El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-20

mainder is still held by private cor
pOrations.
Mexico's Railway Law.
The railwayela Of Mexico has been
in force for some II years, and ap-
plies to the government-owned lines
as well as the lines owned by pirate
interests No railway law in the
world is said to dictate the conduct
Of railways so much in rinutia as the
Mexican law. Every railway conces-
sion contains the maximum freight
and passenger rates that may be
charged IN conjunction with the
railway law it is provided that even
the changing Of the schedule or the
stopping places Of a train shall not be
made without the consent Of the
government Yet every railway man
ager in Mexico expresses himself as
thoroughly satisfied with the law.
One OF them declared that in all his
railway experience he had never seen
such a satisfactory railway law as
that under which the Mexican lines
operate. He stated that in the II
years of its existence it had demon
strated but one weak point. The law
does not recognize the virtue Of low
rates for virgin territory and will not
permit a railroad TO give a low rate
on a certain commodity in a certain
community, without giving the same
rate on that commodity to every other
community in its territory. For in
stance. some little distance out OF
Mexico City there are some small
lumber districts. The national lines
have opened up new timber territory
in northern Mexico and desire to
make a low rate TO Mexico City, so
that their lumber can enter the city
on equal freight rates with the 1um-
Der originating nearer to. the capt.
tai Yet they cannot do so without
changing every other lumber rate IN
their tariff.
No FavOrs to Government Lines.
It might be supposed that with the
Mexican government owning a con-
trolling interest in one-half Of the
railway mileage OF the republic, its
system would be given preference
over the privately owned lines. But
the contrary is true. Its lines must
compete with the independent lines
on identical terms Every phase Of
the national railway law applies to
the operation Of the national lines as
well as to the private lines Its sys-
tenn cannot be extended without first
obtaining a concession It's building
is scrutinized by government engi-
neers, and when the line is completed
1t must measure up to certain stand
ards before it can be opened to the
use or the public All interstate
roads are built on concessions obtain
ed from the federal government, and
the state governments have no juris-
diction over them. The government
cannot reduce rate during the life
of the concession, except under ex-
traordinary circumstances and even
then it must agree TO indemnify the
railroads for any loss Il may sustain
because of the reduced rates.
Much Railroad Building Now.
The day OF railway extension in
Mexico is by no means past At the
present 1.05S miles are under con-
struction. The Mexico North Western
railway is building a link of so miles
which will give an outlet for 1000, 900
acres of white and yellow pine timber
to the Atlantic seaboard Of the United
States The Kansas City, Mexico
and Orient railway is completing a
gap from San Angelo. Texas, TO San
Sostrenes. crossing the Mexican bor-
der at Preside del Nerte, and another
link from Sanche TO Horneillos. which
will give direct rail connection from
Continued on next pacel