The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-10-31
CALAMITY HowLERs DIsGUsTED

Somehow the Texas political ca
lamlts hovlers can't exactly hit Oft
the facts We have been told that
Legislation Il driving capital from
The state and that material interests
are going TO be bodaciously ruined
all because Texas lawmakers have
tried TO make It uncomfortable for
trusts and " compel railroads to re-
gard their obligations as common
0aprlers. IN
Yet Texas last year acquired more
new railway mileage than any state
in the union and Fort Worth alone
Is now the center OF four railway
projects for which several millions
OF dollars are required and the mon
ey Is actually assured.
Eitber the calamity howlers are
mistaken or the promoters of these
railroads have run across some rich
slmpletons IN the East
TWO lntSrurban railroads are &C
tuaIly under construction between
Fort. Worth and Mineral Wells, and
the responsible men behind each de-
clare that the lines are abundantly
financed Now, Gid r. Turner, head
OF ono Of the interurbans, an
nounces that he has made financial
arrangements to build railroad
from Weatherford to Bridgeport. At
the same time Mr.. James w. Swayne
stands ready with several millions
OF eastern money to build a railroad
from Fort Worth to Roswell, n, NJ,
II tho, land owners along the way
will donate a fair amount of land for
tho great enlargement of the re-
malnder by reason Of the railroad.
Besides authoritative announce
ments made Of a new s250,OO0 life
Insurance company of outside capital
to be organized at Fort Worth, All
told, these Fort Worth enterprises
alone offer to invest more than $1O,-
900. 900, and there are other like
projects actually under way or pend
ing in other parts of Texas.
At the same time, eastern railway
and Industrial enterprises are hedg-
ing In improvements because they
cannot borrow, and Wall street Is In
Mysteries because 1t cannot get cap
ital for lts rotten speculat!ons.
II really seems on the face of the
facts that people with money are
glad OF an opportunity to invest in
Texas. .
The truth is that Texas develop
ment has not been hurt by legisls.
tion. OF, course, there Is no way OF
knowing what might have been un'
der other circumstances, but 1t is
difficult for fair mind to conceive
how Texas could be better off under
the present general financial situa'
ton or obelieve that legislation has
done any substantial harm.
For some unaccountible reason
the things that Texas does in legis
lation attract more attention thar
the same Or similar things done b,
other states
I We we're told that we would be
ruined by our railroad commission
but railroads have gone on building
and progressing until we now have
the greatest mileage in union; and
4 fifteen years after New York estab
fishes aSnublic service corporation
comnIssion that goes far beyond th'
scope OF our railroad commission.
/ We were told that the Robertson
insurance law would ruin us, hui
here comes outside Insurance none!
| to do BUSINESS In Texas.
4 We were told that the equliza
ton Of tax renditlons would result
merely In Increasing taxes. but here
comes the automatic tax board and
| reduces the rate to more than off
set the increase In assessments.