Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-10-13
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
LETTER OF HON. PRESLEY EWING, OF KEN
TUcKY, TO HON. n. j. WALKER.
New YoRK. Sent. Il. 1873.

NEW L DIRK, Sept. II, 1905.
Hon. RoBr. ]. WALKER-
DEAR Sir: You did me the honor to en-
courage me to present, in the form Of let
ter for publication, the views which had
expressed to you, and my reasons for pre-
terring something like the plan for building
the Pacific railroad proposed by the compa-
ny incorporated by the last Legislature Of
New York. Although l cannot expect any
peculiar Importance to be attached 10 any
opinions may happen 10 entertain beyond
the value Of a solitary vote in the next Con-
gress, l cheerfully comply with your sug-
gestion, and the more readily since am led
to believe that the company and its propo-
sails have not as yet secured the fair share
of public attention to which they are enti-
tied.
If understand the proposition of the
New York company, they offer TO build the
road simply as other great works of SINH
lar character have been effected, by private
enterprise, and 10 be owned as private pro-
perty, asking of the Federal Government
no charter-no grant Of peculiar powers or
privileges partnership or association
nothing, save fair compensation for such
uses of the road as may be demanded by the
necessities of the Government, that COM
pensation to be made either by loan of
Government credit or otherwise, and in
such an amount as may be deemed reas on
able for the advantages enjoyed, and either
before or after the completion of the road
If before the completion of the road, then
in such instalments, and upon such securi
ties, by a lien upon SO much OF the road as
may be completed, or otherwise, as may in
sure the Government against loss. And |
may add, that one Of their most important,
and very reasonable demand, is that be-
fore they enter upon so stupendous an un-
dertaking the Government may be simply
committed not 10 become a competitor.
In the first place, it will be readily per-
ceived that the plan of the company relieves
lis from the necessity of renewing the end
less controversy about the extent of federal
power over internal improvements, which
has already reared itself as formidable en-
emy in the way of this great enterprise, and
which, however it might be determined,
would result in such dissensions and dis
contents between the different parties and
sections of the country as are always dan
gerous and ought always to be avoided.
say we are relieved from this difficulty; for
whatever opinions may prevail about inter.
nal improvements, no one can question the
right of the Government to pay for the
speediest and safest transportation Of heI
mails, troops, and munitions OF war, upon
such terms as may be most secure and most
advantageous 10 herself. Then, without
further reference to the constitutional ques.
ton of internal Improvements, and indeed
meeting no necessity for the argument Of
such question, | take for granted that al
will agree that the least possible connection
the Government has with the road, either
in its construction or its ownership, in its
responsibilities, its patronage, its profits or
lis losses. the better for the Government
and the better for the road. The exclusive
construction, conduct, and ownership OF the
road by the Government would lead TO III.
Vulnerable frauds and corruptions-i!w would
be TO subject the enterprise 10 the control
of those interested in prolongins the work
and increasing its cost, instead of hasten.
ing lis completing and economising the out,
lay.
All experience stands opposed 20 the wis
dom of such undertakings even by the
State Governments whose finances are man.
aged with much more economy than those
of the Federal Government. There are
those who contemplate with horror the exiS.
tance of corporation for such q purpose
and who would yet convert the Fedora
Government into an unwieldy corporation
for the purpose of building, owning, und
, conducting railroad. think it would no
be unfair 10 anticipate that i'll such case i
would be the worst built and worst conduct
ed road in the world. But the more pro
t bable hypothesis is that it would never b,
$ built at all, or nt so remote period, and a
S so enormous a cost, that single generation
a could not see its beginning and its compile
q ton or sustain the burden of the expendi
e ture.
This will not be thought an unreasonable
: though brief and very imperfect presen
e tation of the consequences Of an exclusiv
construction and ownership Of the road b
the government. A partnership and asso
e citation between the government and indi
r viduals or corporations, in providing III
It means, in building the road. and in its sui
III =. o.,l aa.J,sk -.