The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-01-25

almost double the original cost of
construction. This has been under
taken continues in spite of the
inacial distress. The work of inn
provement contemplates an eXpendi-
ture almost equal to the estimated
cost of the Panama canal which has
the advantage of being backed by the
strongest and richest government in
the world.
Three months ago the road was bu-
| ried in business. Now here are
more idle cars and surplus engines
than there was a shortage a few
months ago, INT the company is now
searching for business.
Without the help of the public the
| speaker declared the railroad cannot
accomplish its part of what is needed
by both parties. Our interests he
said. are intensely identical. Restore
the credit of the railroads. 1t is al
most impossible now for us to borrow
money for improvements, because
the people, the legislatures and ma
tional officials have discredited the
railroads. Texas alone has ninety
laws regulating the operation of rail
roads-and it is much the anne in
other states. You people of New Mex
leo have been a little kinder to us.
You didn't pass any laws that hurt
us at the last session of our legis-
l%ature."
Mr.. Turner referred to a recent
California case, in which he asserted
that IAN oversight n blunder of a
clerk caused a fine of $33O,000 to be
assessed against the Santa Fe. There
are so many laws the railroads can't
watch them all. 1t is the duty of the
people. said Mr.. Turner, to elect men
to the legislatures who will look af-
ter the interests of the corporations
as well as the interests of those of
private persons and companies. The
railroads hould have the same posi-
ton in the courts as other persons.
1t is as bad to steal from a railroad
as from any other person
as from anyone else. Railroads make
mistakes as well as other people, and
the laws should be simplified INC
made SO plain that the public as we'll
as railroad men might understand
their mutual obligations and duties.
AS for railroad tariffs, he confessed
that he could not understand them
himself. They were prepared by men
higher up. and his duty was to carry
them into effect so far as possible on
his own division.
The disagreement between the pub
lie and the railroad officials is not a
question of robbery, but of getting
together and keeping out of disputes
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. When the business men of
Roswell and other Pecos Valley
towns went before the Interstate Com
merce Commission in the recent hear
ing at Amarillo, Mr.. Turner said they
made some statements that did not
agree with his notions. That hearing
didn't do as much for the railroad as
he had hoped it wouli-but he would
only ask that the business men do
not invite the Interstate Commerce
Commission to come again. He would
be pleased to confer with the Com
mercial Club and adjust matters with
out litigation if possible.
As for train schedules, Mr.. Turner
asked if it were not better to have
a little delay now while the track is
being rebuilt, and have it all over
with, than to follow the plan of some
railroads in rebuilding only ten miles
If track a year. There are four nun
dred miles of track on this
branch of the Santa Fe that will be
re-laid within the next ten months
Dr. a "a after which delay on that
account will be permanently elimi-
mated. Speaking of daylight trains,
Mr.. Turler said it was impossible to
run all the way from Chicago to Ros-
town along the ines daylight service.
They must run through some towns
at midnight and other hours of night.
The time of arrival in Roswell jepen-
ed on the time trains were started
from Amarillo. If trains were run
so as to reach Amarillo early in the
informing. then Roswell might be Civ
len a daylight train, but that was be-
yond his control.
No hunting OF trespassing allowed
or the Slaughter Farm mws-tf.