The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-03-02
Railroad Legislation
For THE CLARrov.l

For THE CLARfoN.l
The people Of this State are witnessing
with great pleasure, the determined action
Of the Legislature in protecting them by
stringent laws against the mOnopolies, ex-
tortions, and incorporated destruction Of
their property by railroads. The people Of
the seacoast find hopeful encouragement
in the recent passage by the Senate, Of the
bill to compel the New Orleans and Mo-
bile Railroad Company to fence in their
track, and fence off cattle and stock Let
me briefly explain the urgent necessity Of
this legislation. This railroad runs about
ninety miles through the State Of Mississip-
pi, along the seacoast. The chief, and most
lucrative business Of this region is in graz
ing cattle, sheep and horses The people are
generally poor, and most Of them are largely
dependent upon their focks for support
and existence. Nearly all the railroad
trains pass over this region at night, and at
high speed. The engineers are very reck-
less Of the destruction Of stock, and even IN
broad daylight, many ofthem, when seeing
cattle aiar off make no effort TO avoid killing
them. The destruction Of stock by this
road is consequently, large and constant.
If this Company would pay promptly, and
even approximately the value OF stock
killed, the sufferers could buy other cattle,
and be partially Unidentified. But speak
from personal knowledge Of this railroad
company ever since its organization, when
say that IL never has paid promptly, fully,
or fairly for its destruction Of property, and
"a rule it has paid nothing al ALL a few
days ago, Mr.. Theo. Moran, of this
county told me that this railroad
had killed 15l head Of his cattle, and had
paid paltry sum for twenty.one Of them,
and nothing at all for the remaining 1871
head. He, alone, has suffered an uncom.
pensated destruction of his cattle to the
amount Of 81 500 / have, myself made
repeated appeals to the managers of this
road from the head TO the tail of them)
using every argument that ought to reach
men having either honor, honesty, sense or
self.respect, but all of these have been una.
valing Then resorted TO the courts, and
always beat them before the courts, and oh.
tanned judgment, but when a sheriff or con-
stable goes TO levy upon property, they
manage to bully intimidate, or buy him
up, and thus audacously and insoently
defy the execution OF the laws now have
many executions in the hands of sheriff.
and constables, and propose to try what
virtue there is in the laws OF this State, in
such cases. But the plaintiffs in execution
are not able 10 engage in the protracted,
yexatious litigation, by which this concern
seeks 10 despoil them of their property
And the same conduct has been exhibited
! towards all other local creditors, aud from
| Mobile to New Orleans the courts are full
Of unsatislied judgments against this com
pany, This road is doing very heavy and
lucrative business, and many officials are
''ieatherng their nests" from its income.
Yet under the cover ofan old mortgage of
four millions ofdollars, all other creditors
are swindled to pay, as is pretended, the
foreign bondholder
And now in behalf of an OUTRAGED people,
! appeal to the House of Representatives to
pass the Senate bills, and give our people a
chance to pursue their lawful vOcations
which they cannot now do without heavy
losses, win the Legislature of Mississippi
longer permit such an outrage upon her
people, and leave their property and their
pursuits to be destroyed by the mere waa-
t0nness of dangerous, destructive, and ir-
responsible organization? | hope not, and
when this and other such bills come up for
voting, let the ayes and noes be called, and
every representative face his constituents
on the record he shall make, that the
people may know their friends on this vital
question.
As an assurance of the good faith in
which these statements are made, | publish
this, over my genuine signature, and l am
ready to furnish the proof to any "doubt-
ing Thomas"
Ben LANE PosEY.
BAY ST.. LOUIS, MISS, Feb. Goth.