Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-29
H0GG'S BOOM.
The People Turned Out En- Masse TO
Rear Him Last Night.
Wat lie Rad 70 say Ebout the Railroads and
the Comnission-Ths Kind of Reguls-
ton lie Wants and Why.

the PicEwick, where he was called upon
by numerous of his friends in this part of
the country. Although he has been
speaking almost continuously in differ
ent parts of the state for about six weeks,
making long jumps on the railroads aud
securing sleep and meals very irreguiarly,
yet be bas such robust constitution
that he shows no outward effect of the
unusual exertiOn. He talked afTably
during the day TO all who called to pay
respect to him.
1t was nearly o'clock IN the evening
when the reception committee appointed
by the central Hogg club called for him.
They brought with them Professor Ault's
band of picked musicians, to whose
strains the body marched TO the
opera house. Upon arrival they
found the auditorium pretty well filed
by patient and perspirIng audience.
When Gen. Hogg stepped upon the ros-
trum he was given lusty cheer. The
band filed into the orchestra chairs and
played a selection, after which Mr.. Hogg
spoke. The crowd had been gradually
gathering, and when Judge Boykin
stepped forward TO introduce the famous
commission champion the lower floor
of the house was pretty well
filled and the people were massed thickly
along the walls. The house was not I'M
bearably hot, as the windows and doors
were all thrown open to admit the freshS
air.
Judge Boykin in his few words Of in-
PRODUCTION said he had the honor ana
pleasure of presenting one of the candi<
dates for governor of Texas, Gen,
James S. Hogg. "He is a man
of whom every Texan might
well be proud. From poor boy, he has
worked himself from justice Of the peace
to attorney general of Texas. All his
work has been done IN Texas. Honesty
and blind fidelity to duty In all situa-
tons IN which he has been placed, and
advocacy of principles best suited to the
needs of the people, are his credentials.
The poisoned arrows of bis opponents
have fallen harmIessly at his feet ana
have but served TO swell his popularity.
The next governor of Texas will now ad-
dress you.
Gen. Hogg took some time to get his
his audience wei seated, as there was
lam toward the doors and there was
some difficulty in securing seats for all.
He said he was surprised to see so many
people out, considering the conditions.
II e said he would like TO discuss many of
the minor issues of the campaign, but
would confiue himself 10 the main ques-
tion-that OF railrond commission.
Railroads are public highways, free
for the public convenience, the
creatures of the government
for tho benefit of the public, getting
their life from the government. Dirt
roads were the first great highways.
They grew to macadamizei roads,
then to horse-car lines, then to the rail-
roads of the present day. The
dirt roads were public highways.
hn a rn
trolled by the public, being created for
the public good. In 1929 the first rail-
road was operated in this country, the
first charter having been granted two
years previously, That was in Maryland.
The charter was issued TO the company to
operate a horse car line, but steam motor
was substituted later. It was the line
now known as the Baltimore and Ohio
railway. On the first trip made over the
line with steam motor q wreck occurred,
and the people held an Indignation
meeting and ordered the road to diseon-
tinue the use of the steam engine. That
IS one time the people controlled the
roads certainly. That was the begin
ming of the railroad system of the coun-
try The railroads are still known as
public highways in the courts and con-
stitution. l say this because some peo-
pie want TO make yon believe they are
private property.
There is a liability of SO 600 900 200
upon the railroads of the United States,
while the circulating medium of the civ
ilized world is only IS 800 200, 600.
The national debt 0; this country is
about 81 ,240 600 900. That OF the indi-
vidual states and territories is $500 ,000,
600. The total is So, 100 900, goo less
than the debt of the railroads of this
country.
Texas has about 5000 miles of road OF
one-twentieth of the mileage of the
whole country. Upon these roads i'll
Texas are S26S 900, 900 of INTEREST bear-
ing bonds. The state of Texas herself
only owes about IS, 900 200. Last year
these Texas roads had S28, 900 200 re-
cepts. The state of Texas only raised
81 600, 900 from all sources. The roads
had to pay S26 200, OGO for alleged en-
penses. They paid out S22, 600, 900 more
than it cost TO run this state.
Mr.. Hogg then called attention to
some facts he had discovered with regard
60 tfe alleged expenses Of the roads. One
of the so-called leaders of Democracy III
Texas has made the statement that the
roads in this state cost $40 900 per mile.
They don't cost that much. He
says the roads must make |
6 per cent. over their expenses.
They would have TO earn $40, 900, 900 |
10 do so. suppose the roads only caes4
$50 600 per mile, n 6 per cent. profit
would only mean So. 600 ,0oO. Last year
the roads only got 81 600 900, or per |
ceut on the Investment. That's what |
the railroad advocates say. As matter |
Of fact, the roads in this state only cost |
SIS 200 per mile average. They got 49,
coo 600 acres of land from the state and |
generous bonu es from separate COM !
muaties. Consider these things and you !
find the people OF the state about paid for |
the roads.
The speaker went on 10 show up the |
financial reports of the roads made TO the |
comptroller showing that of the road 3 |
expenses the cost Of new machinery ami /
repairs for last gear amounted to only |
Sl2 900 coo, while Sl4, O0O, 900 was set |
down as miscellaneous. - What does
that miscellaneous mean? 1t is enough |
10 pay per cent. dividends on their 260 /
odd mHliou of bonds
Mr.. HOGg proceeded TO show how in
many instincts Texas roads have been
bonded for far above their actual cost
and then allowed to go TO ruin He |