The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-21
Tricky Touzalin.

/ former letters. lie starts out by affecC-
ing great solicitude for the people, as
witness the following insolent para
graph:
Il regret, and am sure you will at
later day regret, that gentlemen filling
a high Office in the state should have
written such letter, for it is by just
such incorrect and improper statements
that an honest and intelligent people
have been misinformed and led astray.
1t is just such perversiOns of truth that
have in the past reached the people of
the state, and being uncOntradicted by
the railroads, have been accepted as the
| truth
The people of the State, who are ac-
quainted with the high intelligence and
integrity of Commissioner HUMPHREY,
will know just how much Importance to
attach to the foregoing statements. If
Mr.. TOUZALIN had such clear case as
he pretends to have, he would not con-
tinue his designing appeals to the peO-
pie, but would 90 to the courts for JUS
tice. He threatens to do so, but he does
not. The fact of the matter is, he
knows as well as the people know, that
the Commissioners can successfully de-
fend their position.
Mr.. TOUZALIN says that his road
within Kansas has never done a paying
business. But he says that ''every dol
''lar that has been paid out in the con-
'struction of these auxiliary lines has
"been subscribed by the stockholders,
land their desire to specially develop
kansas has been shown in past years
''by their building auxiliary lines chief
sly and almost entirely in Kansas"
To the clear, sensible mind, this ques-
ton at once presents itself: If the lines
of the Santa Fe within Kansas have
been losing investments, why should
the company build more roads to in
crease its losses? Is sucha generous,
philanthropic course characteristic of
any road?
Mr.. ToUzALIN says that the Santa
Fe has no watered stock. But he
doesn't prove it. He further says that
the company's stockholders advanced
S15, 3O2, 400 during S79-S0-S1-S2, but
he doesn't prove that this money came
directly out of their pockets. On these
points he is beautifully evasive.
He next undertakes to prove that the
Santa Fe within Kansas is operated at
a loss. During the nine years begin
ming with 1874 and ending with 1882,
the total freight earnings of the road
are given at SIS, 4S6, 25O.45. The OPP
Grating expenses during the same time
amounted to $40, 119, 1876; taxes paid,
81, 2S4, 661. 03; Improvements, S13,0S3,-
DOL .37-or total expenditures, $50, 49,
| 1896. He would make the people be-
| lieve that this amount was S5,000,000
more than the receipts, but unfortunate
ly for the success of the showing, he
fails to give the passenger earnings of
the road for the nine years covered.
According to his own figures the show
ing is a monstrous one. Out of its
freight earnings alone, the Santa Fe has
paid its operating expenses, its taxes,
and added nearly $4,000, 900 in inn
provements to it's wealth. This latter
amount, added to the passenger and
other receipts, would seem to indicate
an enormous dividend. 1t clearly dis
proves his statements that the roads
have been operated at loss, and that
the stockholders have advanced money
from their own pockets. The money
that has been advanced has come from
the people in the shape of extortionate
charges.
Mr.. ToULALIN very appropriately
quotes the old adage, that "the greatest
liars on earth are facts when misrepre-
sented, unless it be figures when dis
torted."
The letter closes with these two par
agraphs:
The work of enlightening the people |
on these transportation questions we |
shall push forward. To this end we |
have appointed Mr.. Norris L. Gage to
have special charge of this important
matter. His office will be at Topeka.
He will have access to the books, rec
ords and accounts of the company. The
officers of the road will render him every
assistance in getting at the facts. He
will cordially cooperate with the new
board of railroad commissioners.
The people are invited to confer or
correspond with him. By this.means
and by all others in our power, we
shall endeavor to get to the people in
formation on both sides of the trans
portation question. That is what the
people want. That is what they have ,
not obtained from the old board of hon.
orable railroad commissioners.
Mr.. ToUzALIN evidently intends to
obby the State in behalf of the railroads.
He no doubt expects to receive the SYM
oathy of the people at the polls this fall.
de also looks for aid to the new
commissioner, Mr.. ,GILLETT. He may =
,a< ~ apd no NAV uOf