The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-04-26

turning with hard, repressiye legislation
upon those who have done 80 much, and
are willing to do more, for the greatness
and glory of Texas.
MAJOR y. W. CAVES ADDRESS.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee
on Internal improvements;
1t was my privilege TO appear before your
committee about year since, in connection
with Colonel Jordan, general manager OF
the Houston & Texas Central railway, with
which we are connected, in behalf of its in
teresis and those of the railroads of Texas
The bills then pending were, like those no
before you, far.reaching in their character
and affected the very life of the interests
partly under our management.
The grave consideration then given to the
subject and the attention paid to the argu.
ments made by the representatives OF the
various railway lines led us to believe that
after your committee had itself fully exam
ined the various railroad bills in its hands
there would be reasonable time accorded
for the presentation of the views of those
| connected with railway management.
a feeling OF respect for your prerogatiycs
and desire not to intrudc upon your deIib.
erations, led us TO wait the first few days OF
the session before asking this privilege. In
thanking you for according il, permit me at
the same time to express the regret that
the public interests have seemed, in the
| legislative view to be SO pressing as
to preclude delay in the consideration of
the important question of passenger rates.
| We came before you last session follow
ing season OF extraordinary cotton crop,
| M al 4. \.
early movement TO market The railways
land among them our own, pushed to their
utmost capacity. had not been
able during wet weather aud amid
a great scarcity Of labor to keep
the roads up to rs high u standard OF
repair rs was desired but the legislature, in
view OF the difficulties under which many OF
the railways were laboring-the infancy OF
some, the shattered finances of others, the
fact that none had been able to declare diyi.
dends, the apparent necessity for some
freedom OF action respecting competitive
rates, and the interests of our Centers OF
trade rs against those of other states
deemed, in ITS wisdom, that non-acton was
the best policy.
Texas was Just commencing to invite the
attention of capital, aud needed more rail.
ronds to develope lier waste places and OK.
tend population into her territory, then
unproductiye. | feel FREQ to congratulate
you, gentlemen, on the wisdom of the
course pursued and to say that, at
least 50 far rs the roads with which we are
connected are concerned, the assurances
then made have been fully met. The
effort has been made to bring the Houston
" Texas Central railway up to the
standard otpublic expectation. Over ont
million three hundred thousand
dollars have been spent in the
last fifteen months in stccI
rails, crcosoted lies, ballastng and Other
improvements of that properly in addition
to the usual expenditures for ordinary
maintenance and repairs. About 700 new
freight cars have been added TO its stock OF
| transportation material. The Texas Cen
trnl railway has been extended to Albany
in the centre of Shackleiord county, II dis
lance OF lSi miles northwest OF Waco and
! its northeastern branch is now under con.
tract to the Hunt county line, with n view
of further extension TO the northeastern
border of Red river, and measures are In
progress Tor the extension of the Central
Texas Il Northwestern railway from Wayu.
hachie TO the northwestern border. Every
effort in the power of the management has
been put forth to meet the public demand
Tor prompt, safe, economic and proper
movement of freight and passengers. The
other railroads OF the state, stimulated by
the same.deSire, have made like efforts, and
although know that complaints are still
rife, ! hazard the statement that the great
mass OF the people do not demand aothnn M
your hands which will make mrthe- i'm.
provcmcnt and extension impossible or
destroy the hope Of remuneration. The
conservative spirit Of legislation has at no
time borne richer fruits than Immediately
following the adjournment of your last ses.
sion. Enterprises then IN progress we're
pushed rapidly forward and new railroad
lines were inanguratcd. The Texas Pacific
railway has been extended to III paso,
The Southern Pacific railway was
finally located through our borders
via san Antonio, aud touching tho tide
water Of the Mexican Gulf on the shortest
line to the Pacifv will be completed this
fall. The confidence Of capital, which had
been checked, returned and its Golfers were
opened to Texas. Over 500 milos OF rail
way whose progress would have been I'm.
peded u not paralyzcd, have been con.
structcd, Products and business, were
stimulated until the movement by railroad
increased rom 2,lol,Wl tons IN lSS0, TO
3,Bl ,l02 tons Tor 1881; while the entire rail.
road earnings were only incroascd ,rnm
u,3S,1Sl 81 for the year ending Septcm.
Der 30, 1850, TO SO 022, 1850 for the same
period In ISL. Thus showing an increase
IN tonnage of 40 per cent, with total In.
crease of earnings from all sources of but
oil per cent. The taxable wonlth Of the
state Tor 1881 Is $35I 100000. showing an IN.
crease rom September 30, 1850, of SaS.OsD,.
foi, ana the sd yalorcm tux, notwishsiand.
,nE ,ne one-ilith reduction made by tho
,oswla,ute, y through the advance IN val.
Sied " ~ , n increase In occupations Within