The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1855-03-10
III, State System OF internal improve
meats.


snrRwaou. Esq, Of Galveston wh'ch "'
conceive 10 be- worthy Of attention. The
writer after paying Us a very high comnh-
meni proceeds to say, that be has faHu
with regret an article Of ours, published IN
the Republican Of the 30h Of January III
which we gave our reasons Tor opposing
the system set on foot in the west, aud OF
which NJ. Sherwood is the leader aud
champion, contemplating an entire change
IN our internal Improvement policy Mr.
Sherwood. and those who believe with him,
are opposed to VIVA. IS termed the eorpof-
.te systcm that's. the construction OF oar
works OF inierna. improvement 10y incorPor
aling companies Tor that purpose bot ia
vor the plan of their being built aud owned
by the state. lts due to VIZ :. to say
that by bis saof., aDd peraeyoring Industry
he has succeeded, Do ana extraordinary de.
gree. IN understanding bis ideas into those
around him; and we ind many Of the lead.
ing presses Published in Western IeAas,
aud some Of the most distinguished public
mon ia that section, tue advocates of tn
State system.
our correspondent IL. pleased to say that
he is satisfied that We have not given the
sgLI,c, a thorough examination, and that
we could be written down IN our own col
umn.ifwe would permltthcad'ocat ofth
State s,atem to be- heard through the same
medium. With view to this object no
doubt, h. has forwarded as articles clipped
from the editorial department Of the follow.
ing papers the Galveston News, Sogun
Mercury. Galveston journal, and Houston
Telegraph, accompanied with card from
himself We cheeriully give place to The
last. aud would also publish the others II
they were designed to meet the difficulties
which present themselves at the worry com
mencement Of the discussion OF this ques
ton.
Mr.. Sherwood is correct ia saying that
we have not given the State system very
thorough examination. Hence We have
been moro disposed to liston lhen 10 be
heard. Forced ut last into the discussion,
vc sAall enter upon ii, mcre with the ria"
of elicitiug information than Of ohur3iug
our reflections upon the public
The advocates of he state system pro
pose that the State shall huild aHd own her
own railroads, and they argue, Grsl, tbat
these works will cost les. taau by the cor>
pora,e system, and SECONDLY that The roads
welding Handsome dividends, viii be- made
to contribute 10 the support Of those whi.h
without sach a.d von.i Be unable TO pay
exponsee.
What, then. we are led to inquire, viii be
the extent OF this systemi How mani
roads are to be undertskenl Wins, viii
they cost BY what means ID the money
to be raised to construct them Aud should
the paying ropds got afford .ui'iriens rovc,
uuo to support the othrrs how are they -
be kept upf
Il must be- boyue 10 mind tha, IcAas is
an Immense State, hauag diversity oi
intcrcsls and that policy which docs not
cover the whole ground, aud afford com
mcfcial facilities TO ever, section, lie not
likely to meet with favor The Dasi. for
instance, would not look with complaceucy
at sgstsui of internal Improvements com
mouccd az an experiment in the West, or
the west on partial system commenced in
the East. while the extremes Of the two
sections would be likely to complain unless
every portion embraced in their confines,
were to TO Immediate participants 10 the
benefits. Then, eycf5 ase,ion. as !, VIII
have to boar AZ equal portion OF the bur
,hens, wi. naturally expect 10 be eop.csen
ted in tn GRIND scheme. fu.z being the
ease, we Aa9o overs reason to believe that
70 many railroad ehaupfs w... he allowed
under the State as under the corporate sys
Tan. 10 accommodate every section, il
will r,quie something near three thousand
miles OF railroad, which at $50 900 per
mile, will cost sixty millions Of dollars, II
will not be conteudoJ, We presume, that
any considerable portion Of this immense
sum can be- obtained in Texas. Wt.' then,
it must be- borrowed, and il SO, from whom
and at wha, tnegi The Interest upon six
Is million, Of dolars at Gye per cent is
a3,O00,0o0 which 10 twenty years will
equal iho principal.
Bat suppose, no matter by what means,
,hatcoul eune Interests are hnmoufed, and
that the roads are built aud paid for. No
one, Ne presume, will contend that they
viii, afford sufficient revenue 20 pay es.
penses ID Mr. Sherwood prepared to say
aha, is likely to he the deficiency, or can
he inform the public how the money is TO
be raised to keep them in operation
It certainly seems to us that the subject
is full Of difficulties and the scheme prog,
nant with mischief Under the corporate
system the Legislature unquestionably pur
sue reckless policy, and for which it is
natl, o.uy.,ui =. Rot Loo "a ,b,, ,.nlt,..