Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-14
Railroads.


Tho people of this portion OF Tcxns are
more prosperous than they have been nj any
time since n was invaded by the railroads.
Every one has money TO spend ana 70 spare
The above Is from the Terrell Star
and while II has doubtful meaning
we are inclined to put the best CON
struction on II and infer that by the
advent of the railroads the condition
Of the country has been benefited.
]. is gratifying to note the healthy
decrease i'm the war which has been
waged ON railroads in Texas by the
croakers and anti-progressive hypo-
chondriacs. When railroads or other
corporations become oppressive TO the
people ii is time enough to OPP
pose them, but when the life
not only of the country but actual
sustenance of its people comes direct
from these corporations, 1t occurs to us
as decidedly impolitic and unwise to
strangle such II bcnefactor. 1t is a
notable fact that only those portions of
country through which railroads
pass are showing encouraging
signs of improvement and
development, and the public is aware
that milliens OF dollars have been ex-
pended by these roads to develop
growth In localities from which not
cent was realized for many years.
When the matter eliminates in n
fight between the rights of the people
and corporations, the GAZETTE will
be with the people, and when by en-
couraging the development Of
the country and the in
vestment of capital for the
benefit OF the people, it IL still with
them, for in so doing ii Is working di-
rcctly for their interests, Their inter
encouraging every enterprise which
will be Il practicable benefit to them
This state Is surely not suffering
seriously under the yoke of any
so-called grinding monopolies, and the
sooner the sound Of the steam engine
aud whistle Of the locomotive is heard
all over her vast domain, so much the
sooner will she take her place In the
category of advancement and civiliza-
ton. This incipient form of socialism
and communism which is clamor-
ing ut the throat Of industry and clog
ging the wheels of commerce
IL the hybrid competitor of progress
and the illegitmate offspring of igno-
rance and bigotry. If the construc-
ton of railroads and other industries
tended to check the growth
of a country and prevent
the influx. of people TO its
confines; if such evidences OF pro-
gress and civilization acted like u
plague in frightening away all who
feared contagion, then 1t would be
proper to throttle such progress. The
| NushriYe 1msricun, in speaking
of the railroad question in
Texas, very sensibly observes;
| Last winter Texas passed law limiting
| passenger rates ON railroads 20 three cents
| mile. IL has teen seen since,th this is In
adequate In u state as thiniy settled as in
! Texas, and whore such great distances are
travorsed by II train with Ycry limited
local patronage. Asa consequence, II Is said,
OF this law, the various railway improve.
mcnt companies which had been construct
| Ing extensions of the GoULDs system OF rail.
/ ways In Texas have ceased operations aud
| closed thcir offices, These are now waiting
| for the repeal or modification OF the three
cents mile restriction. The moral of this is
/ NtFininiX will al a fnV la tat,isI In
| ture 10 pass hastily constructed laws 10 reg
ulate, as they term II, the railroads in their
states, There , VA very great CONFUSION in
! proper relations OF tho railroads with the
| public
While the ease May not be rs bad as
stated by our contemporary, it still is
one which merits deep thought and
consideration DO our law makers. The
confusion in the public mind about the
proper relations Of the railroads to the
public, grows out OF the disgusting
howl and cry which is ever enanatiug
from q few demagogues who are
willfully blind or apparently so
to the good results of
railroad construction, and are con-
stantly trying to impress their obnox-
ious and poisonous ideas on the minds
of all who are silly enough to give
them hearing. This class of people
are diminishing very rapidly, how
ever, II affords us pleasure to say, and
their organs and Instruments of sup
port are disappearing one by one. IL
Is very encouraging TO note the rapid
growth of railroads in the face Of
all this opposition. Eleven thou
SAUDI miles Were constructed last
year, and of this number
Texas got over eight hundred miles.
Rates in both the freight and pas
senger service should be regulated only
on the basis OF moral Justice and not
despotioally. Arbitrary power is
most easily established on the ruins OF
liberty abesed TO RIGHTEOUSNESS . is a
maxim which should be needed in the
adjustment of n question of so great
import to new and rapidly develop-
ing country.
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