The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-27

to the wishes OF communities Leav-
| Ing out these latter items, however
I the aggregate estimated cost of the
, Improvements which have enume-
rated as being at this time desirable
within the State of North Carolina.
and many OF them urgently required
! amounts in round ffgures. to $780,
| oae, 00o. Under the most favorable
! circumstances and without any reduc-
/ ton In our revenues from service per-
formed for the people of North Caro-
! lima we could only hope to carry Out
this program gradually, doing some
I thing year after year as our resources
/ permit. Our surplus can never be
expected to be adequate to provide
any considerable part of the money
needed. We must borrow that money
and the only real basis OF a railroad /.
credit Ia Its earning power. We need,
then, steadily growing revenue to
, cularxe steadily our credit 80 that the
/ funds for our improvements may he
secured. In tho recent past we have
secured :ha. credit by long contin-
ucd practice of strict economy and
the oontemporaneous development OF
our revenue. This has been possible
only because OF the constant increase
Of the prosperity of the South, and
no.ably OF the old North State, and
we have been earnest In our efforts
TO increase that prosperity because II
is the measure of the power OF our
own elbow.
Facing n Crisis.
AS all of you must know. the rail-
roads are today facing a crisis which
is part of the problem of every citizen
of NORTH Carolina who IL engaged in
industry. European civilization IL
paralyged and world commerce IL
halted. We in the United States, In
the midst of the undisputed blessings
of peace, find our business hating and
some of our usual sources Of prosper
ity drying up before our eyes. Like
all American citizens, the railroads
are prepared to meet the situation
bravely. We shall do all we can to
maintain prosperity and we shall do
nothing TO halt that prosperity which
may not prove of vital economic me-
Cess!ty. We shall go on with the
double track work which we now
have under way. for which the fund /.
were fortunately provided before the
European war began. and, as our re-
sources admit, we shall take up from
time to time. other improvements
but II may be that we shall have to
ask the people of North Carolina
patti ntly TO share with us delays
growing out OF situation which we
cannot control. IL we can have and
hold the confidence OF our people OF
North Carolina during this emer-
gency and convince them that We are
administering the railroads for their
benefit. and with patriotic motives
that those railroads can be of small
value to any one without their sup
port. we shall succeed, 1t is my per-
sonal ambition to prove to the people
of North Carolina tina. they can trust
US.
1t is q time when all patriotic
Southern meu should stand shoulder
TO shoulder, each doing all In his pow
er to lessen the business depression
In the South and to hasten It's re-
covery. Southern Railway company
VIII do its part cooperating with
the Southern people In every practi-
cabl way to maintain Southern bust
ness and TO take ADVANTAGE Of en-
larged opportunities for foreign trade
especially with the countries OF Cen
trail and South America, which have
been opened up to US by the Interrupt
ton of the trade of Europe with those
countries.
II is with confidence that appeal
TO the people OF North Carolina to
give us their helpful support ana CO.
operation in this emergency, in order
that we may pass through it success
fully and avoid the necesst-' OF put
ting into effect d policy OF retrench-
ment, the effects OF which would be
FELT In Inconvenience by every citizen
q this State. and in the pocket booka
not only OF every o icer and employe
OF the company, al their families.
including the thousands who reside
and pay taxes in this State, but by
hose otner citizens of North Carolina
who have derived profit from what
we buy from them