Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-01-27
Before and After.

We nre the frie nd of railroads. eknow
The advantages which result nom 'heH
and we are anxious to see them bnilt al
over the country, and especially in Texas
where they are imperaiively needed fol
lack of reliable water transportation. our
immense natural resources cannot soon DC
developed and br6iGht into activity with
out them. This frieudliness VIC have shown
on every proper occasion. We have Ia
vored aid from the State, whenever II
could be consistently extended on the
eoound of their great public utility, On
nc other ground could i, be given. When
ever n railroa charter is. solicited, when
ever subsidy in lands or bonds is'asked
for, is it not for the reason given that the
public will be greatly benefited thereby
That in the end, the State will be
gamer and uot loser by the gift Sure
ly tie aid of the State could not be asked
and should not he giren solely TO augment
! The fntanS Of Il few individuals, who may
be .hc stockholders under the charter and
| 10 enable them 10 smass huge fortunes Mt
the expense Of their fellow men and re-
gardless of tho public interests
We have been led 70 these general re-
marks from what We have sorrowfully Wit
messed of the conduct of railroad compa-
/ MES, with stnrte an exception. all over the
country. They ask for Charters and Tor
public aid on the ground OF adv vhncing the
public interests. They get them on that
plea and when they have obtained all that
they desire, they seem to forget altogether
the consideration promised, the object for
which the charters were granted, the aid
| given to construct them, and thev condnct
their roads solely with all eye to their IN
| dividual or corporate interests. hs II the
neonle had nothing to do with the matter,
md ms If it was piece Of imper'nence
on their part TO advise, to give expression
of their wishes, or to complain even win
low murmurings. They are told it is none
OF their bus mess. That the corporation
knows best what to do with its own money
and how to make the most out Of its posi-
tion. Then, too, if a new charter Is de-
sired for another road, to extend further
facilities 10 the industry and commerce OF
the country, the railroads already in oper-
alton, ifit is suppose that it may lessen
tbeir profits and interfere with their bust
ness control, at once oppose it vita III
their might, with all their influence, aud,
1t is alleged, with all their money. No
matter how much it may benefit the gener-
al public IL it will take the value of one
cent from their pockets, they are down up
on it, In their eyes, it isa great outrage
for tbe State to do for others what il has
already done for themselves. 1t was ali
right to grant them charters and lands and
bonds, and lend them money and exempt
them from taxation, and do everything for
them which they might desire but to ex-
tend the same degree Of kindness and lib
erality to others, is not to be thought Of
II would be nonsirous. All the pleas put
in by themselves, when they were appii-
cantf for special privileges and corporate
advantages, nre 70, gotten or ignored. che
public Is nowhere in their tboughts-they
can think only of themselves and iher
particular interests. Is this f'iT ia 1t
honest? Again, the various railroads fi' d
their interests cl,shing in onle way, and
they commence suarrellinr aha hghing
one another without the sbgit9s' care ior
the public good. We will cite u case III
no,pt for an illustration. The VI I
Road and the Atlantic AMI Paeiha Nona
from st Louis coms tsre'her al pom
in or nenr the Indian Nation The former
road is already built many miles sonth
ward .award Texas, and viii soon be fin
ished TO Red River, as we are told, and are
rigb, glad to hear. But 'nrpose We or
others desirt 10 go by Springfield 70 st.
Louis, or to have freight seut to ne FROM
the latter or any point Gu ple 4 7, Road
untilit reaches the NJ K. 4 ] Read, and
thence down it 10 its iermiuus--can Se 10
so o Not atall These rosds have fallen
outgita each other, Rnd are trying TO harm
each other as nipch ss possible, nnticaripg
aipia forthe public eonveniepce Is not
their own affair? Have they not right
10 quarrel, If they pcas', and do what
they choose with their own /? We answer,
no. They may have the naked legal right,
owing ,oithe want of foresight in the leg
i.laiurs who granted their charters, hut
they have no morslrigh' whatever. Their
charters, like ali others, we're granted on
pullic grounds, and they have no right to
disregard the public interests. II the law
cannot reach them the press should try its
power to bring them 10 terms, and II will,
IL IL is faithful and honest. The railroad
ouarreis, which so seriously interfere with
public trafic and travel, should be stopped
somehow. This shameful interfering Of
one road to prevent another from being
bujlt. these railroad combinations to con-
trol legislation and monopolize all the
business and profits Of the carrying trade
should be locked after and denounced and
prevented as much as possible.
They are all wrong The only safety 10
The country is in competition among the
railroads. Suppose the Central Railroad ef
Texas. to,card rkich re have dtcGys been
rerv friendly, should combine ruth ron Scott
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