Washington telegraph., 1854-07-19
Southern States Railroad to the Pacific.

Mr. Albert Pike of Arkansas introduced at the
Charleston Convention the to only alternative
a government Railroad that we have ever seen
nresented 1t was based on the doctrine that 1t
was unsafe to entrust to the Federal government
4ba disbursement of hundred millions; the pat
ronage of more than FIVE thousand offices, .he be-
stowal of innumerable contracts. and the owner
hin of the chief way of communication between
The Atlantic and Pacific States. 1t proposed that
tbe twelve Southern States which are CONNER
ciallv and politically interested In Southern
route should grant concur rentacts OF lncorpora-
tion should give pecunlary assistance to the con-
ruction of the Road, and that the $4,000 miles of
Southern Railroads should subscribe to the con-
strnction of their common stem to the Pacific by
nav of Fl Paso. Such was the plan introduced
bv Mr. Pike.
We are very glad to see the Southern Railroad
onnroaching completion so rapidly that contest
has arisen for the honor of having made it, and
accordipgly one Mr.. Combs, who we remember
as poIitica orator of great pretentions has filed
a caveat to the plan Of Mr.. Pike averring that he
s the sole inventor and therefore entitled to the
notsnt. Then Mr. Mills of Texas gives no.
lice to the public that he proposed in 1949 plan
ror Southern route to the Pacific and was hon.
ored. as every premature genius has been with
tbe name of crazy person, which character we
,ther infer from his letter, he sustains to the
rresent day, since he totally mistakes the point
IN controversy and proclaims Mr.. Robert J.
Walker zone of the ablest tinancers in this any
other countryn Mr.. Woodward says that the
scheme is almost Identical with one introduced by
him at Memphis in 1S49, the difference being "the
dea that the Southern States should become stock
hOlderS.7
Now as tnis difference chances to consist IN the
only particular in which Mr.. Pixies plan pretends
70 originality, it is very clear that the plan OF Mr..
Woodward, without the idea of Incorporating the
Southern States as Stockholders, is no more the
same plar than the play of Hamlet without the
character of that deranged Dane would be the play
Of ofShakespeare. 1t seems that Messrs. Mills and
Woodward introduced plans nearly identical and
Simultaneous with each other at the fruitful con-
yention of 1919. There is then ground of private
controversy between them.
But Mr.. Pike declining all controversy has ad-
dressed modest and characteristic letter to the
Charleston Courier. In this he discaims any
wish to deprive gentlemen of any merit of having
given origin to the plan or indicated the direction
of the Road. We must add, however, that these
ideas in their hands seems to have been forgotten
by the people. whilst in his they have been pop
uar and promise to be successful.
We add our personal convictions that in intro
ducng the plan Mr. Pike was more actuated by a
wish for the success of an object which he has
long had at heart than by any appetite for motor
iety and we will undertake, if either of the dis
contended gentleman will renew the construction
of the road they have a release under the sign
manual Of DIR. Pike of all the honors of having
originated any plan in connection with it. We
add the letter.