Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-10-04
THE EVENING NEWS.
Fourth Ward Club Meeting.

treneiy unpleasant oy the showers OF IN
preceding twelve hours. The time 70
meeting was marked by particular unpro
pitiousness of descending and under-foo
wet. About thirty denizens of the ware
assembled at the Club-room, to listen Z
the remarks of Col. Summer. Some en-,
rolling business was done prior to the in.
PRODUCTION Of the Speaker. Col. Sumner
opened with illusions to the badness o.
the weather and the consequent sparseness
of his audience. He reminded his hear.
ers, however, that whenever two or three
were gathered together in a righteous
cause, there the spirit of truth pronounced
a blessing and impaired a genial influence.
The sudden and severe inclemency of the
weather ought not, perhaps, to surprise
US. The so-called Democratic party were
holding their County Convention in the
house where the road agents lately ap-
peared for justice, and the elements un-
doubtedly were sympathetic in their char
acter and action. That County Conven-
ton, or a Committee proceeding from the
same were then engaged in fixing up the
platform of the campaign for that party /;
very likely though, labors in that direc-
ton would be protracted to a late hour OF
the night; and if in the deep night watches
Union men had their eyelids Of slumber
cut by the devilish glare of a lightning
stroke-that might shatter the American
flagstaff on Mount Davidson-and their
ears stunned by internal thunder-clap
reverberations, they might know that the
platform was born and endorsed-especi-
ally. if with the recovered darkness and
silence there came a compound stencil Of
sulphur and eGu de cologne. 1t had been
announced that he would devote his at
tention for the evening principally to a
consideration of the subject Of Pacific
Railroad" Begging their patience for
the dryness of the topic, considered in de-
tail. he hoped hat it might be set over
against the moisture of the night. He then
proceeded to give a sketch Of Congressional
and Legislative action concerning the Pa
cifc Railroad and its branches. He rap
idly recounted the efforts made nominally
and bona Edely toward the inauguration
of this great work, by the Democratic
party prior to the war. He reminded his
hearers Of the perfdy of Buchanan and
his supporters on this subject; how he
had directly pledged himself to the people
of California-indeed his platform pledged
him-to do all in his power to start and
urge on this National enterprise. He
made some telling points on this branch
of his remarks against the old Democracy,
which he logically commended came down
upon the relics of that once powerful po-
litical organization with redoubled force.
He epitomized the Pacific Railroad bills /;
summed the appropriations granted; de-
scribed all the work known to have been
performed under them. The statements
were clear, evidently accurate and very
interesting. The Colonel then recited the
action of our own Legislature in regard TO
railroad matters stated he believed that
the correct recital was in itself a justifica-
ton of the action of the Senate and Assem-
bly,, before the people, as against any and
all criticism and abuse. No one in the Leg
islature, by act or word, had proposed TO
take from the branch Of the Pacific Rail
road, known as the Central Pacific Of
California, one dollar of money subsidy or
one acre. of land. He never heard such a
suggestion made in or about the Legisla-
tive halls by any member. Certainly he
never expressed such a desire or enter
tanned such a thought; and all assertions
to the contrary were ~groundless. He
would lay no obstacles in the way Of any
proposed road across the mountains, but
would as ardently as any man advocate
aid consistent and commensurate with
the wants of the constructing COM
pany or companies and the ability
of those men whom he represented
70 extend that aid. AS well say that a
citizen of Nevada was opposed to the dis
covery of new Comstock veins as to say a
citizen was opposed to any railroad lead
ing into our State, or constructed within
il. Better say of such a citizen, he is q
fool,-or he is traduced as to his opinions.
The Central Pacific Company had now
abundant means for the building OF the
road across their route. So they said.
They did not ask for more; only desired
70 be " let alone" Such had been their
recent communication TO parties who had
visited their offices and working camps.
They were not entering complaints against
any one; and he believed they had not
authorized any one to cry out in their
name. A route had been surveyed from
Placerville, the terminus of the Sacramento
Valley and Placerville Railroad, to the
State line of Nevada,-a thorough instru-
mental survey, embracing a location Of q
practicable line and an estimate Of guam
tity and cost of work required. A pre-
liminary survey had been run from Lake
Valley to the base Of the Eastern slope.
The company incorporated for the con-
struction OF a road over this route desired
from or would petition Congress for a
right of way and a land grant on their be-
half. The Colonel was in favor of the
granting Of the prayer of such a petition.
Senators Stewart and Nye had stated that
they were in favor of it. No reasonable
objection could be urged against it. On
the contrary, it would be the worst OF
policy for Nevada to interpose objection
10 such a call upon the Government which
was in every sense rational and right. An
already surveyed line; a simple request
for right of way and a donation Of land
otherwise comparatively worthless) was
surely a very proper matter lot lhe eh-
dorsement Of the intelligent people Of
Nevada. We have only afforded a very
slight sketch of the Colonel's talk on this
subiect,-his remarks were clear, straight
forward an instructive. He showed he
understood the subject thoroughly knew
the history of the great enterprise from its
first suggestion down, step by step, and
had no other feeling or notice concerning
it than one connected with an enlightened
desire and resolve to promote so far as ne
could the best interests Of our people. 1t
had been said that he was opposed to the
Pacific Railroad, and it might be said that
he was opposed to the China Mail Bill or
INV other measure of National impor-
tance,-all with equal truth. Turning to
consider the political issues and signs OF
the times. he stated the character OF
the claimed democratic victories in
49, lI ~E