Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-06-20
The Pacific Railroad Bill

! 1t cannot fail to excite some surprise, that
every Southern Representative is not earnestly and
persistently the advocate of the Pacific Railroad
bill, introduced into the Senate by Mr.. Wigiall
of Texas Can it be possible that any Southern
man is 80 short sighted as TO favor the idea Of
| but one route to the Pacific, and that from Iowa
| or Missouri
! Such road would not tuch single Southern
| State IL would divert the trade the travel and
the tide of emigration to the region above the
| latitude Of thirty-live. Yet the committee, to
whom the subject was referred, aeem, by the re-
port received from Washington, to have deter
mined to bring in a new bill providing for but
one line across the Continent though it may have
two points of stGrtings one from Iowa and one
from Western Missouri
| No measure 50 vital as this to the interest oil
the South con possibly come before Congress.
The influence of railroads in developing the
wealth OF the country through which they pass
ia now fully understood The lines finished in
the Southern States have infused new energy
into every department of business. They have
increased population and enlarged domestic en-
terprise. They have quadrupled the value of
lands and added intellectually to home produc-
| tion,
Beyond all that has yet been witnessed, are the
advantages to result from the speedy completion
of Southern road to the Pacific Who can es-
innate wealth that will flow from the opening of
the. mineral resources of Arizona and New Mex
leo What estimate can be made of the resou-
rces of trade that will be created by penetrating
California or running mean the borders of the nor
thern States of Mexico! What precedent have
we as IL basis from which to calculate the rapid
ty with which the vast regions of almost pcrpet-
ual spring. along the FL Paso route, will be set
tied
Yet portion of the Representatives from the
Southern States, to whose energy and zeal South
ern interests are now entrusted seem to be utter
ly Indifferent to this measure. We cannot but
feel astonishment and regret at such an exhibit
ton.
The South asks no special favors. 1t matters
not how many routes are selected, provided one
through Southern territory receives the same AID
from the General Government. No opposition
can be made by us to the bill because it grants
lands or bonds to a Northern route ; but i%3ye
are to be cut off, If the better, shorter, Mfer
route along latitude 80, is to be ignored, the
South may we'll feel that hostility exists to
Southern interests at Washington, Of the most
inappeasable character.
In some of the Southern States petitions have
already been circulated among the people in ia
vor of the original bill of the Senate. Is it not
we'll to start one in this city! No man can hes
itate to sign it. The whole people of the South
are united on this subject. They will we doubt
not, demand to be placed on the same footing as
their Northern brethren, and even prefer that
the Government should let new Pacific railroad
bills follow the fate of their predecessors, rather
than only one route, and that one from the ex-
IRENE North, should receive the patronage of
Congress.