The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-17
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EASTLAND.
EAsTLAND, Dec. II, lSSO

EAsTLAND, Dec. H. 1850
Correspondence Of the Herald.
Since Eaotlaud got run over by the Texas
g. Pacific railroad her hopes have grown
greatly with fair prospect of seeing some
of them realized. The prospect of losing the
Texas Central is taking little wind from
her sails, but her people are plucky and are
going TO build good town anyway, The
county is Ia feverish excitement o or the
action Of the management Of the Central re-
fusing to build their line to the town:
The citizens here offered one.third OF all
their property to the Central, and II ~ wouiu
not cost $4,000 less to build the ROAD 10
Eastlsnd than to Red Gep, tne pro-
posed intersection with the Pacific, thst
they would make it cost tho company
that much less, but to this the
management turned O. deaf ear
The people are incensed, and every man IN
the county through whose land the line
passes are going to forbid work until the
right of way is paid for. In one or two IN
stances the men who were clearing Inc righI
of way have been arrested, and u IS gener'
ally predicted that the Central will have an
interesting time before it stops the I cine
1t seems that some legislation is necessary to
prevent the present state OF affairs "A rev
men with comparatively no means csll
organize themselves into railroad company
and go north and east, and after grading n, n lew
miles of roadbed begin TO issue bonds: Ih 6Se
they place on the Market say Slo,VoV
to the mile, and realize 90 cents
on the dollar, or Sl2,750 per mile, by conhn-
ing their line to the most level country tney
can build and poorly equip tho road Tor
$4,000 Der mile, leaving S4,75O por mile ior
them to put in their pocketa. And when
they approach town, ii it ia a large one SO
they can get greater subsidy from IL tnan
the amount they would realize from Duildine
town of their own, they go to 1t and pocEe,
the subsidy; but if the town ia small, so thal
it cannot pay large subsidy, they leave !,
out and build one of their own. Iney ge'
their salaries, they get the excess OF tnt
money derived from the bonds over Tue COS,
of construction; they get all subsidies ana
town SITES, and the land grant ironi
the state. Then what do they care
what becomes of the road Nothing. ie'
the bondholders sell it out if they want TO-
and they, with their illgotten gains will buy
il in for half of what 1t cost to built II, ana
in this way swindle the men who bough,
their bonds. By missing the towns they
render comparatively valueless the properly
in the towns, and to that, extent impoversh
the country; while if they struck the towns
it would increase their wealth and enable the
citizens to develop the country more rapidly
and would give a greater carrying trade TO
their road, and if all the money, was used IN IN
construction that was derived from all
sources, it would enable the road to pay q
handsome dividend instead of being sold
ont, Why this latitude to the mansgsmentt
of railwaysi They are paid their salaries And
thew should be required to give their services
TO the companies they represent for no other
consideration, end all money derived from
All sources should go into'th treasury OF the
company, and after paying the expense, o.
GENERATING the road, the balance should De
prorated smong the stockholders and then
pou would NOT hear of stockholders being
swindled and the roads being sold out anc
towns going to decay, because come raiIroaC
had left because it is to the mutua
benefit Of tho road and town for 1t TO pas
thronuh the town, and in five times out o
six il Is the speculation of the management
of the road Of their private account thtFpre
vents IL. "A