Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-09-07
..fCommunlcated.l
RAILROAD ROUTES OVER THE
MOUNTAINS.

"OS
Mr.. EpIroR: In your notice of my
speech, delivered in Gold Hill, last Mon
day evening, you attribute to me the
following:
"On the Pacific Railroad question. Mr..
Stewart expressed himself favorable to
both routes from Californis-Placerville
and Dutch Flat-and as the Central Pa
ci6c already had as much from the Gov
eminent a. they could reasonably ask, he
would use his best exertions in Congress
next Winter to obtain q land grant and
subsidies for the Placerville route"
You must have Inexperienced the
tenor Of my remarks, for I did not intend
to express the views contained in the para
graph above quoted. I hope you will
regard the Importance Of the subject, and
my desire to be distinctly understood
upon all matters affecting the interests Of
Nevada, az q sufficient apology for this
intrusion upon your columns. The fol-
lowing Is my position upon the subject
under consideration. Liberal subsidies
having already been granted by Govern
ment to the corporation having in charge
the construction Of a railroad over the
Dutch Flat route, and = large amount OF
those subsidies having been expended in
the construction Of the work, and believ-
ing a. l do that the route selected is en-
tirely practicable, I regard all efforts to
divert the money of the Government to
other companies or different routes, tend
ing to diminish the probability Of the con-
struction Of any road whatever. All
publications, representations and argu-
ments used for the purpose Of exaggerat-
ing the difficulties thereof, or convincing
the public that the wrong route has been
adopted. so far as they have any bearing
upon the subject, tend to impair the
credit of the company and retard the con.
struction of the only road that has any
reasonable chance Of speedy completion.
The Central Pacific Company is the only
company with means adequate to such an
enterprise, or which Is now prosecuting
the building Of any railroad with vigor.
All arguments used to prove that the
Bonner Lake route is impracticable are
extremely dangerous, for they may be
urged with equal force against all quite
crossing the State of Nevada, and may
awaken q desire on the part Of Govern
ment 10 return 10 the much eulogized
Southern route through Texas and Ari.
n 1t is true. that what is known as
the Central route has been selected, but
owing to the fact that the eastern end has
fallen into the hands of spectators and
stock .jobbers, who have not yet com
menced the main trunk from the Missouri
river, there has been no irrevocAble drdi.
cation Of that route by q large expenditure
Of money. There is great dissatisfaction
on the part Of Government with the
management Of the companies having
charge Of that portion Of the road, and
a growing and strong public sentiment at
the East in favor Of the Government itself
assuming control Of that portion Of the
road and building it under the constitu-
tinnal authorization Of military highway.
There has been no expenditure Of money
at the eastern end to prevent q change Of
route with a change of management. The
only security we have against opening
anew the vexed question Of conflicting
routes, which has so long delayed the
commencement Of this great enterprise. is
what has been done. and Is still being
done. upon the western end. In view Of
these facts is it not Of the utmost impor-
lance to the people Of Nevada to encour
age and hasten the construction Of the
road over the route adopted, and 10 avoid
all agitation tending to weaken the conf
dence Of Government or Eastern capital
lists in the enterprise which promises q
railroad through this Statei / did say
that I had no objection to any number Of
railroads over the Sierra Nevada Noun.
,ains, and I suppose every citizen Of Ne
vada will say the same; but I did not In
tend to be understood to intimate that Il
would be either wise or prudent. At pres
ent. to ask Congress for a subsidiary In
money for any route. But I did say, and
have repeatedly said. that there was no
improperly in applying at once. for 4 land
srtnt for the Placerville route. For such
grant there are abundant precedentS, and
I would take great pleasure, If the appli-
cation were made, in exerting any inau.
ence I may possSss to secure such grant.
Yours respectfully.
,:WILLIAx N. SrxwA1r.
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