Bryan morning eagle and pilot. (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1909, 1909-03-28
BRYAN. TEXAS, MARCH rs. 1909
WHICH IS THE pEsroR?

the Immense debt OF gratitude tina
the people OF Texas owe TO the rail
roads and the injustice OF requirin.
them TO bear their part OF the bur
den OF government or TO be subjected
10 any kind OF restriction to which
they object. The other side OF tn,
case Is presented by Georris
newspaper the Atlanta Journ q,
which looks at the matter from a dis
interested point OF view The Jour.
nal says
That the state OF Texas has not
been inimical to the railroads In the
past Is fact which does not admit
OF dispute. The effort Is made In
certain quarters occasionally TO ere.
ate the impression that legislation In
the Lone Star state has been radical.
but a well informed correspondent OF
the New York Times, in correcting
some OF the misconceptions for which
that newspaper is responsible. gives
US some highly interesting facts aud
figures.
Cornelius Raby, the correspond, IT
In question. takes the position tina.
II would be difficult and indeed i'm
possible for the Times or anyone else
to establish that the decrease IN rail-.
road earnings In Texas during 1905
may with justice be attributed to any
other cause than the depression that
was shared alike by all commercial
and industrial enterprises.
II will come as surprise to a great
many people, no doubt. to learn that
the state OF Texas daring the past
nifty years. in order to encourage rail.
road building. has SURVEYED cut the
public domain and transferred IN Tee
TO the railroads the stpprnduu,
amount OF thirtyiour million acres OF
land. which is equal 10 three-qusrt--s
OF the area OF Pennsylvania. or ten
thousand acres for each mile OF rail.
road constructed
II was understood that this land
was 10 compensate for the risk OF
construction In advance OF actual q
mand
These lands. we are told az their
present assessed value are worth
more than an the other railroad prom.
erty In the state. including equipment
SO that The railroads have o. c.a5.
gain OF all moneys taken In. above
the actual running expenses
"Ou which side is the deb, o. graf.
itude?" Mr. Rabby asks. ana c1atn. /
ulng be- says
II Is an absurd mistake t1 .up1r,. .
that Texas Is hostile DO railroads. or
TO any corporation thar exists for a
proper purpose. ami operates Ia con.
iormity with the laws OF jhe state.
II Is apparent 20 every caasoniue 4
mind that the upbullJins %. railroads
has tremendous share In the mo.
building OF a community. The legis.
lators OF Texas are men OF intslu. II
gence and are not blind 10 thi. truth. n
What they do insist upon l. strlc. I
observance OF statutes enacted 10 In.
sure the safety OF the travelling nnb-
lie. and compliance with certain con.
stitutionsl provisions against trusts.
pool monopolies aud other agree
nents In restraint OF trade" In Texas
he Legislature controls the trusts.
Ind the trusts have failed. as Vet.
o control the legislature. think
Texas has set splendid example
or the rest OF the nation in securing
uniorm enforcement OF her laws.
nd wholesome respect Tor her
judiciary. even from powerful cor.
Grafton that is reputed elsewhere
o have bought the courts and con.
rolled the legislature.
While We have no other reason Tor
assi1g along this valuable inform1.
on than a regard for tae truth. still
correc,s an erroneous oniai)a Ia
egard To one OF our sigic~ statrs
he great trUrble with the reactories
that they overlook such incidents
) this magnificent donation TO the
ailroads in Texas and remember
lly the laws and regulations TO keep
lie great corporations under control