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

or his faith in the road or in this SEE
ton. Mr.. Walters passed away. Ieav-
ing his son, Henry Walters To take
his place in the ownership and man
agcment OF the Coast Line. Mr.
Newcomer left his son, Waldo New
conner. and other members of his
family his great interest in that road.
The Atlantic Coast Line owns
controlling interest in the Louisville
e. Nashville Railroad, which puts into
one management about 1900 miles
OF road. 1t is generally understood
that Mr. Walters owns majority in
terest Of the Atlantic Coast Line, and
In this way owns controlling power
in the 1900 miles of these two sys-
TENS. He thus absolutely dominates
by ownership one Of the greatest rail-
road properties, considering it's in
herent possibilities, in the world
The Atlantic Coast Line and the
Louisville & Nashville railroad have
tributary to them a country that has
no equal for extent OF resources and
variety of advantages of any other
area Of similar size anywhere else in
the world, outside of the South.
There is wealth enough in the terri
tory tributary to these lines to en-
rich, not simply an empire, but a
continent.
There are more natural resources
available for development in the re-
gion dependent upon these two roads
for transportation than exists in Great
Britain and Germany combined.
The resources Of the country whose
de- elopment made James ]. Hill rank
as one Of the empire builders Of the
world are small as compared with the
resources of the country which must
look TO the Atlantic Coast Line and
the Louisville & Nashville railroad
for development or remain only par
TALLY developed. The whole Pacific
coast, indeed, all Of the Pacific coast
and all Of the Central West region
tributary to the Union Pacific railI Dad
cannot show such wealth of wealth
creating potentialities as that region
over whose destiny Mr.. Walters, by
virtue Of his railroad ownership, holds
such a dominant power.
Mr.. Walters is compare lively
young man, younger, l believe, thaii
was Mr.. Flagler when he took up the
great work OF the development OF the
East Coast Of Florida He Is in the
very prime Of life, with vigor Of body
and mind and with the ability to com
4 mand capital for his road and the ter.
ritory tributary to it. fully matching
that OF Hartman or Hill because OF
the fundamental soundness Of the
financing of the two roads and be.
cause the world recognizes that this
Southern country is the place for the
safest investments.
The Louisville & Nashville and tho
Atlantic Coast Line have both been
busy during the last few years with
construction work in doubletrackine
and in other improvements. This is
especially true as to the Louisville &
Nashville, though it has not measur-
ed up to its opportunities as Hartman
and Hill measured up to theirs in The
Northwest and on the Pacific coast.
There was time when the Atlantic
Coast Line was regarded as the
Pennsylvania Railroad of the terri
:ory from Richmond to Tampa. That
day has passed. The Coast Line is
not regarded with as much favor today
as in former years. I regret to say
that it is severely criticised by many
throughout it's territory, as we'll as by
4; travellers from other sections. Some
days ago one of the foremost manu-
facturers Of the North. in discussing
the situation, said that his experience
showed that while the Coast Line had
better track than the Seaboard
yet in its general service from the
morale and attentiveness of it's en-
ployes down to its dining car service
1t was inferior to the Seaboard
That about voices the sentiment heard
throughout this region. Years ago
tho Seaboard was the joke of travellers
and the Coast Line was almost uni
versally commended.
Because Of the lOi Identification
of the Coast Line with Baltimore and
it's domination in reality as we'll as
in name by BaltimOreans, l am sorry
that this is true. l wish | could write
that the Atlantic Coast Line main
tains it's reputation as Pennsylvania
railroad of the South, but I cannot