The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-12
IN ADVANCE
N UNI B ER %

the power VI Congress Ito regulate COM
merce with foreign nations and among the
several States" under which power Con-
Sress has Established lighthouses, bea-
cons. bnoys, harbors of protection, and
public piers; and with reverential respect
for the great author Of the argument, in
the celebrated report on the memorial Of
the Memphis convention, submit that
tue argument more justly applies to the
donation OF lands an the Territories to-
wards the construction of this road, than
1t did to the improvement, by authority Of
Congress, of the navigation of the Missis-
sippi river.
The distance from the Atlantic to the
western boundary of Texas is estimated
to be about sixteen hundred miles. In
this direction railroads are in successful
operation as far as Montgomery, in the
State of Alabama. Two companies have
been chartered to continue this line
through Selma, to the eastern boundary
OF Mississippi, both roads having been
surveyed, and one is progressing uuder
contract. From this point the southern
railroad is chartered, part of it built,
and the residue under contract, the State
OF Mississippi having guaranteed bonus
OF tour hundred thousand dollars towards
its construction: A road has been mauy
years i'll operation from Jackson to Vi,ks-
burg, which, including section east of
jackson TO Brandon, is sixty miles long.
From Vicksburg to the Texas line the
VIcksburg, Shreveport, and Texas road is
chartered, aud stock taken To the amount
of 100000 by the State of louisiana
Other stock, to the amount of 100000
has been taken 10y individuals, parishes,
and the city of Shreveport, giving a pres
ent reliable capitae of Sl,760.o0O to that
road. 1t is thus perceived that the east
ern boundary of Texas is reached by a
comparatively straight line of railroads
completed, or in progress of completion
by individual and State enterprise, and
all lying between the thirty-second and
thirty-third parallels Of north latitude.
The Legislature of Texas, as if anticipa-
ting connection between the two oceans
by railroads, and also their locations, have
land per mile for the construction of a
road through that State from point on
her eastern to her western boundary, in
the direction Of Ell Passo. The length Of
the road through Texas is estimated to be
seven hundred and fifty miles-the lands
granted upwards OF ten millions of acres
which will be worth, at reasonable val
uatlon, when the road is finished, five dol
lars per acre-giving the handsome sum
of fifty millions of dollars. Now, if we
estimate the entire cost of this road at for
ty thousand dollars per mile, (Which is
high estlmate,) but thirty millions Of dol
lars of its resources will have been ex-
hausted in its construction. This will
leave twenty millions of dollars to cover
accidents; none cur, may be applied in
| aid o. the extension of the road to the Pa
cItic ocean, Il distance of six hundred and
| fifty miles from the western verge Of Tex
| a.. How much Of the remainder Of tho
line lies in the State of California, TO
which section | am unwilling that the Fed
| eral Government shall make any contri-
button towards the construction of a road,)
or how much of it lies within the Terri
tory of New Mexico, TO which am will
ing that the Government shall make libe-
| raj and even muniicent donations have
! been unable accurately to ascertain. but
am inclined to think that one hundred
and fifty miles will reach across the south
ern extremity of California.
Liberal donations of lands in New
Mexico will be greedily accepted by some
one of the companies before ment ioned---
most probably by the Vicksburg and FL
Passo company, or by combination of
companies--and thus n railroad commu-
nication be secured from the Atlantic to
the eastern boundary Of California, some
where near the confluence ofthe Colorado
and Gila rivers. When a road is there,
the necessities ef commerce and selfinter-
est will perfect the connection between
| the two great oceans. The work Is thus
accomplished by privnte enterprise, and
| all experience teaches us that any work
thus performed is always better, and soon
er done, than il undertaken by the Gov
erument, which is uniformly plundere2
whenever it becomes contractor. All
Government patronage and its corruptions
are thus avoided, and security given
against pro6igate extravagance.
| Among the other reasons for donating
lands in the Territory Of New Mexico 10
wards constructing railroad between
the thirty-seconf aud thirty-third paral-
lels OF latitude, TVfnd those which are co.
gent, in the fact that it will be adding
necessary link to what is destined TO be-
come continuous line; that it is proba.
ble such donations will give impulse and
energy 10 the individual and State enter.
prise upon this line, shich the wants Of
tho country urge TO speedy establish
| ment, and in the comforting possibility OF
its relieving the Congress from the nu-
merous applications Tor the donation Of
lan,ls which lie within the limits Of diffsr,
ent States.
Another consideration IN the location OF
this rond, and one of great moment, b, that
we nvoiG he Monnons--a sect toward
which she religious sentiments Of the scun-
try will mover be rseoscilea and which 10