Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-13
GIVE RAILWAYS A CHANCE;
THEY ARE INDISPENSABLE
Close observer Who Thinks. Railroads
of Country Have Been Crippled d!
TOO Much Law.

Tho May number of the Agricultural
aud Industrial Outlook is AN unusually
interesting issue, finely illustrated,
Among other good things il contains
an interesting an impressive article by
John a. Sleichcr. editor aud owner Of
Leslie's Weekly. on the railroad si,u-
alton. Mr. Sleichcr writes:
The public has = special Interest, no.
only in the mathematics but in the
extension OF our railroads. for they
constitute the greatest industry i'm the
United states ucNt TO that OF agricul-
or thirty years ago. when in every new
section of this country. bids were made
for capital TO be invested in railroads
TO open up the farming regions ana
the business possibilities OF the then
thinly- populated States. Bonuses We're
offered land grants financial assist
! ancc, exemption from taxes and al,
sorts OF attractions. because ii was felt
and believed that the railroads would
increase the valu. of property. give the
farmers a better price for their prod
vets and open markets that had been
inaccessible And this is exactly what
happened.
In these times. The granting OF
bonuses, exemptions in tn. giving Of
rebates are claSscd among the illegal
things. and the very sections that gave
every induccmcnt TO the railroad build
ers are now imposing such hardShips
on the railways that onc-siXth of the
mileage in the United States has gone
into the hands Of receivers. y harder
blow than this has never been struck
AT tho prosperity OF the country for it
has undermined the credit of the rail
roads. and as Il result. during the past
year. the number of now miles Of rail
road built is among the smallest Of any
year since the War Between the states
The railroads have been so crippled
by the lack of credit that now, when
they arc called upon in a period OF pros
pcrity. to meet the demands Of
shippers, they are unable to do so
because they have not had the funds
with which to increase their terminals
their trackaCe and the number OF cars
and locomotives.
Every farmer, every working man.
and every business man has a per
sonal interest in the restoration OF the
credit OF tho railroads. for IL tho lat
ter were able to borrow the money
they need, they would spend the
enormous amount of 81 600, 900 600 a
ycar for five consecutive years for OK
tensions. requirements, equipment re-
pairs and terminals.
Our war orders" look small COM
pared with this tremendous cNpcndi-
turc which the railroads ought to
make and would make if they only
had the money. Think of tho pay
rolls that billion dollars q year would
provide. and of the dinner pals that
would be filled and the products of
the farm and tho factory that would
be bought.
II is a common error to believe that
the railroads are owned 10y a clique in
Wall street or a fcw big iinanciers
The railroads of the country are own
ed by two million security holders
many OF thcm women, and tho vast
majority owning only u few shares or
bonds apiece. Every time you hit a
railroad and reduce it's dividend or put
II into bankruptcy. YOU hit these in
nocent shareholders and strike II blow
al one Of the foremost industries OF
the land.
Let the people Of this country give
the railroads fair play-ncthinc more;
nothing more; nothing less. Every on.
Is entitled at least TO that