The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1868-10-16
The Railroad Question.

TUT 'he reason that the political speak
ers now IN the field are not giving this
subject fair tn atment, and as il is enc of
Importance which every voter should un.
derstand before dcpositing his ballot
either "For Railroads ~ or Against
Railroads." / request that You will give
this communication a place in your
columns.
AT the last session Of the Legislature,
law was passed granting aid to Rail
roads in the State, upon the following
terms and conditions:
As soon as any Railroad Company
(whose application for aid has been APP
proved by Board of Commissioners,
who are appointed by the Governor,) has
graded and prepared for the track ten
(lO) miles of road they will receive the
bonds of the State, at the rate of ten
thousand (sl0,OOO) dollars per mile for
roads which have grant of lands from
the United States government, and ff-
teen thousand (sl5,OOO) dollars per mile
for roads that have no lands And when.
ever ten miles more are finished ready
for the track, more bonds are to be issu-
ed to the Company; and so on, until the
Road is completed. These bonds are to
bear interest aud to be made payable ESQ.,
thirty Years after date. Any Railroad
Company receiving these bonds must
provide for the payment of the interest,
and also provide for their redemption at
maturity. In case of the failure of the
Company to do so, the Governor Of the
State is authorized to appoint receiver,
who will simply receive the revenue OF
the Road and pay therefrom any interest
that may be due upon the bonds issued
to the Company, without otherwise in
terfering with the business of the
Company, and when this has been done
the control of its revenues will again
be resigned to the Company.
The law limits the total length Of roads
thus to be aided to eight hundred (S50)
and fifty miles, and the amount of bonds
to be issued will not quite reach ten mil
lion $4,000, 00O) dollars.
Under provision of the new Consti-
tuition, this law must be submitted to a
vote of the qualified electors of the State,
and all those who approve the law will
therefore, vote "For Railroads." and
those who oppose it will vote Against
Railroads
i desire to say that this law was fran
ed with the assistance and sanction of
the few Railroad men who were at Little
Rock, during the laat session OF the Leg
slature, and | believe that it is satistac-
tory, on the whole, to the Railroad Com
panies that are interested, as it is, by far,
the most liberal law of the kind that we
have ever been able to get from an Ar
kansas Legislature. / say this much,
not in cGlogy of the political party to
which you well know am firmly oppos-
ed, but because the law is a good one,
and, AS A LAW, merits the appreciation
and support of all who desire tho pros
perity of the State. At the same time,
there is no doubt that the State is amply
secured by the the powers given to the
Governor, as before stated, and if the
law is faithfully administered there is but
little doubt that within a very few years,
VIC shall be able to complete a magnif-
cent system of Railroads in Arkansas.
1t, then, only remains for such Con
sentative or Democratic voters as may
favor such system of State aid to de-
termine in their own minds whether the
present radical State government can be
trusted with the execution of such a
scheme. Is there any chance for cor
ruption and abuse in the administration
Of the law, and, if so, will they dare to
brave the Indignation Of every honest
man Of both parties in the State, and
thus ensure their own ignominious defeat
in all future political contests in this
State? Let the people decide.
Very truly, yours,
j. H. HANEY.
Ont 10 1919