San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-06

4
embankments, all of which work
was demanded by the requirements
of operation; and other improve
ments that were demanded with
the utmost urgency by reason Of
having been ordered by the official
inspector OF the government; the
construction OF additional tanks,
the purchase Of larger boilers and
more powerful pumps for the water
service, the purchase of locomo-
tives and cars indispensable to the
traffic, the establishment Of
wharves, the construction of build
ings necessary for stations, and, in
a general way, all that has served
to place the property in condition
to be managed advantageously has
been done by virtue OF the authori-
ty vested in me by your court, as
well as to comply with the con-
tract entered into with the general
government, who is largely inter-
ested in the improvement of all
railroad transportation lines in the
republic.
When entrusted with the charge
OF this property there was not one
single cent in the treasury. The
company had no credit of any
kind, and was indebted to its en-
ployes for back salaries in the sum
of SOL, 660.17, beside larger
amounts to individuals in this
city, as we'll as to others in the
various states through which the
line extends, and many more in
other parts of the republic and
abroad. 1t will, therefore, be seen
that your intervenor lacked for the
management Of the property en-
trusted to him, cash funds, credit,
supplies, adequate motive power
and car equipment, with the fur
Their disadvantages of an incom-
plete roadbed, weak bridges, in
sufficient buildings, without ma
terial for their repair or construc-
ton, and, as an additional burden,
there existed a large Indebtedness
to its immediate employees and
others. How to administer a
property under these condi-
lions was a question that
very forcibly presented itself.
No aid, either moral or financial,
was received in this difficult situa-
tion from those persons or corpora
tions who claim an interest in the
road either as creditors or bond or
stockholders, with the exception Of
$I5, 900 gold in cash and $l5, 200 in
rails advanced by Messrs. Selig-
man, OF New York, the payment Of
which was guaranteed to them by
certificates of the intervenor, and
some supplies which were furnish
ed from month to month by
Messrs. Hernandez successors Of
this city. The intervenor had, how
ever, to car. out the obligation Of
administering the property under
the gravest responsibility, and 1t
was therefore necessary to exert
himself to the utmost and make
use of both his personal credit as
we'll as that Of his friends in order
to discharge the onerous duties
duties imposed on him, such being
the demand Of the position in
which he was placed and the inter
ests of the property and the re-
spect due the authorities who have
invested him with the faculties OF
judicial administrator.
These conditions having been
perseveringly attained, the situa-
ton Of the property Immediately
changed. The imperfect and I'M
finished track was Immediately
converted into one Of the best rail-
roads in the country; its terminal
tracks and buildings at Tampico,
its wharves at that point, its i'm
proved water service, its additional
locomotives and efficient and ade-
quate rolling stock, its enlarged
round-house, its new building and
machinery for electric light plant,
the renewal of bridges and ties, the
establishment Of additional yards,
the laying of new sidings and
switches, and many other i'm
provements, which may all be
seen by an inspection Of the prop
erty, are the best evidences Of
what has been accomplished under
my administration.
Complying with the duties Of my
trust, 1 have presented with all
punctuality from month to month,
a complete, true and correct state
ment Of accounts, accompanied by
proper vouchers, in support of the
expenditures made, verifying every
dollar disbursed, received as the
result of the operation Of the road,
or borrowed to supply the tempo
rary deficiencies Of revenue; and
it will be very satisfactory to me
if your court would appoint COM
petent, impartial and disinterested
persons to audit and examine the
accounts and acts OF the interven-
tor from the date Of his appoint
| ment To the Dresent time,