The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-13

co operation in doing this, and would respectable
recommend that the persons interested in the
principal railroads in the United States should
send delegates To a meeiing to be held in this CITY
for the purpose of preparing a bill, in concert with
the War and Post Office Departments, to be sub
mitted 10 the next Session Of Congress.
am aware that some will object that the war
with Mexico creates a necessity for borrowing
money, and that the proposed issue would depress
the public credit by increasing the amount upon
the market.
reply, that it is not the amount Of the public
debt, hut the failure of the indebted States to pay
Interest, that injured the public credit. The
measures which propose would 90 far towards
enabling the defaulting States to make satisfactory
arrangements with their European creditors, and
thus restore the national credit in the European
market. Instead of depressing. it would therefore
benefit the public credit.
l would alsc -ssrac,f"ly invite the attention Of
those connected with the public press to the sub
Ject. It's Importance j~usiifes the hope that il
VIII rise above the influence Of party but il must
De studied, examined, and discussed, before its
benefits, IN a social, moral, commercial. and ma
tional point of view, can be duly appreciated.
My desire is to accumulate here, at the seat Of
government, the facts and details necessary to a
right understanding of the whole subject. This
can be best furnished through the press. take
the liberty of appending hereto few queries. and
hope that some one will he found in each of the
States willing to prepare and publish a reply. Is
it asking too much to request editors making such
publication, to send me copies Of the paper con.
tanning it
TO facilitate a CO operation between those i'm
mediately interested, the undersigned respectfully
tenders his services, and will cheerfully CORES
pond with those who desire to ccomplis this
important measure. DUFF GREEN.
WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. 1, 1876.
Queries suggested by ID. Green, for the purpose
OF obtaining information TO be submitted To Con.
gress in aid of a proposition for an issue of gov
eminent five per cent. bonds, in payment for
transportation - the mails, and with a view to
call forth through the press, att expression q;
public opinion on that subject:
Queries.
/. What are the names of the several raj ID
companies in yonr State2
2. What is the length of road which each is
authorized to make
5. How much of each road is completed?
a. How much of each road is unfinished2
D. What has been the average cost per mile of
50 much as has been finished
6. What is the estimated cost per mile of the
unfinished road
Z. What amount Of funds have the several rail
road companies applicable to the completion of
the unfinished roads,
8. What points do the several roads connect2
y. What is the present revenue of each road
and is II derived from freight or passengers2
10. What other lines are now authorized BY
other States tn connect with these roads?
Ill. What effect would the completion of other
connecting lines, embraced by a jndicious system
OF railroads. have on the value of the shares Of
the several companies in your State?
IL. Would the railroad companies in your
State, or either of them, be disposed to favor the
arrangement | propose f?
IL. How many miles, in addition to those now
IN use. would such an arrangement to enable the
several companies to make CT include in this
query all other resources of the company which
this arrangement would cause to be applied TO the
extension as well as the funds to be derived from
the depariment)
IA. Who are The president, directors, and en-
gIneers of the several roads in your Statee
10. What compensation do these roads now
receive for the transportation of the mails
10. Would the several railroad companies in
your State send one or more delegates to Wash
lngton, with authority in concert with other dele
gates, and the Post Office and War Departments,
to digest a system to be admitted to Congress,
during the next session 2
IL. BY whom and in what manner should such
a meeting be called ?
10. DO you approve of the measure proposed
and if so, by what arguments would you urge
lis adoption2 If you do not approve it, what are
your objections?