New-York tribune., 1908-06-28
RAN FIRST TRAIN NEAR HIS HOME

SO ] was. Got the place through Richard 6
Hayes. afterward a member Of the Atchison Board.
Then was conductor. Ran the first train into
Palestine. second county west OF my old home. in
J Limestone. Became acquainted with Il NJ Hoxie
He sent me to an exhibition in St Louis with Texas
sruits and farm products. Never had been out OF
the state before
After that 1 went TO Atlanta and persuaded
Northern and foreigners looking for locations
10 go into the Southwest. When I was ordered 10
San Antonio TO hustle for freight I hestated, be-
cause ] didn't know the business. Learn. Aoxie
said. I've been in freight more or less. ever since
But here decline further 10 talk about myself
You have 1900 miles Of railway under your per
sonal management said
Il don't like the way you put the question: MI
Yoalxun answered. Men with whom 1 am as
eocated own operate about 1900 miles Of track
which serving eighteen different states, touches
chicago on the East, New Orleans on the South,
Galveston Houston and Brownsville in the South
west Denver and FL Paso on the West and Min
.7eanolis and St Paul in the Northwest
Eight years ago you said you believed railways
should be controlled in part by the government to
rrevent injustice and extortion against the PUBIC
Have you changed your mind?
Take out the word controlled and substitute the
-.o-d rer1lated and I answer that my views are
The same to-day they were then In the mean
time however, needed laws have been passed Re-
fates can no longer be given. approve OF lhe
section in the Hepburn act which makes lhprlSoh-
must now be kept by a uniform system Punhcl'g
M assured through reports submitted TO the Inter
stste Commerce Commission. ] should go no
further at present Let the railways adjust them
selves to the new conditions
.~Tlo Won know that nine million tons of fnlsheo
so, and steel half the product Of all the mills IN
Che oo1Jn+rv were purchased by the railroads In
,aa-q Fully % per cent Of the lumber cut IN our
sorests is sold TO the railroads for cars, engines
t,es and so on. Stop building new lines OF Trans
,o-.a+so- stop extending old ones into new terri
sorz- and stop the manufacture of equipment anu
,,,a-e &c worry little left Of prosperity
A mile Of modern track, not lncluolhg foiline
stock or terminals costs $1,000. Practically IL Is
q, ,.t,o- in one form another. Rails, spikes
.-s bo1ts viii average $3.50 mile The rest goes
sr+o the pockets Of the people Feeu Tor horses
g rc,,rbt of farmers Groceries and clothing are
,o,,rbt of merchants. And then there is the item
re wages for the worknen part Of which is saved
rd NOT snent A hundred miles Of railway In the
,,ai-- alone therefore means the distribution OF
e $4,000 cash on the spot
Aud when the road IS completed and put INTO
,,,eration the money paid for the carrying OF
<,l,. soesn't travel very far but is strung along
- Inc for ore purpose another. My hgures
.,,..a N Texas but fairly representative
z---,..fx and a half cents Of every dollar are
lid 10 The employees OF the railway; mateIlais aic
.,r,rlies cost IT. cents. and the PUBIC gels 81
cents for personal injuries and damage 10 lelshI
ens I'D cents in taxes