The Van Buren press., 1899-01-21
RAILRoAp CHARTERs.


Our statutes in relation to granting
charters TO rallroau corporations are
entirely too liberal and afford too much
opportunity for irresponsible parties
TO obtain these valuable privileges and
hold them to the detriment of the state
and against others who might really
wish TO construct railroads.
| recommend a complete revision and
amendment Of these statutes so as 10
put proper limitation upon the power
of any one who may wish TO obstruct
the construction of these valuable ar
teries of commence and trade. A board
consisting of all the executive
slate officers should be created. whose
duties If should be to inspect all ar
ticles of association for railroad in
corporation and all preliminary sur
Yeys. maps. etc, filed Herewith End
approve the same before they shall be.
come etfectual, and it Should be in
vested with full power to 1fsapproYe
any. which in the estimation of tine
board, would not be for the states
best interest | commend the matter
to your careful consideration.
STATE RAILROADS.
At the extraordinary session of the
general assembly of 1891 an act was
passed to create a state board au-
thorized TO locate, establish survey,
build, and operate state railroads and
telegraphs, to provide the manner for
raising revenue for such purposes and
to provide penalty for misapproprat-
ing money and for other purposes
This is commonly known as the BUSH
Bill" In my judgment no more i'm
portant bill for the best interest of
the state was ever devised. but un-
fortunately the act as passed is de-
feetive IN falling in the most of its
sections 10 clearly express the inten-
ton of the legislature The board
created by the act has diligently en-
deavored since its passage to contract
with parties having sufficient financial
ability TO construct railroad from
the state capital in northerly direc-
tion through those counties most need
ing a railroad but thus far has been
unable 10 accomplish the purpose, be-
cause of the imperfections of the act.
Another objection to the act is that it
fails TO grant power 10 the board to
lease the road when constructed. 1t
Is urged by capitalists that the state
cannot properly operate a railroad. be-
cause with each change oh administra-
tiOn there comes a change of manage
ment of the railroad, and because ii is
too likely to get into politics. This was
the experience of the state of Georgia,
which built and has for many years
owned the Atlantic and Western Rail
read I'm that state. A few years ago
the Georgia legislature changed the
policy and authorized the leasing
of the road, since which time ii has
become remunerative and very profit
able to the state, bringing in the sum
of $3.50 per month. or $42000O per
year, for a line Of railroad only 13S
miles long. | therefore recommend
that you amend the Bush Bill' so as
to make It's provisions definite and
certain and authorizing the board to
lease any road when built II proper
express condition that such lease shall
not be made TO any person, persons, or
corporation having owning, using, or
controlling any parallel or competing
line on lines Of railroad. | also recon-
mend that the bill he further amended
so as 10 clothe the board with full
power TO sell or dispose of any land
belonging TO the state, any part Of the
smallest legal subdivision If which lies
within twenty miles 0nstead Of twelve
miles as now provided. OF the track
of any railroad SO built | will, If de.
sired. submit 20 any committee, or
committees. OF your body the amend
mcnts which think necessary 10 he
made 20 the bill. II YOU shall adopI
these recommendation | feel well as
sured that the board will have no
difficulty in building and equipping all
the railroads which the state may
need. I have given a great deal of
care and attention to this subject and
feel no hesitation In saying that this
De- an extremely important measure
for the states best interest. 1t is
matter of such public notoriety that
you need hardly be told that what Is
known as the Missouri Pacific Rail
road Company has such complete
monopoly Of the railroad interests OF
cur state that 1t has been impossible
o. induce capitalists 10 invest their
money ia railroad huilding here but I
am advised that they are willing 10
furnish money for building railroads
10 be owned by the state. They fully
understand that the state is more DOW
erful than any corporation created by
it and that u can cope with any such
corporation. nu matter who owns or