The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-30
THE SOUTH NEEDS
MORE RAILROADS
To Develop It's Increasing Resources
More Transportation Facilities
Are Essential-Capital Will
ing, But Nervous.


be a large increase in railroad build
ing, and that right soon In the South
especially Ia the need for a heavy en-
largement OF mileage apparent. Last
year. as shown by the annual review
of construction recently published in
the Manufacturers Record, there were
only sos miles of railroad built in the
Southern States, which was the small
est amount for a twetVe-month since
the compiling of data concerning rail-
road construction was begun many
years ago. This was "A decline from a
total OF 1891 miles in 1907 and from
more than 1000 miles as recently as
1912; as compared with ten or fifteen
years ago the drop is even more inn
pressive.
In spite of the fact that railroad
batting as recreation and advertise
ment for certain types OF politicians
has fallen into a considerable degree
of disrepute, 1t still persists in Com
monWealths and communities, per-
haps, in some instances because OF
lack OF opportunity by the people to
study transportation conditions from
n broad viewpoint, but in others ow-
ing to a prejudice against railroads
born OF hatred developed long ago
before the companies had learned that
it was better to say the public be
pleased" rather than the other thing
made notorious by one OF the oid-time
railroad kings"
But it is high time that everyone
should fully comprehend the very
plain fact that the welfare Of the
country generally and specifically Is
SO bound up with the welfare Of the
railroads all hands ought to he bygones
he bygones, pitch in hearth to work
- ,,f
transportation facilities that there will
not be any opportunity OF repetition
~ the congested conditions which pre-
vailed several years ago. and which
choked the main arteries of commerce
and industry even on the largest or
our railroad systems The rapid re-
covery which the railroads OF the
South and Of the entire country are
displaying as compared with their con-
ditions year ago may ne accepted as
a sign forecastIng greater and greater
railroad business to come this year
and next Pea rssasd. indeed indefinitely.
: There issan enormous and growing
.tlemand forstlts products Of the South.
ITO develop it's resources TO a degree
Sufficient 10 meet requirements neces-
litates more railroads, and that right
nov Capital is ready to build them
IL IL can be assured OF reasona BILE
treatment by legislative bodies But
If it is TO he peralized by harassing
laws planned for vote-gettlng, the
money VIII turn aside to seek other
fields of employment where II can be
treated fairly and not Xix , criminal
This is the plain truth of the matter
and the sooner the people OF the Sout1
generally realize II the sooner will
they Obtain the enlargement Of rail-
road lines which they need to place
oil the rich resources Of their country
ln, the markets of the. world,
II the public Will only make II clear
that it's wish is to encourage railroad
construction. its representatives VIII
promptly take the hint tfor every one
Of them has his ear 10 the ground
and will amend their legislative
courses accordinly. Look at the de-
cline of railroad construction in this
section during the last four years, IN
1912 II was 2.026 miles; in 1911 3.
1853 miles: in 1913, all miles, and in
1915. 5o3 miles Think OF 1t, a drop
Of Is per cent in that short time.
What caused 1t? Attacks upon hust-
ness in various ways. Investigations.
inouiries. imposition of restrictions.
all in the name Of the people; but
after all, the people lost more than
anyone else for capital might AFFORD
TO wait until the storm blew over, but
most folks could not. and consequently
they suffered Now that business has
in large measure got under way again
il is essential that every encourage
ment be given to railroad plans for eX-
tension and enlargement else the
balance between the volume of traffic
and the capacity of the lines to handle
II will he so disturbed that serious
enlbarrass and loss must follow
10 industry, agriculture and COM
merce.
Railroad men interested IN the
South realized from the beginning OF
construction on the Panama Canal by
the United States that this great water
way was bound TO have an important
effect upon railroads in this part OF
our country. There are several plans
now under construction which are de-
signed TO take advantage of the OPP
portunities that the canal presents
but there are others which experienced
a setback owing TO the disturbed con-
ditions affecting railroads. but which
might now be again taken up by their
promoters and completed IL given the
necessary announcement. Besides. the
existing railroads have in mind plans
for various extensions or branches
which will be put into execution just
as soon as conditions are favorable
1t remains with the people to see that
such a change of conditions with re-
spect TO the transpoi tation companies
is brought about. Manufactured
Record.