Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-09
EXTORTIONISTS.
HOW RAILROAD COMPANIES ARE
IMPOSED UPON.
Some of tho Unjust and Ridiculous Claims
that Are Made for Damages-Objeot
to Get as Much as Possible
VERNON, TEX. Oct. :. 1871.
Editor OF the Gazette.

VERNON, TEX, Oct. :, 1891.
| Editor OF the Gazette.
see very much these days in the daily
| press in regard to railroad eXtortionS, such
| as eXorbitant rates on lumber, grain, etc.
and notice much of this complaint comes
from the Alliance brethren of the sub-treas
ury persuasion.
Now, l am in a position to have personal
knowledge of some of the eXorbitant
claims for damages made by the rural resi-
dents along the lines of the different roads,
in this state.
For ten years 1 have held the position of
section foreman on railroads in Texas.
When stock is killed or there is damages
from fire or personal injuries by accident
that may have been caused by the trains of
the railroad company. 1t is customary for
the party to report the matter TO the section
foreman, who is required by the company
to make a report of the same TO the proper
official on blanks furnished for that pur
pose. 1t is his duty 10 report the facts OF
the case, giving the amount asked by the
party to satisfy said claim. Right here let
me say, that Ill nine cases out of ten the
amount asked for is double the actual dam
ages. and should the company refuse to pay
1t suit is instituted in some rural court.
Judge, jury and witnesses are in sympathy
with the claimant and usually verdict is
rendered for the amount asked for. In
most every case where claims are made
against the railway companies of.this state,
if the claims are reasonable, they are
promptly paid.
During the term of court in this county
great many cases have come under my OBJ
servatiOn that for eXtortiOn, cheek and con-
summate cussedness have few parallels.
One man sues the company for one day and
nights work on bridge, Sll.50, ut the rate
of 80 cents per hour. y boarding house
keeper sues for S4OO, u very excessive
claim. A few days ago party came to me
to report claim for burning an old straw
stack that from investigation | found ut
terly worthless, and would have been burn
ed by its owner. but as the spark from a
railroad engine had started the fire the old
straw pile became very valuable. y citi-
zen turned i broken-dOwn horse out to die,
but he was accidentally killed by an engine
on its railroad. y claim for S65 is at once
put III. Witnesses We're brought forwarde
who testified that he was of little value,
but sympathetic jury gives verdict for
$50
The whole tenor of their suits and claims
seems to point TO the question of getting
all you can out of & railroad, right or wrong.
just so you get it. This great Panhandle
country would not be what it is to-day We're
it not for the assistance rendered by the
Denver road. The farmer can realize SO
per acre for his farm that ten years ago he
could not sell for 81. The advent of
the railroad has made him and
hundreds of his ueighbOrs rich. and for
this. if nothing more, he ought TO deal
honestly and fairly with the agent that has
transformed this country, once devoid of
life into u beautiful and wonderful country
that is destined TO be the granary of me
great Southwest. BE lenient. be reasona-
BILE. my brother First cast the beam out
thine own eye, then thou shalt see clearly
TO cast the mote out thy brothers eye.
c. j. PORTER