Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-03-04
Texas and Her Railways.

texas anu DcT hhiiNdts'
Editor Gazette:
Every true friend of Texas is eagerly
scanning the daily newspapers to
learn whether or not the state legis-
laiure purposes undoing the great and
satisfactory results OF the work OF the
past five years; u work that has
added millions TO the wealth of the
state, and hundreds of thousands OF
good citizens to her population a
work accomplished by the intrepid
capitalists of the eastern and northern
states, who have boldly staked
millions in building railways
into, through and across the
state. These men came III
good faith, at the solicitation
aud at the earnest appeal of the friends
of progress in tue state. They have
reclaimed millions of acres of non-pro-
ducing lands and peopled them with
vigorous, hardy, producing people,
who are daily blessing to their re-
spective localities rs well as 80 the
state nj large. They have regenerated
and reconstructed Texas from the
sloth OF system cngendered by slav-
pedestal OF restored confidence, prog
ton and advancement. These men
have built their roads into what were
considered deserts and where the
amount of business did not suf-
flee to pay operating expenses.
They have placed every portion of the
state within speaking distance and
made common, hitherto far diverging
interests. II is no figure OF speech, to
say that those bands of steel will do
more to keep Texas united, one and
undivisible forever than any other
agency, and how ahhorrent is not the
thought to every. patriotic son of the
grand empire state of the southwest,
that lt"might some day through the
Vaccinations of demagogues, be cut
up into two or more states.
An era of unparalleled prosperity
now blesses the people of Texas. I'M
migration of the right kind is
pouring in constantly, capt.
tai eagerly seeks it as a
safe, inviting and profitable field for
Investment, and her name is no longer
synonymous with the outlawry, crime
and ignorance. Her railway system
IL one of the finest and most compre-
hensivo in the United States, and let
us not forget that it was during the
dark days of lST9-S0 and 81 that
great portion of this was built, giving
employment ut renunerative wages to
thousands of men who had totally
failed in making crop. When ev-
eryone was discouraged and disheart-
ened with the outlook these men of
money stepped in and redoubled their
expenditures, showing that they ut
least had not lost faith in Texas.
In view of these facts, it seems
strange that men of standing, men
who represent intelligent Democratic
constituencies, should put forward and
advocate measures of SO suicidal ma
ture as those proposed in the now no
torious Chenoweth bill. That gentle
mans unfair advantage taken of Gov.
Brown in refusing to permit him on
behalf of the vast interests which he
represents, to cross examine witnesses,
! Introduce rebuttlng testimony, etc, in
a case involving millions to the de-
PENDANTS and an alleged grievance only
to the plaintiffs, has filed the
hearts of all true American
citizens with indignation and
rendered odious II measure that
might otherwise have been regarded
in different light.
| Other states, farther advanced than
| Texas Is, have experimental with the
selt-same problem and they have sig
nally failed to accomplish the end
sought. Other states will donbtless
experiment again, but the result will
be the same disheartening failures.
True fat offices will he created and
titles Will be bestowed on some one. A
vast amount of money will he squan-
dered, but the evil--if there be any
Will still remain to the end OF
time If they are to bt
remedied by legislative enactment
COMPETITION
is the only true solution Of the much
talked OF abuses OF power by railroad
companies, but the Chenoweth and MI
that illl of absurd and in Ignorance be-
gotten legislation will efiectually pre-.
+ clude the possibility of such thing
for what man of sound judgmen,
would invest money in building rail
ways into state whose laws are hos
tile, illiheral and unfair?
Railroading, like the state of Texas
is ms yet only in, its infancy. Tn,
{ state needs thousands of miles o.
trunk lines and branches, as vet, in
: order that all sections ma,
, enjoy the same privileges ans
r advantages, but these will not be built
e II any hostile legislation Is enacted
l especially ms the great northwest anC
/ far west is welcoming with open arm,
I and liberal laws any and every rail
: way enterprise that presents itself.
o IeNas cannot nOw--and she never
: can-ailort to indulge in legislation a
. THIS nature for We're the bill in question
: TO become law, she would lose fal
/ more than the railway inasmuch a,
f me grand march OF Improvement ane
t the err ofdevelopment from which 5,
!, much Is expected, would then ant
If lhere come To fun sion
Capital would seek better mn,
g less hostile fields and tb,
golden tide of immigration, superin
: uuced 10y the railways, would natural
d ~ How into less favored naturallv~bu
o more liberal and enlighted on the sub
v lect OF the rights of locations
Tor these reasons do the enIiyhtnn
ed eiti2ens of Texas demand that n,
hostile or unnecessary legislation Il,
INDUCED In by It's representatives n
the state capital. II. O. Il. EpHoINd :