The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-06-27
Sonthern Pacific Railrnad

Ou fcRGefS VIII remember MI. BentonS great SpeCl
delivered IN congress few years ago, the suffice
OF the Pacific raroad-then beginning to be discsseC
through the eountry-the project having first origin
ated, II we rightly remember, with Mr. Asa Whitaey
a gentleman of wealth residing in the city of New
, lork who proposed if we are not mistaken to urier
take the construction of the entire stupendous route
provided he could get grants of land from congress
along each side sufficient to its completion
and justify its inception. But congress with the Gus
tomary wisdom and foresight for which that astute
body Is so remarkable, chose to receive the project
coldiy and finally TO ignore the whole thing and pre-
terred to have measure fraught with the uHiate
true glory and prosperity of the country to die OF
neglect, and turned with never tagging zeal agaA Ia
the agitation of the perpetual negro, which falv
brought on war the like of which the world never
saw before and may it never see again--which had
It's results, which feeling in part and which
our chdren's children are vet to feel TO the tenth
generation-ending in the freedom Of al uufortnQae
who doomed to perish because thee are free
and with deep principles Of sectional hatred implanted
IN the two superior races-which threaten vet to de-
strog that boosted liberty in the name of which the
conflict was waged, aud cost the country enoIgh
money to have built hundred Pacific railroads and
to have erected school houses and churches on
square mile of settled country on the continent Of
North America If the Pacific railroad at the time
Mr.. Whitney memorialsed congress on the subject
had been put upon its course of completion hv Shat
bodys passing bill to that effect and thus vitiIsinr
and reaisng project they then deemed visionary
negro 1t might have diverted away from this unhappv
country the storm of war then gathering in tie Hin
tance with its faint muterings heard from afar out
needed not by the uuwary Yes if the great national
project of Pacific railroad had at that time been AN
dertaken under law of congress- and pushed thro&gh
with the labor of many men as were killed and
wounded at the battle of Shiloh the rich conmerce of
Il world would have been thus diverted to our co1n-
/ try-and secured TO us forever-makng as the nrst
country on the globe in wealth, and constituting us
one people for all time to come 1t wouId 6sve
drawn the angry lightning from the threatening elend
of war and conducted it harmless to the earth N
would have built us up to mighty position in egm-
merce it would have put into our hands the scaftr
which rules the world. 1t would have cemented :be
bonds ol union among our people, for indssoluble
bonds of iron wogld then have bound them II yc.Ia
have made all Europe tributary to us and all the c,r
geous wealth of the Indies would in time have been
For its trade which has hitherto enriched
every nation that controlled it would then inevitably
have fallen like ripe fruit into our laps
But yet it the radical congress ia the ascsn
dant Washington instead of throwing every obsea
Gle in the way of the president towards reconstruction
and harmony among cur nation just emerging from
sectional war, and employing their time in depsag
schemes to elevate the negro and themselves irto
office, would cease to negroise-even for breatb3o
spelland lend their aid proper legislation to con
pete the great Southern Pacific railroad company Of
Texas, which would stretch its mighty arm across nnr
continent with its fingers grasping and holding every
met ana outict Oh trade-raversng the greatest cot
ton belt on the habtable globe-and passing an5st
every foot of its way over rich and bountif9I soil in
mild climate where forms no obstruction Ito
travel free from expensive streams to bridce-no
deep cuts heavy fills to make-and not single TIM
mel on the route. We say, if they would do tits /
now, while it is called to-day and abandon their mid
legislation about the negro they might vet bind the
south to them with hooks of steel and bands of iron H
and cement our hitherto glorious Union together far
Let it be built-let it go forward And Ietiit
become the heart ct our nations prosperity and tae
channel of commerce for all the world when evnrv
civilised nation under the sun shall there pour NOR
tion of its wealth into the streams of cur commerce
to enrich happy and reunited people and render
them the soveregns of the cvilised world-rulin Ev
the gentle arts OF peace-and by the extension of their
commerce impanting their free institutions in eveFy
land where the sun shines the clouds are poured +
out in rains. 4
TO continue the subject of tho Southern Pacific
railroad, we would remark that Mr.. Burkhard ageat
on Main street. has shown US map of the route which
the company are building from Shreveport La to I'll
Pas9, Texas, and which they are now pushing forward
to its terminus with great zeal and industry havin
large number of hands constantly at work and hit-
ing already finished it far Marshall Texas and
the will be BIZ the first of August next running
regularly between the two points, carving an in- F
mense amount of freight and large numbers of DasSe
gers 1t is estimated that l2O 900 bales of cotton vii,
be shipped this year by the company on their roa1
from Marshall to Shreveport distance of fortv.tyo
mesyieding for this item slone tariff of s2400CG Ii
This Tact alone gives evidence Of the present ability o
the road to pay all expenses and Weld handsome III
come, besides giving earnest of future prosperity!
These facts afford encouraging for investing il
the stock of the company, which there is no doubt
will pay its holders handsomely in the course Of
time, If 1t does not at once yield profit The State
of Texas has with great generosity and to encoura5
the enterprise, donated to the company sixteen see.
tons of land 0,240 acres for every mile of road
constructed, beside loanng $4,000 for every mile al
six per cent interest per annum and without exacne
Of the company any extra tax or bonus the Stat5
oi Illinois did OF the Illinois Central road who pay to
he State seven per cent of their gross earning and
which reases to the State sufficient revenue to nav M
expense OF its governments. y
What will be the effect OF this Southern Pacific rail-
'oad to the State Of Texas? Why to bring to 5t3 ,
rms the hardy pioneer, the mechanic the farmer aid
thriving German enigrants, and build up the Stare j
With tceming population of thriving hearty aud il
lustrious citizens, who will in few wears more than
loudly pay for all its generous gifts to this great ems
erprise. ~
There is other fact which should not he overs .
ooked and is, that the road does not come in conn
elton with any navigable stream, being above tbe :
avgabe point Of all the State. Hi
Louisville Industrial and Commercial Gazette ),
CoTToN STATENENT.-We find communication overiE y
le signature OF IN, in the Mobile Register and Ad II
ertser, which we deem of interest the public We
produce in our columns not much for the sound d
ess of the argument against the tax of five cents Oh III
Dtton bat for the facts enumerated
The stock of in Liverpool bv the end Of InIt
ext at the present rate of consumption and exuorf
i'll be about 100000 bales; same time in 1861 ii -
as lG6I 900 bales, in 1850 ,2S3 600 IN 1850 4
14 0J0 in 1858 it was $4,000, and in 1857 47600h n
lles :,
The prce Of cotton in LIVERPOOL Sd Of August 18ee y.
ms, for ordinary to low midding American &a51d in
I'd 2d5sd of same quality Of Surat and East india ta
ne average years import for ten years from 1912 to