South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-27
009 YEAR LEASE.

The Pennsylvania Railroad must be directed by
either optimists Bourbons OF the most pro-
nounced type.
It has just asked the government for permission
TO take over some OF is subsidiary leases under
the form OF leases which 20 for years.
Il might as easily have written a few more pines
the and asked Tor that right as far as any
practical be made OF the lease, it might
have chopped or nine without any material in
jury TO It's plans and purposes.
II you wish TO know the real worth OF ease
bss years hence. try to figure out what such a doc
ument drafted sss years ago would be worth today.
Had you lived in England perhaps you would
dreamed that the work being accomplished
under King Canute would last forever. He ruled
then brought over scholars and architects and
teachers TO instruct the powerful OF his day
OF the simplest facts and to direct the building Of
churches and a few schools
Had corporation been interested IN transporta-
ton II that day it would have limited to the
little boats which carried small which
were held and rivers. Perhaps the fnan-
cial masters OF those days dreaming that their
rires would last forever may have looked ahead
thousand years the time when their descendants
would still be controlling ne carrying trade Of the
world in their little ships. II they had magnations
their widest flight would have been great ship
with two sails.
History sets down the habits the customs the en-
terprises OF that day primitive. School boys
wonder how people got along without steel with
out electricity. without gas without any of the
things that combine to make life what it Is today
They wonder In amazement at the thought OF an
uneducated people who needed the Danes 20 teach
them even the rudiments OF reading and writing
Long before the first two mines in this Pennsyl-
vanla lease have expired. every custom Of today will
be so changed by invention that these leases will
be worthless.
Even in transportation there will be such changes
as to make the railways obsolete. Long before that
time the of atomic Will have been
eolved and through 1t the released power Of pebS
bic will drive airships around the world.
Long before that time the science and discoveries
o. future Burhanks will provide food for millions
from quarter sections Of land.
In that day the most ignorant man will know
more and think straighter than those honored by
universities today for their learning
The government will probably quibble this
lease and denounce It as an effort TO obtain a
mortgage on the future for all time just sena-
tors and congressman bubble today over the 80
year Fr vision In the lease OF Muscle Shoals TO
Ford
They viii believe and think that the world
centuries hence will be the as # is today and
that perhaps such lease may forever bind the
people to some special privilege just the old
barons in the days OF Canute believed that their
oaths of fealty would bind their for all time
20 the military expeditions OF some descendant OF
Canute
Il may help this railway company in It's scheme
OF things TO such a lease. Perhaps It can
borrow money more readily II it tells the purchasers
OF its notes and bonds that the comrany is built
Cor all time.
But the world exactly that way. 1t
changes Any one who tries to direct destiny for
a thousand years is than foolish. The men
who can use and make useful the material things
In life are those who s change them to
increase their power. No legal document has ever
chained the progressive trend OF civilization or Of
human comfort