The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-27
MAJOR E. W. CAVES ADDRESS.

MAJOR e. ". CAVES ADDRESS.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee
on Internal Improvements:
1t was my privilege to appear before your
committee about year slice, i'll connection
with Colonel Jordan, general manager OF
the Houston & Texas Central railway, with
which we are connected, in behalf of its in
terests and those of the railroads of Texas
The bills then pending were, like those now
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 prcrogatives
and II desire not to intrude upon yourdellb-
erations, led us TO wait the first few days OF
the session before asking this privilege. In
thanking you for according it, permit me Mt
the same time to express the regret that
the public interests have seemed, i'll 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 a season o! extraordinary cotton crop.
and almost continuous rains, during Its
early movement to market. The always
land among them our own, pushed to their
utmost capacity, had not been
able during wet weather and amid
great scarcity Of labor TO keep
the roads up 10 as high standard of
repair as was desired, but the legislature, in
view of the difficulties under which many OF
the railways were Iaboring-the infancy OF
some the shattered finances of others, the
fact that none had been able to declare divi-
dends, the apparent necessity for some
freedom of action respecting competitive
rates, and the interests of our centers of
trade as 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 and needed more rail-
roads TO develope her waste places and ey-
tend population into her territory, then
unproductive. feel free to congratulate
YOU, gentlemen, on the wisdom of the
course pursued, and to, say that, at
least so 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
~
standard of public expectation. Over one
million three hundred thousand
dollars have been spent in the
last fifteen months i'll steel
rails, creosoted ties, ballasting and other
Improvements Of that property in addition
to the usual expenditures Tor ordinary
maintenance and repairs. About 700 new
freight cars have been added to its stock OF
transportation material. The Texas Cen
trail railway has been extended to Albany,
in the centre of Shackleford county, dis
lance OF 1877 miles northwest of Waco, and
lis northeastern branch is now under con-
tract to the Hunt county line, with a view
of further extension to the northeastern
border of Red river, and measures are in
progress for the extension OF the Central
Texas q Northwestern railway from WaXa-
hache TO the northwestern border. Every
effort in the power of the management has
been put forth to meet the public demand
for 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, naz ard the statement that the great
mass of the people do not demand action at
your hands which will make further i'm
proyemenJ anu 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 were
pushed rapidly forward and new railroad
lines were inaugurated. The Texas Pacific
railway has been extended to FL Paso.
The Southern Pacific railway was
finally located through our borders
via San Antonio, aud touching the tide
water of the Mexican Gulf on the shortest
line 10 the Pacific will be completed this
fall. The confidence of capital, which had
been checked, returned and IFS Golfers we're
opened TO Texas. Over 500 miles Of rail-
way whose progress would have been inn
peded II not paralyzed, have been con-
structcd. Products and business were
stimulated until the movement By railroad
increased from 2l94 ,004 tons in 1850. 10
1924. 492 tons for 1881; while the entire rail-
road earnings were only increased from
81, 3s3, 7Sl.3l for the year ending septem-
Der 30. 1850, 70 SIS Oh ass 80 for the same
period in ISL. Thus showing an increase
in tonnage Of 80 per cent, with total in
crease of earnings from all sources Of but
31l per cent The taxable wealth Of the
state for 1881 is 1851 600, 900. showing an in-
crease from September 80, lss0, Of S3s,09,-
3Gl. aud the sd yalorem tax, DOtwithstaDd-
ing the one-iitth reduction made by the
legislature, is through the advance in val
ut.s aud the increase In occupations within
slG6 Si3lGS of the amount realized In 1880.
state lands are nov being sought for until
legislative action u invoked 10 keep the
public domain from being absorbed at
prices which few years since would have
been deemed eNiravagant. Emigration.
foreign aud este, Tor q long time
checked, has nov under the IN
huence Of good fortune 10 those
who have pioneered The way, faithful
advertising. systenafized movement aud
extremely low rates by railroad lines com
M need 70 flSw % orr border Under the
influence q the vast expenditures made in
railway Improvement ans construction, the
effect Of The worst crop ever known In the
history Of Texas agriculture hns been 80 far
a. the people are concerned. % q great er-
tent overcome. Confidence hes maintained
values. These facts are appealed 20 as an
eTi1ence that no dressing weight bears
d0un our industries, but that state and
people alike are floating hopeful and serene
on the incJming tide Of prosperity
The railroad Interests Of this state may
claim that they have SHARED, On large de-
cree IN proI1uciuE fhess benetcenf re-
snlts They also cain thar the burfheus
u she rresent rleriod h1rt falIer On them
- - larrs . decree 1hat theT should have
tine % rscuuerale before beng caIIef upon
- make sacrifres. n such b neceszary f1r
he public good. and espenallT Elen sncn
snrrIfr.s may invite cls1stsr. IneT CO..
til IL hnf a rirf. - eruerf ~ The res1Ii -
Re- srtra0rdinEryr rr,en diturss rna1e during
IIIe srrinr. snmnn M e.r = al cf ~ -
~ their roads in ne bef r.osz'oIs CO..
Iif.un ard provide additional fransp0re-
.i1r nnte1sl. and rrsb thsIr Inss f1-rrr1.
81 reunuernf ,rf buEreg wDrI1 blow
81 fI.er have fern fiaarrrirteL Ins
I-1afs sff,s cros - o1it11fnl cerr1l1 has