Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-03-27
WI. WV rAKE Irg

In easy reach Of Fort worm tAei''V-
fore the question has always been, can
we get roadg The question now is,
will we take the Rock Island?
At the conference on Saturday the
citizens made a proposition to the Of
ficials Of the road which was accepted
by the latter. It now remains for the
people to ratify or repudiate the action
Of the committee, which after long and
laborious effort has at last succeeded in
getting the matter In this simpli6ed
shape.
Two days were granted for the COM
mittee TO consult the people. One should
be sufficient. If Fort Worth has
1.-THE Of It's ancient energy It wiz sieze
with aMdity upon this opportunity to
become the Southwestern terminal Of
one Of the largest railroad systems in
the west--a system reputed to be one
Of the most important factors In de-
yelopement wherever les lines run.
As we explained yesterday, the pro-
posal by the citizens committee was that
Fort Worth should furnish the road
the rghtof-way from the Tardnt
county line into Fort Worth for speci-
fed sum; that sum is the amount at
which the road values the right-of-
way. II is asking for no subsidy, but
contends that some Of the landowners
place fictitious values upon the right-cf-
way through their properties. This
claim Is generally admitted to be correct.
The road declines to fight its way in
by resort to condemnation proceedings,
and II declines to pay fancy prices for
real estate, but It is willing, at the in
stance Of the citizens themselves, TO pay
gross sum TO them, which il believes
to be fair price for what It requires,
aud to let them adjust as they please
the differences with the landowners.
The total amount Of the discrepancy
between the figures of the road and Of
the landowners is $4,000 1t Is be-
lievcd that the greater part Of this
amount will be provided for by reduc-
lions In appraisemcnt by the landowners
Of the value Of the right-of-way. Ii
goes without saying that In many in
stances this is far above its market
value, and It Is hardly necessary TO add
that in buying the right-of-way, in the
public interest and ON the public response
bility, the people will not pay any fancy
! prices for IL. The committee ON right-ot-
way has no time TO waste, aud when i
* clear that negotiations viii not re-
suit in reasonable price upon land, in
should pass ON and leave the matter to be
unrayelled by condemnation proceedings
The man who attempts 10 dig down
into the public purse in search of d
premium for permission for n great rail
road TO enter Fort Worth is fit subject
to relegate to the consideration Of {
Jury Of taxpayers and subscribers tC
the cause Of Fort Worth.
A guaranty fund is necessary, not fol
the railroad but to induce citizens e
make the bond for right Of way whicl
the road requires. In selling the RICH
OF way, the citizens win sell something
that they have yet to buy, aud the road
of course, requires substantial benz
for the ful6llment Of the contract. Thi
can be made II sufficient guarant
fund is raised to indemnify the signer
Of Il. 1t will be conditional sui
scriptiou, and the prospect is that Lu
IA small sum, If anything at all, wi
have to be paid upon it. IL will be use
merely to make up the difference,
any, between the amount received fror
the road for the right-of-way and ia
cost Of 1t.
The name of every citizen Of FoI
Worth almost in day for branc
subscription, without a moments hes
tation. 1t is roll Of honor.
Remember, how a subscription q
$4,000 cold cash, was raised by Foi
Worth almost in day for brauc
railroad, and remember that the citizen
have undertaken in this instance wba
should be the easy task Of getting
great trunk line into the city at
reasonable cost.
Let The Gazette say ON Wednesdo
morning that the Rock Island Is secures
/
THE t. r. A.
Bort Worth can yypIi afford 70 aNtQn