are billions and billions OF un
utilized wealth over which the peopl,
Of the South are equally sleepin,
, when We contrast how much remain
to be achieved with what has alread,
been accomplished. Here and ther,
are to be found men who see the sit
uatiOn and who are trying to max,
the most OF it.
Some IL or Is years ago Johr
Shelton Williams, when he had weld
ed together q lot OF disjointed line:
between Richmond and Jacksonville
realizing something of the possibilitie:
Of Florida, dared to buy the roaG
from Jacksonville TO Tampa at 9
time when many of her railroad peo.
pie had little faith in Florida. One
Of the chief officials of the Southern
Railway said to me a few years age
that it was only within the last five
or six years that they had taken Flor.
ida at all seriously. I'VE had looked
upon Florida" said he, las a section
Of comparatively small importance
except for little tourist travel dur.
ing one or two months in the year
II some of the officials Of the South
ern Railway, in the early days, had
had vision Of Florida equal to that
Of Flagler, or later on of Shelton Will
liams. that road would before this
doubtless have extended it's line far
into the State. 1t is q pity that the
Southern Railway, with its 5000 miles
of track, and recognized as the fore
most railroad system of the South
does not have its own through lines
into the heart OF this State. 1t would
be good for the State, but it would
be still better for the railway.
! 1t iS fortunate that the people who