The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-23
RAILROAD NEWS
Texas Commissioners Answers
President RipIey'S Letter.
He Says Texas Laws Are Not
Hard on Rail Lines.
NOT WARRANTED BY FACTS
Santa Fe Head Accused of
Dodging the Truth.
Other Items of Interest in the
Traffic World.

austin, Tex, July 3-Statements
maze by E. P. Ripley, president of the
neSSnIson' Iopeka & Santa Fe and it's
suDs1diar1es, in letter to the Texas
WeI1are commission on the subject of
the attitude of this state toward rail-
roads has attracted considerable at
eSntIon N financial and business cir
cIeS. Chairman Allison Mayfield of
the Texas railroad commission takes
issue with Mr.. Ripley's statements as
70 the alleged injurious effect which
Lne laws and regulations of this state
nave upon railroads and the construc-
ton of new mileage. In discussing
the subject Mr.. MayfieId said:
Notwithstanding Mr.. Ripley's criti-
clSm OF Texas laws it is significant that
the Santa Fe has built more new nile
age in Texas during the last four wears
tnan any other railroad. 1t is evident
that the Texas laws and regulations
nave not 1nterfered with it's construc-
ton plans. 1t may Oe of interest to
note that the new mileage of the SAN
Ia F'e in this state during the period
mentioned far exceeds it's new con-
struction in any other state through
which the system passes. During the
period from June 80, 1908, to May 80,
1912, according to reports made to the
railroad commission by the Santa Fe,
1t constructed in Texas sos miles of
new road. 1t is rapidly gridironing
western Texas, where wonderful agri-
cultural development is in prospect for
the future. 1t has not stopped it's con-
struction work, as might be indicated
by Mr.. Ripley's letter, but is now
completing an additional 100 miles of
its So-called cutoff line between Lub-
book and TeXicO. 1t has other con-
struction plans for that part of the
state. This new mileage consists of
an extension of 1927 miles to the Pecos
and northern Texas; 80 miles to the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe, from
Lometa to Eden; 81 miles of the Con-
chos, San Saba and Llano Valley, from
Miles to Paint Rock. and % miles of
the Texas and Gulf, the latter being
the only new mileage in eastern Texas
in construction work does not indi-
cate that Mr.. Ripley and the Santa Fe
interests are much disturbed over Tex
as laws and regulations.
Mr.. Ripley says that when he be-
came president of the Gulf, Colorado
iSon subsidiaries, 16 years ago, that
property may have been overcapital-
lied, but if it was it was the result OF
financial methods duly approved by
the state of Texas and carried on I'M
der its laws and auspices This state
ment is not wrranted by the facts, for
the reason that the constitution of this
tains a provision that no railroad
should issue stocks and bonds except
for value received; or, in other words,
that the stocks and bonds should not
be in excess of the actual value or the
property. That constitutional provi-
sion was also embraced in the statute
prior to the enactment of the stock ana
bond law. Under the stock ana pono
law that constitutional provision mas
been enforced. 1t was in effect be-
fore the enactment of this law. but was
not executed