Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-09-23
Our Rail Roads-The Crisis.

Our Rail Roads The Crisis.
Tie last Jefferson Examiner Estate Pa
peri contains lengthy article on the sub
ject of our Rail Roads, their condition, and
the States interest in them. The State
credit granted TO all the roads, amounts in
the aggregate to $26, 45O, 900, of which
SIS, 1886, 900 has been issued in bonds, and
the balance will follow when the condi-
tons are complied with. The amount is
sued is as follows
Pacific road TO Kanias has received Sc, 10000
Southwestern Branch, which will form
part of Hon. J. s. Phelps great Pa
cific road, 10 San Francisco. Califor-
Mia ...... ...... S96S.UO0
Guarantee Bonds outstanding. Sl32 0G0
-Sl ion, 900
Hannibal and st. Joseph. 3.0OO.0O0
North Missouri -. ...... I.00O.0O0
Iron Mount ain ...... -.--.. 1926, 900
Cairo and Fulton ...... ....... 1876. 600
Total .......'. 800. Sis, $50 600
The Examiner concludes lis review as
follows
1t is probable that all the companies. ex-
cept perhaps the Iron Mountain, will be
able 10 meet their January interest. 1t is
also probable that the State will be com.
PEELED after January. 10 meet The interest
on her credit granted 10 the North Missou-
ri road. 1t is evident, however, from the
facts we have given, that the completion Of
this road 10 the Iowa line, will enable the
Company TO pay the interest out of the net
earnings of the road.
Under these circumstances It will be
seen that the Legislature will, this winter,
be compelled TO make some disposition of a
portion Of the roads. The State must either
sell them out-take possession OF them her.
completion.
Which plan will be most advantageous TO
the State?
If the roads are sold out, they will bring
only mere song. compared with their real
cost and value. In our neighboring State
Of Illinois this has been tried, and the roads
thus sold have been almost given away. If
we follow their example, there is no likely
hood that we shall do any better. We shall
part with the roads for trife-to, proba-
bly,, Eastern Aboltionists-an yet be com
PEELED 10 foot the bills. 10 pay the interest
on the State credit granted 10 them. We
should save nothing by selling the roads:
while most likely they would fall into the
hands Of the enemies Of our institutions,
and be used 10 our injury.
Equally impracticable seems TO us the
proposition that tho State take possession
Of the reads. We are not aware, however,
that this plan has any advocates.
The other plan-that the State furnish
the roads with the means of securing their
pletion-has many advocates; and this
is the plan which will evidently have 10 be
first disposed Of.
We hope or brethren Of the press, and
our public men, will take the matter Up
and discuss it; and that the people will ex-
press themselves, so that when the Legisla-
lure meets, ever" member will know ex-
actIy what is the will Of his constituents Oh
the subject.
II this be done, we cannot doubt, that
whatever disposition is made of the roads,
it will be in accordance with the will of the
people.
The completion of the roads seems 10 us
the most economical plan that can be adopt
ed. Ii is also but just to the people living
on the line Of the uncompleted portion OF
TIE roads. The people of the Western part
of the State, living on the line of the main
branch of the Pacific; OF the Southwest,
living on the line of the southwestern
Branch; of the Southeast, into which the
Iron Mountain road was proposed to be ex-
tended; and in the Northern part of the
State, on the proposed line OF the North
Missouri, assented to the grants of State
aid, on the condition that the roads should
be completed, and that they should reap
some benefit therefrom. They will have
their portions of the bill TO pay if the State
should be compelled to pay, and whatever
the next Legislature may do, wiH sooner or
later hare the roads.