The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-07-06
THE MOBILE AND TEXAS RAILROAD.


We don't like to find fault with railroads
first, because, as q general rule, railroad mel
are attentive to the wants of the travelin,
public, are live and energetic, and
second, because the railroads that centre a
New Orleans need every possible encourage
ment and will need it for years to come. Blu
when a question of railroad management
comes up, which involves the safety Of pas
sengers, we are bound to take cognizanc'
of it snd to do what ma,
lie in our power to correct the evil. For SOM
time past there have been rumors current
that the bridges on the Mobile and Texas
Railroad were in bad condition, but tht
officers Of tie road have strenuously denied
all such statements, and we were inclined t.
place credence in their assertions. We have
learned lately Of some facts in regard to the
bridge over the Riggolets that are calculated
to excite uneasiness, and we think it is due
the people who patronize the road that full
and fair investigation be made, in order to
quiet popular apprehension.
About week ago the New Orleans Times
published the following in reference to the
matter
Mobile and Texas Railroad Bridges.
A correspondent sends a communication on
the subject of the bridges on the above road,
and enclosed extract from petition on file
in the chancery suit No. 1857, in the United
States District Court:
On petition of E. D. Morgan and Jas. A..
Raynor, trustees Of the road, fled May IL,
1875, among ether allegations is the follow
ing:
Your petitioners further show that upon
their entry into possession of the railroad
aforesaid, they found that there had been
dilapidation, decay and waste in the equip
ments and material, as well as unreasonable
wear and tear and destruction in the railroads
and bridges on the road.
The road runs along the Gulf coast nearly
the whole distance, and the bridges at differ
emit places are long, and unless strongly built
and we'll supported, are dangerous. Your
petitioners state that these bridges demand
immediate attention, and their replacement by
other suitable structures. That their obvious
insuficiency induced your petitioners to
cause plans to be made. and proposals for re-
construction were invited, and they have
been discussed at an election of the bond.
holders; on approval thereof, are herewith
submitted contracts relative to the bridges.
The contracts marked A, B, @, will fully ex-
plain the expenses required, the points at
which the bridges are to be placed and the
conditions on which they are to be con-
structed.
This petition Is sworn to be true by James
A. Rsynor, trustee.
We are not advised whether Mr.. Raynor, in
his suit, had in view the safety of the travel
ing public or some Interior design. The pre-
sent managers Of the road have given assur-
ances that the bridges are perfectly safe, and
we have no reason to think they would make
such representations in matter of such
gravity without being satisfied of their cor
rectness. But if there is the least possibility
of an accident reasonably to be apprehended,
the matter should be carefully Investigated.
We have been waiting for some authorized
and official denial of the very grave charges
made in the above petition, but as yet have
seen none. We feel it our duty, as public
journalists and in the interest of the thou
sands of people who every week ride over the
bridge at the Rigolets, to say that there is
reason, outside of the allegations of the trus-
tees, to believe it to be in a condition de-
handing prompt attention. And even if the
opinion Of its condition be erroneous we know
Of persons who are SO imbued with
belief of its accuracy, that they are unwilling
% trust themselves upon the bridge, and are
aow awaiting transportation across the Lake
,y sail boat or steamer The matter having
gone thus far, it is palpably to the interest of
he road to have an immediate examination
made upon which Q statement may be pub
tructure, if, indeed, it be found in safe
nd sound condition.
The sworn statements of the trustees are |
90 serious to be passed over without notice. |