The Southern Mercury, Texas Farmers' Alliance Advocate. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 6, 1890 Page: 4 of 8
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THE SOUTHERN MBKCUBY: DALLAS, TKXAS, THURSDAY, MARCH 0, 189©
Railroad Regulation.
The Southern Mercury.
ONI DOLIAN A VIAN, IN A«VANO«.
Sam H. Dixon,
E. Newton,
Editor.
Bus. Man'gr.
P
i
m
1
Entered at the postofllce, Dalla , Texss, al
eecond-class mall matter.
BBAS THIS CAREFULLY.
Patronize those wiko advertía* with us.
Advertising ratea furnished on application.
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to advertisers.
Keep business matter separate fro oorre '
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"Sonthorn Mercury," Dallea, Texas.
When sending notice of ohange of address,
unless the old aa well aa tho new addreaa la
giren, we cannot pay any attention to auch re-
quests.
Malee money orders, drafta and all remlttancea
payable to the order of the "Southern Mercu-
ry," and address all letters to the "Southern
Mercury," Dallas, Texaa.
Renew your subscription, so you won t miss
ray copies, aa we can't always furnish back
numbers! the flgureson the label on four pa-
per will toll you when your time Is out.
Before writing to the editor, unúerstand folly
what you want to say, say It In aa few words aa
possible, sign your name and then quit
Articles Intended for publication must be
written only on one side of the paper, and the
real name of the writer signed to it—not neces-
eerily for publication, but as an evidence of
good faith.
All obituary notices sent to the Meroury for
publication, unless accompanied by the cash
to pay for same, will not be printed; the charges
for printing obituary notices ere one cent per
word for each word In excess of fifty.
When sending subscriptions to the Meroury,
please mention the word "renewal" in connec-
tion with all names sent when the party Is al-
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to this you will confer afavor upon the business
department.
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■ent in for subscriptions, please mention your
pestofflce, the date of your former lettera, and
also the date of your printed reoelpt which we
aent you, and always address your inquiries,
eomplalnta, etc., to
bouthern mercury,
end your communication will receive prompt
attention.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Oounty Treasurer.
Wo are authorized to announce A. MoCom-
maB a candidate for tho office of county treas-
urer of Dallas county, at the ensuing November
eleotlon.
■ We are authorized to announce C. II. Patrick
es a candidate for the office of county treasurer
of Dallar oounty, at the onsulng November
eloctlou.
When writing to the Mercury upon
any subject whatever always address
your Utters to "The Southern Mercury,"
Dallas, Texas, and not to any individ-
ual. Make remittances payable to
uThe Southern Mercury." By com-
plying with this simple request, your
letters will be insured prompt atiention.
Wood County has fallen into line
and ordered primary elections. Let
the good work go on and relegate to
the shade the political wire puller and
corruptionist.
Our supply of the "Histqry of the
Alliance and Wheel" has been exhaust-
ed. A new supply has been ordered
and as soon as they arrive we will fur-
nish those entitled to them.
The conservative course of Presi-
dent Fields in the conference with the
representatives of the Wheel will be
heartily endorsed by the membership
throughout the state.
We have arranged with Sanger
Bros., one of the best known and most
reliable firms in the city to fill our or-
ders for prizes. They will be filled
within twenty-four hours after receipt
of numbered card.
The Alliance officials who visited
Dallas last week were lavish in their
praises of the management of Brother
Duncan of the Commercial Agency.
He was highly commended and con-
gratulated for so successfully bringing
order out of chaos.
That great "combine" concocted by
Wilheim Spence of the Austin States-
man, is a good one, but it is too thin
to even amuse those it was intended
to arouse. Wilheim is a good sort of
fellow, but will get his legs tangled
som times, and—and—and he
gets i —tkes in his boots.
The many large clubs of subscribers
coming in to The Mercury daily is a
better testimonial of the appreciation
of the farmers of our efforts than any-
thing else. The management is doing
all iu its power to give to the people a
paper acceptable to > them and feel
grateful for the many evidences of
i¿ood will recently manifested.
The Mercury will begin the publi-
cation of series of- articles on the
land question, early in April. They
are written by a gentleman of that
portion of the state most intimately
acquainted with the present system of
handling the state's school lands, and
being a polished and forcible writer
our readers may safely expect to here
this vexed question discussed in such
a manner as will enteitain and in-
struct.
In article No. 3 on Railroad Regu-
lation by Hon. T. J. Brown, the type
makes the writer say, in speaking of
the taxable value of railroads in Texas
that "such property in Texas is worth
$79,000,000." It should have been
$97,000,000.
We are forwarding the prizes won
in our February drawing as fast as the
numbered cards arrive, and we hope
to hear f om parties receiving them as
to how they are pleased. The capital
prize was paid on demand, and those
holding numbers entitling them to
prizes should send them in at once.
The Mercury can be relied on as
doing just as it promises.
The doctrine is gaining ground that
the government exists for the people
instead of the people for the govern-
ment; in short that the governments
are the servants of the people, instead
of the people being servants of the
government, that public affairs should
be conducted according to the judge-
ment of the whole, legitimately ex-
pressed, rather than the arbitrary will
of a few.
THE PEOPLE ARE THE
CENSORS.
There are politicians in this state
who try to impress the public with the
idea that they are alone conditioned
to select an executive for the people
af the great state of Texas, and when
it became known that Attorney-Gener-
al Hogg had been induced by his ma-
ny friends to become a candidate for
governor they at once went to work to
destroy him. Tney have raised the
cry that his fearless discharge of the
duties devolving upon him as the state's
legal adviser has been prompted solely
Ly a demogogical desire to gain pub-
lic applause. There are men in Tex-
as base enough to say and do almost
anything to further their own selfish
ends. The class of men who are so
prominent in this attempt to lead the
public to believe that General Hogg's
acts have been prompted by a desire
to promote his own personal ends are
the pests of public life. They befoul
every great deed with the intrusion of
their narrow and selfish interpretation.
Incapable themselves of lofty princi-
ples or of patriotic self-devotion, they
deny its possibility in others.
These self appointed censors of
Texas politics are informed that their
counsel is not necessary to the safety
of the state. The science of govern-
ment is no sacred mystery, confined
to the initiated few—it is no dark con-
spiracy against the freedom of man-
kind, which is not safe out of the keep-
ing of a privileged class. It is made a
part of every liberal education; it is
disseminated among the mass of the
people. And while the stars and con-
stellations which have been the light of
one generation, are, one after another,
dipping below the horizon, others, of no
less brilliancy, are rising to take their
places. The people are speaking and
they are supreme and woe to him who
runs counter to their will.
DR. MACUNE'S LETTER.
In another place in The Mercury
we present a vigorous letter from Bro
Macune replying to an editorial in the
D-G. News. Bro. Macune appears
to think that The Mercury endorsed
the News editorial. Such is not the
case. Had he read The Mercury's
editorial of Feb. 6, noticing a previous
assault of the News on the Alliance of
Texas, he would certainly have under
stood the motive that prompted the
editorial of the News to which he very
properly replies.
In reproducing the News editorial
we had no desire to do an injustice to
Dr. Macune or the Economist. Far
from it The News' flat denial that
it had reference in its editorial to the
State Alliance officials, deserved cour-
teous treatment at oar hands, and it
was reproduced to give the News the
benefit of what it termed a corrected
statement. We had no idea that any
one would think for a moment that by
doing thus was an endorsement of the
assertions of the News.
We very cheerfully give space to
Macune's letter, believing as he says,
that the editorial was calculated to
place him in a position he has no de-
sire to be placed—that is, as a politi-
cal agitator.
THE QUESTION OF UNION.
Now that the question of the union
of the Alliance and Wheel has been
referred to the County Alliances in their
April meetings, let all hands go to
work to arrive at the real wishes of the
membership in Texas and abide by
their decision. The Mercury will
permit through its columns a courte-
ous and brotherly discussion of both
sides of this question, and shall from
time to time give such editorial men-
tion of the question as is deemed pru-
dent under the circumstances. The
agreement entered into by the execu-
tive heads of the two bodies at their
recent meeting in Dallas was about
what everyone expected—virtually the
final settlement of the question.
The Mercury wishes that all cor-
respondents understand now that noth-
ing of a personal nature will be ad-
mitted into its columns. All should
remember that they are of a common
brotherhood and personal arraignment
is not permissible and should not be
indulged in by either side.
STATE AGRICULTURAL BU-
REAU REPORT.
This, one of the most important
Departments of the state government,
has issued its second annual report.
In many particulars it is a remarkable
production—remarkable in the extent
of its contents, in the brevity of its
facts, and in its comprehensiveness,—
being the most complete and reliable
department report ever issued in Tex-
as. It is Texas— its products, resour-
ces and possibilities—in minature. It
gives more real history of Texas and
her agricultural productions to the page
than any book ever published. The
counties of the state are given in al-
phabetical order. The sketches are
pointed and true to facts of history and
geography. It is a hand book of rare
value to the Texas farmers, and has
been compiled with a special reference
to utility.
The agricultural products of the
state are given for '87 and '88 with
the average yields per acre in the dif-
ferent counties of the state. All class
of statistics valuable to the citizen is
included—socilf, vital, railroad, crimi-
nal, economical, manufactural, horti-
cultural and agricultural.
Commissioner Foster deserves great
credit for the successful manner he
has presented the many valuable facts
secured. The labor has been great,
but he has been equal to the task—and
real well has he performed it.
The Mercury intends to give
many facts gleaned from this
valuable report—facts for the politi-
cian, farmer and citizen—facts worthy
of their most serious thoughts and
study.
CAPITAL PRIZE.
The following will explain them-
selves:
Shiloh, Tax. Feb. 20,1890.
sovthbbn Mbrcurt, Dallas Texas:—
Your «heek No. 506, tor forty dollar*, has
bean received. Thti amount being tbe
first cash prise offered tor the largest Uat
el yearly subscribers to Thb South* rn
Mbrcurt between Sept. 1,168 , and Feb.
1,1880.
riease aeeept thanks lor yonr prompt*
nee*. 1 hope to be able to secure you more
eubaerlbers. I am fraternally,
C. A. MoMbams.
Shiloo. Texas, Feb. SO, 1800.
Mr. 8am. H. Dixon, Editor Southern
Mbrcurt—Dear Sir and Bro.:—Your
one ok for ua dollars, for tbe largest 'let 01
annual aubsortbere to Thb Southrrm
Mbroohy for tbe moath of January, 1800,
b a been received.
1 feel grateful to you and Thb Mbrcuby
people lor tbe uniform courtesy shown
me In all my buelnees dealings with the
paper, and to yourself partloularly lor
your appreciation of my effort to extend
the elrculstton of our etate organ, wbleb
should be In tbe banda or every Allt tuce
man la Ue state. Fraternally.
C. ▲. MOMbams.
BY MOM. TOM- J. BROWN.
V*. 4.
Railroad corporations have bepn
created by the government for the
purpose of performing the important
duties of common carriers. They
have no natural rights, neither have
they any powers save those conferred
upon them by the law and such as are
necessary to enable them to perform
duties enjoined upon them.
Under proper control these corpo-
rations are valuable public servants,
and very important factors in the de-
velopment of the country as well as
valuable aids to the enjoyment of the
advantages we have already acquired.
Unrestrained they become* oppressive
and exacting, dominating " the com-
merce of the country, and if left to the
full development of their combined
strength may become masters of the
government in all its branches.
Having conferred upon the corpo-
rations exclusive rights and privileges
it becomes the duty of the state to
control them in such manner as will
give protection to the citizen against
the abuse of their powers and to se-
cure the performance of the duties en-
joined upon the railroads in that way
which would be most beneficial to the
people. The object of control by the
government over these organizations
should be to secure for the public the
best and cheapest transportation pos-
sible.
In order to do this these corpora-
tions must be allowed compensation
for services rendered, sufficient to en-
able them to keep their roads and rol-
ling stock in good condition and to
/airly compensate the labor employed,
as well as a reasonable return to the
stock-holders upon the value of their
investment. It would be as wise in
the farmer to starve the horse that
pulls the plow as for the state to des-
troy the efficiency of its railroads
which perform the great and import-
ant duty of carrying our freights to
and from market.
No matter what agency the state
may employ to control railroads, am-
ple and correct information of their
affairs is absolutely essential to a prop-
er performance of that work. The na-
ture of the inquiry makes it difficult to
obtain reliable information for the rea-
son that it can be had alone from rail-
road officials and they are thoroughly
indoctrinated with the idea that it is
private business and that any effort to
learn the nature and extent of their
transactions is officious intermeddling
on the part of the people. The result
is that the railroad officials aim not to
enlighten the public as to the business
and affairs of the corporations, but to
conceal their true condition. This
may be considered a grave charge and
I admit that it cannot be proved by
direct evidence but like all motives of
the actors must be arrived at from the
character of the acts done. An exam-
ination of the reports made by these
corporations to the comptroller for the
year 1889, and published by that offi-
cial in his annual report, and a com-
parison of these reports with those
made for the year x888 will show that
they are wholly unreliable. As citi-
zens and in their private relations these
men are as honest as the average man.
As the officers of the corporations they
do not deem it «dishonest to conceal
the affairs of their companies from the
public.
The laws of Texas require that rail-
road corporations shall render the rail-
road and all equipments for taxation
at their value the same as the citizen.
For the year 1888 they rendered for
taxation 7431 miles of railroad which
includtng rolling stock was valued at
$63,051,731 which is an average of
$3351 per mile. For the year 1889
they rendered for taxation 768 a miles
of railroad an increase of 351 miles
over the previous year, which at the
average value of 1888 would amount
to $3,096,101. The report for 1888
shows that during that year the rail
roads invested $3,749,709 in such
permanent improvements as render
the property more valuable.
The increase in mileage, and the
investment thus made in permanent
improvements should, baye increased
the taxable value of the property at
least $4,845,810 and added, to the
valuation of 1888 would give a taxable
value of $66,897.541 for the property
in 1889. But the report for 1889
shows that this property in its improved
condition and with its increased mi-
leage was valued at $59,057,111,
about $3,994,630 less than the valua-
tion for 1888 and about $7,840,430
less than it would be if the investment
and increased mileage had been ac-
counted for.
It is claimed that the average cost
of the railroads in Texas including
equipments is about $40,000 per mile.
If this be true the railroad corporations
in 1888 invested in new road about
$10,000,000 and about $3,000,000 in
permanent improvements making $ia-
000 000, which had the wonderful ef-
lect to deprcciate the taxable value of
the property near $300,000,000 in one
year. Under such able management
this class of property will soon cease
to have any taxable value.
Article 4349 of the revised statutes
of the state requires each railroad com-
pany to make an annual report embra-
cing certain matters connected with
their operations and physical and fi-
nancial condition. Among other
things they are required to report the
number of deaths and injuries occur-
ring from accidents on the roads and
whether or not any of them were oc-
casioned by the negligence or careless-
ness of any person in the employ of
the company. The reports for 1889
show that there were 167 deaths and
1147 injuries to persons on the rail-
roads and not one of them was occa-
sioned by the negligence of any person
in the employ of the railroads. Is
there a man in the state so credulous
as to believe that to be true or that the
officials believed it to be true? It is
in fact well known to be untrue and it
could be proved to be false in almost
every county in the state through
which the railroads run.
Under the requirements of the same
article the railroads reported upon the
following points: For tl\£ year i88£>
they carried 7,501,430 tons of freight
for which they received $21,998,378
an average of about $2.93 per ton.
For the year 1889 they showed that
they hauled 8,696,123 tons of freig'it.
It is a well known fact that freight
chargts in the year 1889 were from
ten to twenty per cent higher than for
the year 18S8. At the same rate of
charges as in 1888 they would have
received for the freight carried in 1889
the sum of $25,479,640 and adding
ten per cent for the increased rates,
(which is below the average of in-
crease,) $2,547,964, they must have
received not less than $28,037,604.
Their reports show that they received
in 1889 $30,699,321, being $1,289,-
057 less than the gross receipts for
1888 in which year they carried 1,194-
693 tons less freight at ten per cent
less rates, and that the amount repor-
ted is at least $7,338,283 less than the
amount that their actual receipts must
have been. The reports for '89 give
the gross earnings of all the railroads
for that year at $28,263,807. Taking
the report as true as to the other items
of earnings the gross earnings for that
year must in fact have been $35,355,-
887. The expense of operating and
maintaining for '88 are put in the re-
port for that year at $30,370,738 and
for '89 it is given at the sum of $26,*
605,614, being an increase in theez-
penses $6,333,886.
It is plain that the reports of the
railroad corporations in the particu-
lars mentioned are not correct. They
cannot be mistaken in the matter re-
ported for the reason that the correct
information upon the different points
must necessarily be in the possession
of the officials of the companies. Be-
ing false in these essential matters
they are not entitled to credit in the
others which are more difficult of ex-
amination.
Before the report of the comptroller
was published these railroad reports
were heralded to the public with great
flourish of trumpets as a complete ref-
utation of the arguments of those who
favor the commission. I su
the reports furnish us with
and valuable evidence of the nc
for the creation of a railroad commis-^
sion in this state.
The reports being false and unr
ble proves that we must resort to some
other and more trustworthy method of
obtaining the information necessary te
enable the state to deal with the sub-
ject of railroad regulation and there is
I believe, no known means equal to
the commission.
If the reports are true they show
the railroad management in this state
to be wholly incompetent to handle
the property successfully. With an
increase in tonnage of freight and an
increase of freight charges, they have
greatly decreased their gross «aming^
decreased the taxable value of the
property, and very largely increased
the expenses. The management un-
der a railroad commission would de-
crease the rates of freight charges and
the expenses and increase the net
earnings of the railroads, thereby con-
ferring a mutual benefit on the stock-
holders and the people.
MERCURYISMS.
>
The Mercury improves with each
issue—J. I. Moody, Mexia, Tex.
Money is scarce, but I am com-
pelled to have The Mercury. It is
simply getting to be a very great pa
per—P. H. Mudd, Hillton, Ky.
Somebody sent me a copy of Thb
Mercury of Feb. 13th. It is just
what the farmers want. Here is a
club of ten, with ten dollars.—Paul
Dexter, Houston, Texas.
I enclose money for The Mercury,
I cannot get along without our organ.
—Rev. R. L. Mott, Mott, Texas.
I love The Mercury. It is a
great help in arousing our sleeping
members—Mrs. T. E. Adams, Payne's
Store, Texas.
The farmes here highly prize The
Mercury. I sent $2 lor enclosed
names.—Jesse Kirkland, Fair Deal-
ing, Ky.
Here is $10 for The Mercury for ^'
my subscription and nine others. I'
cannot do without The Mercury, and
do not wish to miss a single copy—
P. L. Strain, Strain, Kansas.
The Mercury is a grand paper,
and advocates the true principles of
our order. May its editor live to see
these principles crowned with success.
—J. M. Eddins, Concord, Texas.
The Mercury is valuable as a
guide to our pathway as Allianee peo-
ple G. T. Duke, Howe, Texas.
Here is $4 for The Mercury.
Continue your noble fight for the
building up of the agricultural people
from under the heel of oppression.—
W. W. Littlefield, Leesville, Texas.
Here is $1 for The Mercury. I
am compelled to take it to keep
posted.—J. A. Robinson, Can Can,
Texas.
Send me sample copies and I will
do all I can for our noble defender—
The Mercury F. H. Hammon, Mt
Vernon, Texas.
The Mercury under its present
management is better than it has evef
been. I wish it success every way.—
A. J. Murphy, Looneyville, Texas.
I look upon The Mercury as the
greatest of our great Texas papers,
and it should be read by every Alli-
ance member in Texas—J. W. Brown,
Chester, Texas.
Bro. C. A. McMeans, of Denton
county, will deliver a series of lectures
to the sub-Alliances in Dallas county.
He is one of the best lecturers in 4
the state, and will certainly do much
good. See his appointments in this is*
sue of The Mercury.
The Farmers Alliance continues to
prosperall over the south. Hundreds
of newspapers, which were formerly op*
posed to the organization, are now sup*
porting it with vigor—McKinney Dem-
ocrat.
Hamilton county wants a good Al-
liance Lecturer
S#ia,
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Dixon, Sam H. The Southern Mercury, Texas Farmers' Alliance Advocate. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 6, 1890, newspaper, March 6, 1890; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186128/m1/4/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .