The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-05-18
President Bush of the Mo. Pacific
Interviewed.

St. Louis, May 16.-"As soon as w
show that the property warrants tn
expenditure, the Missouri Pacific sys
tenn will have all the money it need
to rehabilitate it and put it in tn
front rank of western railroads,
says B. F. Bush, new president o
Missouri Pacific and Iron Mountain
in the first interview given out sine,
he assumed control of the big Goult
system Of roads.
Mr.. Bush's statement shows tina
the big system has joined the rank.
of the progressive; that the railroad
which stood still while Union Pacific
Rock Island, Santa Fe and Other
western lines were being rebuilt is
now, in turn, to have millions of dol
lars poured into its roadbed, its rol.
ling stock and, in fact, into all its de.
partments.
Mr.. Bush, the new president, is the
moving spirit in the up-building Of
the line and it was because of his
progressiveness that he was chosen
to head the road and lead in the work.
''The relations existing between a
railroad and the people should be
most kindly. The prosperity Of the
railroads depends absolutely on the
people and the prosperity of the peo-
pie depends largely upon the rail-
roads. This kindly feeling can only
be brought about by fair treatment
on each side. If the railroads treat
the people fairly, believe they will,
in turn, receive fair treatment from
the people. A few Of the railroads
have adopted policy of this kind and
some of the feeling against
the big transportation systems is dy-
ing. It is not so bitter as it was three
years ago.
''The public should have something
to say regarding the laws under
which the railroads operate. After
all, the railroads are created by the
public and the public should control
their creatures. When the Inter-
State Commerce commission was
first created and announced certain
rules under which railroads should
operate, there was general outcry
from railroad officials. To a man,
hey opposed the idea of any public
commission interfering in their
private business. We now know
hat a railroad is public, not a pri-
rate business. And some of us have
that the public has a right
o control railroads and other corpor-
ltions. l see from newspapers, that
lanes j. Hill, the Great Northern
recently came out for pub
&c control; President Nudge, of Rock
Stand, did likewise; President Vail
4 American Telephone and Telegraph
ook the very strongest of stands
long that line in his recent annual
eport to his board of directors in
1hich he demanded complete ac-
in the control of public
All those things 60
,wards making good feeling be-
ween the railroads and the people.
Il believe in keeping the public
formed of those matters which con-
ern the public; in fact, the idea Of
ublicity of corporation affairs will
find an advocate in Missouri
acific.
TN the matter of expenditures,
|issouri Pacific is going to get its
loney's worth. There will be no
aste, no matter how many millions
dollars we spend in rebuilding the
I'D. Every cent will be watched,
II for the purpose Of seeing how
tie we can spend, but with the idea
getting full value for our money.
- - l.
Mr.. Bush has just finished his first
licial inspection of the property Of
hich he has charge and his plans {
{ the physical rehabilitation Of the
u are only in the making. When
inpleeed and carried out Missouri 4
lpollc will rank - the equal Of anyly
d west Of tie Mississippi river. 3