The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-04-13
RAILROADS---CHE
FARE AND FREIGHT FOR TEXAS.

Why is the rate of railroad fare in the
Atlantic States only two cents per mile andl
less, and here in Texas five cents per milea
The charges for freight are alike against the
West. The cost of all the material neces-
| sary for building railroads is less in the
| West than in the East. The Operating
expenses reed not be more here than in
the favored East. Why, then, need the
Texas farmer pay more for freight and pas-i
sage on Texas roads than is charged on
New England roads2 If the freight charge
on a bale of cotton could be by any means
reduced, it is easy to see that the saving in
ures to the profit of the producer. There
fore, the cost of railroads becomes an I'M
portant inquiry to farmers and trades
men of Texas. Cheap railroads, built and
operated by the people of this State, incur
ring no bonded debt to New England, or to
any foreign money-lending corporation, will
solve the question of cheap transportation.l
CarafnlIu camniled statistics snnw -LnaG
wherever narrow gauge roads have been
built they have proved profitable invest
ments to the first investors. In almost
every instance where stock in new road is
subscribed by counties, cities and individ
uals it results in virtual donation to some
wealthy corporation grasping what has been
done by the people, and, by agreeing to
equip the road and operate it, appropriate
| the whole. The people are content to have
the use of the railway at any cost. Bonds
have been issued by counties and cities, and
taxes are thus increased to sustain rail-
road almost useless to the producer. Broad
| gauge roads in the West and South are profit
less except to bondholders. Debts they
have brought on themselves, and upon
counties, cities and individuals have brought
them into bad repute. By many they are
regarded public evils, and cheap, substan-
tial roads having no debt would be con-
fessedly great blessings. The large earn
| ings of railroads are swallowed up in the
payment of interest upon debt, and little is
left to defray the current expenses, and less
to pay dividends. Many are bankrupt and
in the hands of receivers. The remedy
! for all these evils consists in the construc-
] ton of narrow gauge roads, costing one
third, and in many instances one-half, less
/ than those of the standard gauge.
1 While the operating expenses of these
cheap roads are greatly less, their carrying
capacity is equal to the requirements of any
4 country in which they have been built. The
1 smaller coaches need only be multiplied as
trade and travel demand. Build narrow
] gauge roads because they are cheap, and
may be constructed without incurring for
eign debt, and these roads are especially
suited to this sparsely settled State. Build
them with your own money, your own rails
and ties, and with your own strong arms,
I making provision IN charters that the fran
chises can never be mortgaged. Do not
permit the issue of interest-p paying bonds,
which are to-day the Surse of our national
i existence. Each and every director should
be resident of the State, and If we pay for al
material necessary in stock of the road in
stead of in interest-paying bonds, aRd b
governed by these principles, and built
twenty miles of the road from Austin, i
will extend itself to Lampasas or Luling o
San Antonio to Santa Fe OF Dallas. Wher'
there is a will there is way.