The weekly clarion., 1879-04-09
Letter from Hon. A. E. Lewis.
wDsr PA=cAeouLA. April. 1879,

/ W Lf>T 1ASCAGOGIA. ApFlA, 1913
EDS. CIAR1oS. Accept ny thanks for your
! approving editorials ia the CLARION, on the
bills introduced by Senator Bills and Repre-
sentative Wood in our last Legislature 10 COM
pei the Railroad companies to fence in their
tracks to prevent the destruction Of stock.
| Very few persons outside OF stock-raisers liv-
ing near railroad lines seem 10 know the ex-
| tent OF property destroyed by railroad trains,
which, perhaps, accounts for the indifference
shown by the Legislators to the subject. The
Seashore counties have suffered much from the
New Orleans and Mobile Railroad. Many
persons have been entirely broken up. l am
but one of many heavy losers. The policy of
this road is never to pay for stock killed, if
lodging will avail them, and when they pay
at all, ii Is much less than half value at their
orH radiation. Owners of stock killed are nerer
oLiored voice in estimating their property.
nor viii they notice reports Of killed stock bv
the owners or any other persons, except their
oarH section bosses, that are instructed not TO
furnish statements to owners. So when man
has lost his COW, he has to find it out the best
way he can, and al the same time has TO un-
earth the dead beast 10 identity it. All sorts
OF subterfugeS are used to dodge payment, and
paving the usual toll, $40. in the way of
passage-money, If it then pleases the Gen1
superintendent, he may give You trife and
that Is the last OF your property-he makes a
clear toll out OF you, and you return home not
in the humor TO try it again soon. So. their
policy works. | Will illustrate bv giving you |
my own case, which is not an isolated one by |
a long ways. paid for my last years taxes |
over S400 on stock grazing lands and money |
derived from my legitimate stock raising bust |
ness-have been here in this Democratic Cow |
County, raising cows, Tor 81 years and now TO |
be ruined by privilege non-tax paving out |
rageous monopoly is quite hard to endure, vet |
it is SO, and why SO? Why, reading in the !
CLARION, of the proceedings of the Legisla- |
ture on the subject matter forced the conviction
on my mind that a majority of the Senators |
favored the non-tax-paying money power at
the expense of the cow-drivers. See how un- |
tremendously Bills bill was checked off, and |
Woods BILL that passed the House by over |
two-thirds majority, was rejected.
When | voted for the Democratic-C -Conserva-
tive platform at the State Convention, in 1875, |
and went home preached on the hustings the |
revival of the glorious old ume-honored Dem !
ocratic flag, | meant what | said, but find out |
now that | did not understand that that system |
makes the rich richer and the poor poorer.
There will be more exertions used at the !
next Legislature on this subject. Public SEN |
timent, feel assured, will check this drift to
irresponsible non-,axpaying corporations. If
we are now to be ruled BY moned corporations |
our long and hard work to throw off the Radi- |
cal yoke a waste OF time and money.
have inflicted long letter on your patience |
and must, in justihc .tion, plead for doing So
the encouragement you gave in your just and |
timely editorials, when the fence bills were |
pending. Truly yours,
A. F. LEWIS.