New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-24

oiic would probably pay; but what assurance could
an association Of private citizens have that, having
devoted their means and energies to the cOnstruc-
ton of such a road, it would not b. rivaled and
its value half destroyed BY simila' work on some
other routei No Hundred Millions can be OBJ
tanned for such an undertaking without assurance
Of Government aid.
But neither will il answer to commit the Govern
ment unqualifedly to the construction of such
work. Its cost in the hands OF Federal functiona-
ries, would be incalculabe it would be al infinite
source Of jobbing and partisan corruption; it would
never be finished; and its net revenues would
amount to nothing. And then the question Of
loeation-the conflict Of rival interests-would
alone suffice to prevent the construction OF the
work by the Federal Government.
But LET that Government simply resolve that the
Pacific Road shall be built-let Congress enact that
sealed proposals. for its construction shall be In
vited, and that whichever responsible company or
corporation shall offer adequate security for that
construction to be completed within ten years, on
the lowest terms, shall have public aid, provided
the amount required do not exceed Fifty Millions
Of Dollars, and the work viii be done certainly for
Fifty Millions bonus, probably for much less. The
Government on its part should cOncede to the COM
pany mile in width, according to the section lines,
of the Public Lands on either side of the Road as
built, with the right to take Timber, Stone and
Earth from any Public Lands without charge; and
should require Of said Company that it carry daily
through mail each way at the pricepad other Roads
for conveying Mails on rst-cass routes; and should
moreover stipuate for the conveyance at ali times
of Soldiers Arms, Munitions, Provisions, &c, for
the public service, at the lowest rates, with right
to the exclusive possession and use OF the Road
whenever National exigency shall seem to require
II. The Government should leave the choice of
route entirely to the Company only stpulating that
Il shaconnect the navigabe of the Mississippi
with those of the Pacific Ocean, and that it shall
be constructed wholly through our own territory.
Payment of the National bonus to be made, say
one-wentieth so soon as one-tenth Of the road shall
have been finished and approved, and at this rate
until One-thrd of the road shall have been built,
when the remainder of One-fourth of tho bonus
shall be paid; when half the road shall have been
built the payment of bonus shall be increased to
ODb-tHlIQ. With lnc WVih 10 NVnN1
what remains of iye-eighths of the bonus shall be
paid; and when the work is done and accepted
all that remains unpaid of the bonus shall be handed
over TO those who will have so noby earned it,
By adopting this plan the rivalries of routes will
be made to work for instead of working against
the construction of the road. Strenuous efforts
will be made by the friends of each to put them
selves in position to bid low enough to secure the
locations; and the lowest rate at which the work
can safely be undertaken will unquestOnably be
bid. The road will be the property of the Com
pany constructing it, subject only to the rights of
use stipulated and paid for by the Government. |
And, even we're it to cost the latter bonus Of |
fully Fifty Millions, we feel certain that every
larthing of that large sum will have been reim-
bursed to the Treasury within five years after the
completion of the work in the proceeds of Land
Sales, in increased Postages, and in duties on
goods imported, sold, and consumed because of this
TO speak of the annual saving of
Millions in the cost of transporting and supplying
rOOps.
Nen and brethren! let US resolve to have Rail-
cad TO the Pacfc-tO have it soOn 1t will add
more TO the strength and wealth of our country
han would the acquisition of dozen Cubas.