The Cairo bulletin., 1911-03-16

scented to the city council at its ad
journed meeting tonight:
Cairo, H., March Is, 1911.
To the People and to the City Coun,
Gil of Cairo:
In connection with the Cairo G.
Thehes Railroad Company contro.
versies We desire to state publicly
that we are in hearty accord with the
efforts which have been made by
Messrs. Becker, White, Lawson,
Johnston and Gallgan to protect and
reserve the rights and interests or
ne city. They have for months been
insisting that a contract made with
them by the Louisville & Nashville
Railroad Company be performed.
That contract provided that the Louis
lille & Nashville and the Cairo &
hebes should always stand ready to
i've the use of the Cairo & Thebes
Dad to other railroads whenever ;ney
Night desire it, TIE contrac. has
cen arbitrarily violated, not only by
he Louisville & Nashville, but by the
1t. Louis. Iron Nc lntain & South.
IN.
These railroad companies have fin.
llT realized that the people Of this
community were up in arms at the
FutFage sought to he perpetrated up.
IN them. On yesterday a statement
as pre- nted to tie public TO the
feet that the Iron Mountain was
'illing to lease tie property to Other
ailToads, while under tie agreement
made by the L. & n. the Iron Noun
ain has no roNsr whatever to dc
his.
It does not appear that the civ
las any right under the city ordi.
nance to insist on the preservation
u the Cairo & Thebes road as an On.
N highway. The ordnance only
provided that the property should NOT
oe leased to any road which then had
terminal facilities in Cairo 1.ne
Iron Mountain certainly had sueh -.
cilties and under the terms of tho
ordinance cannot even use tho rron
'rty Jointly with other roads
The Frisco is the road we wart
mere. We have had the Iron Noun.
tain for years. The Frisco couIi NOT
be given the right to use the Cairo
x Thebes by virtue of any rhserva.
tions in the city ordinance. II has
and can only acquire that right unler
the contract made by the l.. & ~
with Messrs. Becker, White. lawson
Johnston and Galllgan.
We earnestly urge tY, city council
TO adopt the ordinance now before il
TO repeal the franchise granted the
Cairo & Thebes. Wipe the slate
clean. Don't allow the Iron Noun.
tain or any of the other railroad com.
'anies which have shown such LITTLE
aspect for their contracts, to offer
'ou any patch work, or to suggest
that the present ordinance should be
amended Repeal 1t and then adopt
/ new ordinance, if you So desire,
preserving the Cairo & Thebes right
OF way not only for the Frisco. but
the Iron Mountain The citys right
to the open Goor should not lepend
upon contract made with Messrs.
Becker, White. Lawson, Johnston
and Galligan. The city should have
It's own contract about this matter
and by adopting the ordinance now
before the council tie city will then
be in position to make fresh start
and pass an ordinance that will not
only preserve the open door, but will
enable the city council to fix the
thrms upon which the Cairo & Thebes
may be used by other railroads when.
ever they desire to come here
We earnestly urge that the people
and city council act on this matter
delay. We should not be
put off by assurances coming from
those who have given little heed TO
orr interests or to their solemn
agreements.
Respectfully yours,
WOOD G. BENNETT CO., per w.
H. Wood, president.
n.KMtcur HEATOM err Pn