The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-05
SPEECH OF MIR. WARD, OF TEXAS,
on The Pacific Raiiroad Bill
N srSArr, DEonanrn II, 1858.

original i before the Senate for the purpose of offering
an amendment at the proper time but hitherto have
been able TO get il before the Senate As shall OPP
pose the amendment now under consideration have
thought proper, before the vote is TAKEN TO bring 10 the
minds of the senators the which VII offer in its
order, should have the opportunity of doing but
to the merits of the before the Senate shall say
"A few words.
Mr.. President have thought IL proper 10 take this
because feel deeply interested in the construction
OF this road not in sectional point of view only but
atioio that location for the road tt would be for the
best interests of the whole country. IL appears TO
that any Of the lines for the location of this road
heretofore spoken OF To be considered, should
adopt the language used in the bin in its literal sense
when II provides that the road shah be constructed
the most eligible route reference being had to fcas
bilty, shortness and economy. Now docs the pending
amendment which proposes to limit the road to route
between the thirty fourth and forty third degrees present
an opportunity 10 select the nearest, the cheapest and
the most practicable route to the Pacific coast fnot
contend that the whole field should be thrown open
to afford chance Tor route below the thirtyfourh de-
| gree.
According TO the explorations OF the various routes
reported it win be that have been considered
mpraccable, and Others, from the nature of the coun
try which they pass well their great length.
would cost an unnecessary expenditure of money and
delay
1t will appear from the table of and distances that
amongst them all (and believe there eight ten of
them tho southern route from Fulton to San Diego, via
III Paso is the shortest and most practicable by over
fifty per cent? after allowing for that link in the road
!
aided by the State of Texas If however, upon further
examination, available can be found, it should
! by all means be adopted
have been of the opinion, Mr.. President, that
some place the Mississippi river should be selected
the starting point for this great national highway and
its terminus to be the nearest practicable point on the
Pacific coast 1t appears clear to my mind that the in
terest Of the whole people would be most eiiectually
guarded and protected by entrsting the location of this
road to the and direction Of the capitalists who may
undertake. the work. with the proper guards and restric
tons In the first place. they would be required to lo
the line of road according to the provisions Of the
BILL on the most eligible route reference being had to
feasibility sortness, and economy " but, before com
mitting this important trust to the charge of underta
kers, should first consider what their interest would
prompt them to do. 1t is however, reasonable to sup
pose that they would select starting point within the
space allowed with reference to the whole country
to concentrate central and convenient point the
largest portion of tho travel and commerce for the patron
! age of their road.
have table Of tho railroad statistics before me-
but believe the estimate Is that there about twenty
thousand miles Of railway east of the Mississippi riter
and rs many miles of navigabie streams forming COM
plcte network from Maine to Georgia. and from the
Gulf coast 10 tie lakes of the North And it will be OBJ
served that the general tendency of those roads is west
ward, many Of them reaching from the Atlantic coast
by one continuous ne to the Mississippi river others
terminating the Ohio river from the north tapping it
at various places from its head to its mouth whilst the
roads from the Gulf coast reach far up into the interior
Of the county all seeming to be in search Of passage
\ west to the Pacific
And now, Mr.. President we must cast our mind west,
and examine critically the physical condition of the
try over which we have to make road, well the
roads west already built and those in prospect and
the best and most practicable route for connexion with
the Pacific coast. am not familiar with their railroad
prospects in the extreme northwestern portion but
will say, from St Louis there is road running west
from that place hundred and seventy five two
hundred miles. I ain not certain as to its length
The Cairo and Fulton road has grant Of six sections
of land per mile to aid in its construction, and has am
told, portion of it under contract TheMemphis and
Little Rock railroad which intersccs the Cairo and u
ton road, has similar grant from the government and
fifty miles in running order The Mississippi, Wachita,
and Red river road, sometimes known the Gaines
Landing road the whole length Of which will bcone hun
dred and eighty miles, has one hundred miles graded,
and portion of it ready for the iron These roads form
junction at Fulton, little south of the thirtyfourth
parallel The Memphis El Paso, and Pacific road leaves
at that point for FL Paso distance of about eight hun
dred miles. The yichsburg and Shreveport road is
being constructed, and is to be completed in 1861
cordng to the contract 1t connects with the southern
Pacific road at the eastern boundary line Of Texas lit
tie north of the thirty second parallel From this point
the southern Pacific road west to FL Paso 1t has
twenty five miles in running order, and recently fifty
under contract and perhaps it would not be amiss
here for TO say that but for unfortunate difficult
20 'nlch have existed in that company much greater
amount of road would be in running order | am
happy 10 say, however, that these difficulties have been
recently removed and that at late meeting held at
Louisville, where than threelorhs of the stock
represented they agreed baroniously prosecute
the work The road west to point where it will
form juno ton with The Memphis, E Paso, and Pacific
road, somewhere the Trinity river and from that
point the energies the interests and the capital of both
companies will be united IN the construction of trunk
road to E Paso The Opolousas road, too il completed
to Berwcks Bay, from whence there is communication
to Galveston by water, and continuation of the
line by land to the Sabine Pass where it connects with
other Texas roads running north and west by way of
Houston Austin and San Antonio, in the direction of
El paso. The Galveston and Henderson road also has
fortyscven miles completed aud twenty-five miles under
contract The Texas, Central, and Houston road have
had fifty miles running successfully for several years
and am told that by July they will have at least
tyfve miles in running order This road will connect
with the Memphis Ell paso and Pacific road somewhere
the Trinity river consider these Gulf roads of vast
Importance in this great enterprise for it is we'll
known fact that WILL far possible, seek
water transportation.
have thus attempted to bring the minds of senators
to the fact that the Texas roads, in connexon with the
roads west of the Mississippi yer carry this great work
TO E Paso According TO the best information havo,
it only six hundred and fifty miles from E Paso to San
Diego Thus, if the lei Paso route be taSen there will
be only six hundred and fifty miles to be constructed by
government aid and according to the best information
that be had there but few obstacles in the of
its construction there being streams and natural water
tanks at convenient distances la the absence of these
wewater can be had at the distance of forty fifty
feet Such is the opinion of Mr. Gray, derived from
tua observation while engaged in the boundary line
vey under the treaty Of Guadalupe Hdago, in 1852
Next would call the attention of senators to the dis
crepancy between the costs and distances of road on the
various routes proposed The shortest route actually
veyed within the range of country prescribed in the
amendment of the Senator from Massachusetts ir VIII
SOM two thousand miles while the route of which