The Monett times., 1922-01-20
MAKES PLEA FOR
DEFUNCT RAILROAD
NJ. and n. A. Manager Testifies Be-
fore Representatives of /. c. c. at
Washington.

road, which has offered to resume
operations if the government will ar
range a S3,5O0,O0O loan and better
earning conditions, went on the stand
today before interstate commerce
commission Representatives in support
of the application. He outlined the
request which the railroad made for
25 per cent increase in the division
of joint rates made by trunk lines,
with which it connects and through
which some of its traffic passes.
Representatives Of the trunk lines
opposed the claim for a greater pro-
portion of the joint rates. Among the
trunk line witnesses were j. f. Hoi-
den, vice president, aad J. T.. NILS.
traffic manager of the Kansas City
Southern and c. O. P. Rausch, traffic
representative of the Missouri Pacific
The trunk lines Insisted that in
creasing the VI. & N. A. proportion
of the joint rates would leave them
in many cases without sufficient in
come from the traffic concerned to
meet the expenses to which they
were put in handling it.
Washington, Jan. 17.-Serious
hardships will be caused business con-
Germs and individuals along the Mis-
souri, & North Arkansas Railroad if
steps are not taken at once to revive
its operation, it was testified yester
day morning before the bureau of
finance of the interstate commerce
commission. Senator Robinson,
democrat, Arkansas, aud Receiver j.
Z. Murray were the principal wit
nesses. Attending the hearing from
St. Louis was former Receiver Festus
J. Wade, Also present We're At
torneys Judge Rhodes Cave and Judge
H. S. Priest, for the receiver, and
j. D. P. Francis and Charles Gilbert,
representing certificate holders.
The complaint was made that the
federal operation of the railroad
worked to its detriment, that much
of its traffic was diverted ard that
wages were increased far beyond
what they should be in that section.
"Unless some arrangement can be
made to give relief through the in
terstate commerce commission, the
road will have to be permanently
scrapped" Senator Robinson declared
He stated that he was appearing in
his official capacity as senator be-
cause he regarded the matter as one
affecting the public interest of an
important section ofArkansas.
In arguing the necessity for re-
sumption of operation, the senator
said that the M, & N. A. "is the only
railway which touches or passes
through the territory of Carroll,
sSearcy, Van Buren,, Stone and Gle
jaagne counties. 1t merely passes
thGSugh the northwest corner of Van
Buren, county and the southwest cor
ner of Stone county. This railroad is
the only railroad facility available for
use by the citizens of a considerable
portion of the following other coun-
ties: White, Madison, Benton,
Boone, Marion, Baxter and Indepen-
dence, considerable portions of the
area of these counties being too re-
mote from other lines which are ac-
cessiple to parts Of their territories. /
Steady and permanent development
had begun in this vast territory prior
to the suspension of operations by the
NJ. and N. A., but that condition has
been reversed by a cessation of oper-
ations and the present situation as
affects thousands of farmers, hum
dreds of merchants and manufacture
ers is pitiable beyond description.
"To reach any railroad many are
now compelled to go over roads that
are impossible except during the
late spring, the summer and early
fall for distance of from 40 to rs
miles.
"Such towns as Heber Springs, a
health resort of national renown;
Leslie and Marshall, manufacturing
centers of considerable Importance,
especially of timber in many forms,
and Harrison are now without any
railroad facilities whatever.
"There is no practical way in which
the products of this territory may
reach the markets and, consequently,
conditions are reverting to the stan
dard which prevailed 80 years ago,
and they will remain fixed there until
railroad facilities can become avail
able. Nothing but resumption of
operations by the M. and N. A. can
afford relief. This is not an over
statement of the facts, it is in many
respects inadequate to depict the
helpless condition in which industry,
.k.olF S.,