The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-01-18
RAILROAD RIGHTS AND DUTIES


RAILROAD RIGHTS AND DUTIES.
Speaking of railroads and depots
and terminal facilities, and things.
The Swan Valley and Columbis
Road, (or whatever its name is) the
road leading from Carter's Creek
two miles up the creek valley to the
phosphate mir es of somebody from
somew here, when it asked for the
right to run through the farms and
across the lands of other people,
rested its claims upon the exclusive
right of common carrier, and as
such they took out charter to build
and operate a road from Carriers
Creek to Centreville, in Hickman
county, and the decree of the court
was so entered.
Now when this Railroad Company
asked and was given certain rights, it
also assumed certain responsibilities.
It not only has the right to run its
trains, but it must run them. 1t not
only has right to haul freight for
the public, but it can be compelled
to do so. 1t not only may condemn
other land and build and operate a
road to Centreville, but it may be
made to do so, or else compelled
to forfeit It's charter; the road bed,
rails and ties then becoming the
property of the people through whose
farms it pa SEES.
This road, we are told, does not
run any regular trains, and is not
operated for the convenience of the
public, in the least, but for ex-
elusive convenience of the phos-
phate mines. Its northern term,
inal is near Jameson, but the
people of that neighborhood get no
more benefit than If the road was
not there. There is no depot or
freight shed, there is no public load
ing or unloading yard, there is no
agent or time card to show or tell
| when freight may be shipped or re-
ceived--there is absolutely no SER
vice for the general public.
This is fl tgrant violation of law.
One to which we not only invite the
attention of thu grand jury, but to
| which we wish to add the suggestion
that this being matter in which
the general public more than the
individual is interested, the At
torney General should become the
prosecutor.
| But there is another branch of the
case for one or more of the people
directly interested to attend to
This Company, before it was al
lowed to condemn other peoples
lands for their use, were compelled
to and did agree to construct ano
operate the road clear on through &c
Centreville. They are making no
the slightest effort or move in tha
direction. They have reached theil
mines and stopped. BY their owr
acts they have forfeited their char.
ter, and all that is needed to take
the road away from them and run /
in the interest of the public, is a mo
ton to that eff act before court Of
competent jurisdiction.
The law is plain, the remedy easy
and the right ought to be exercised
We have no pref ldice or feeling oil
spite against this company. We dc
not know who its stockholders are
Bnt the HERALD is opposed to any
corporation getting goods under false
pretenses by condemning private
property for public use and then Us
ing it for private purposes. Suct
proceedings are illegal and immora
and opposed to the general good
and shall not exist in this county il
public exposure can rid our com
munity of them.
The HERALD has crossed tn
Rubicon, and burnt the. bridges be
hind, and set its face dead agains
corporate capital running rough
shod over the rights of the people.
But the people must stand 70
their own. Public exposure by tn
press nor willingness by the court
, to enforce the law cannot accomplis
much, so long as a people are will
ing to be trampled upon. One cour
ageous man at Jameson can d
valiant servics for his people an,
himself. 1t sometimes happens tina
a single individual, brave enough t
, meet the occasion, is OF more servic
to a community than even a gres
railroad company is, in that h
stands for the rights of his peopl
, against the illegal, tryannical an
selfish exercise Of public franchises
{ Such a man is needed now at Jane
, son.
1.-THE people will do their part, tn