The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-01
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 What is the best thing to do with the railroads-turn them back to the own CTS with federal regulation, or let the government continue to operate them? The question is much in the mind of thinking men, and there is great diversi- ty as to the best way to handle the acute situation.
 In the packers investigation trans portation bobs up in most dsconcert- ing way. Some think that private owned refrigerating cars is as bad as secret re- bates, and that the big meat industries, through this advantage in connection Nre a menace to the public.
 I wonder when the difficult matter first claimed the attention of the cave men? Who was it who first evolved the wheel? If we knew we ought to.hail him as benefactor of mankind I reckon Mother Eve, with her first baby, would have gotten about the same jolt got on seeing two columns in the Times Qon- don) devoted to aviation weather, if she had run across a modern baby carriage.
 With the advent of wheels soon a carry trade sprang up which, no doubt was as much an innovation over the older sled or pole contrivance as it was superior to the human capacity to shoulder bur- dens and bear up under them for long distances. One of the sights in Constan tinople which always pained but inter- ested me was that porters carried great loads hung between poles balanced on their shoulders. Even the fire engines were so managed, and the runners would relieve one another without stopping.
 It would be an interesting and inform ing study to take up the famous cara van routes. It's yet great business in the backward countries. The routes through Asia to India and in Africa and South America and Mexico, and the ones which the pioneers blazed across the continent here in the United States.
 
 
 zed in the early stages of mans exist ence. The stately march of the camels across the desert, the utilization of eler plants to transport great loads in Africa the llamas in the business of crossing the Andes in South America, Americas pa- tient mules hitched to wagons in peace time and artillery wagons in times of war, the swifter horses used to pull bug ges and carriages, and then the donkeys. | can never forget the string of them I saw out west coming to town ladep with wood.
 The coming of the stage coach with regular routes was heralded as the best evidence of the march of civilization. It was happy time in many ways. The mere memory of it sent some of our rich young Americans to merry old England to use their wealth. in trying to revive the days<o of long ago, and they got a largs share of notoriety and much social prom thence for doing the picturesque. There was cramble to ride in coach driv' en by q Vanderbilt.
 How some of the cultured fought the advent of steam railroads Ruskin never liked the idea. l have seen it recorded, but have not verified it. that the great Daniel Webster made a speech to show that if train could be got under head way by steam that it could never be Sfo in five miles nf given St3> tion. This may be apocryphal but 1t shows the doubt in the minds of many as to the utter hopelessness of railroads ever becoming within the range of prac- tical buiness,
 There was as much or more skepticism manifested when electricity was talked of as motor power. The electrifica- ton of the railroads has been slower than many thought it would be after it had been used so successfully for city and suburban traffic. Do you remember the first electric street cariyou ever saw? do. It was in Edinburg. I was walking along one of the famous streets and all of a sudden I saw a car without any mules or horses hitched to it racing up and down a hill at a place which nearly took my breath away.
 /also remember the first automobile which flashed across my vision. It was more of a-toy contraption and was be ing tried out in Madison Square, New York, much to the amusement of the lockers on and the chagrin of the opera tor, for it had a way of stopping and starting when it got ready, and when it got to going was, to say the least of it. a. bit eccentric and jumpy. People laughed at the inventor, and predicted it would be failure But now automo- piles and motor trucks are revolutionizing the transportation question.
 But what got me guessing was two- column space in the London Times given to aviation weather. I was as much shocked when I saw table setting forth the winds velocity in certain parts of England. Ireland and France at heights ranging from 2000 to\ 15,000 feet as must have been the old time newspaper read CT who first glimpsed a published rail road schedule. Flying prospects were given with a large map, showing air pressure, temperature, wind and weather
 Yes. we will soon have our air time ta bles and our air routes, and the wealthy