The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-29
The Missouri. Kansas and Texas Rail-
VVRy COMPANY,

On yesterday, as will be seen by the pro-
ceedings of the House of Representatives,
a bill to extend the time for the construc-
ton of the railroad Of the above named
company came up for action in that body.
\ letter from the Vice President of the
company was read, and not having our
selves understood the questions involved
we have procured a copy of the letter, which
we lay before our readers. The people of
Austin and of the western portion of the
State feel very great interest in the eX-
tention of that road into the interior of the
State, and they will be glad to understand
the position and purposes of the company.
BY the provisions of the original charter,
the company, il was declared, should be ex-
empted from taxation while building the
road to Austin, and for two years there
after if fifty miles of its road should be
built in tdfee ,ears from the second of Au-
1Sust, 1870. --lle road was to he built to
Austin IN dire. ;;esrS from that date.
The simple question now, Is w4ietlIler 4AieettIer the
Legislature will grant the company five
years from August next to build three huE-
drcd miles of road, from Red River to Aus
tim and preserve to them the exemption
-trds IA tayas-,,Attrbn& thcsrofrtfuction of the
road, and for two years thereafter,
AUSTIN, May II, 1873.
COLONEL j. NJ. ANDERSON:
Deu Nr-The Missouri, Kansas and
Texas Railway Company, have Il bill before
the House, asking for an extension Of time
for two years from next August, III which
to complete fifty miles of its road in the
State of Texas and to complete cOntinu-
Gus line of railroad, from its crossing of
Red River, by way of Waco to the city of
Austin.
As the owner of upwards of eight hun
dred miles of railroad north of your State,
and as the first road to connect your State
with st. Louis, Chicago and the railroad
system of the Northern and Eastern States,
it asks only the right to extend its eight
hundred miles of iyuAk road, by the most
practicable and shortest route to your State
capital, subject to all general laws now exist
ing, or that shall hereafter be passed in re-
lation to railroad corporations.
bonds from the State, only the right to
build its road with its own money, and to
locate its line without reference to towns on
the line, and with reference only to economy
in construction. and in operation after the
road is built.
The only State aid it asks is to be placed
on an equality with other railroad cOmpa-
nies under general laws, and iii case it
shall build fifty miles of road, and COM
plete through line to Austin within the
time stipulated-fve years from next Au-
gust-oDd nat otherrise, it asks that it shall
be exempt from taxation while its road is
being constructed, and for two years there
after, and after that, pay two per cent. per
annum on its earnings, which is higher
rate than is paid by any other corporation
in this State.
The length of road to be constructed.
will fall little short of three hundred
miles, and will probably cost nearly 50, 000,-
coo, about one-half of which amount, from
81. 100000 to $1,000, coo, will be expended
within the State, for labor supplies, pro-
visions. and for transportation, etc, and it
is for the Legislature to say if such an eX-
p9nditurc shall be made without cost to the
State, as the exemption from taxation, ex-
cGpt for about three miles Of road near Red
Rl'-er, only covers property of t. company
hss- ~ &c. Il 70 f62 .se,i nv aneGfsey-
rights, which are the same : ! INST ms It enjoys
in Kansas and Missouri, shall not he taken
from it.
We have constructed about eight hun
dred miles Of railroad during the past five
years, or little over half mile of COM
pleted and equipped railroad, for every
working day, and so soon as we can get
a sufficiently accurate knowledge of the
country, and our arrangements made for Il
start in Texas wehOpe to be able to carry
forward our work in this State, with equal
rapidity, and | believe we shall he able to
do this, if the extension of time asked for
is granted, and the bill passed, free from
the restrictions and limitations contained in
the proposed amendments.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
FRANK J. BOND,
Vice President