New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-02
P1JLPoADS on NEW PRINCIPLES.

Three Congressional bills for promoting I'M
portant Railroad projects in different regions
have lately been presented by different Sena-
torS. in accordance with suggestions in Me-
MORALS from Lorenzo sherwood. Rarely are
measures of equal popular interest presented
for consideration in or out OF the Capitol.
Where franchises aud bounties are solicited by
or for corporations stringent rules should he
prescribed for securing adequate restraint over
corporate mpacity and coTuptiOn-a restraint
never hitherto properly provided for, and GER
tainly never before voluntarily suggested and
urged by applicants for Railroad grants. In
this latter respect, and in contrast to all former
applications for Congressional encouragement
toward Railroads the memorials of Mr. Sher-
wood like the aforementioned bills, are
worthy Of more than ordinary attention. Equal
Rights Economy, and Safety are prominent
features in the present movements.
First: The bill introduced by Senator Nye
from the Committee on Naval Affairs, is for
encouraging Coal Supply Company" to es-
tablsh :" uaval and marine coal depot on the
Eastern Shore of Ncw-J Jersey, aud for other
purposes" among which latter is the supply OF
the public, rs well as the Government, with
fuel at g1eatly reduced rates~
Second: The bill of Senator Henderson OF
Missouri provides for a Military and Postal
Railway from the Gulf of Mexico, at Galveston,
upward through Texas, the Indian Territory
and Arkansas, to connect with the great. rail-
way range between the Atlantic and Pacific
lhid: Though last not least, the bill pre-
sented by Senator Harlan of Iowa ex-Secretnry
of the Interior, proposes encouragement Tor
an atlantic and Pacific Freight Railway,
TO facilitate and cheaper the transit Of treiJht
through the vast interior between the ocean
termini.
The fact that all these bills embrace several
propositions never before included in Railroad
legislation renders it desirable that the new
features should be promptly and fully under
stood by the people.
II is proposed that wei built double-tlack
railroads on the several routes shall be organ
lied on the plan OF running trains at a WV0rm
rate of Speed-say ten miles an hOur-so that
no one train can interfere with another, and
that all can certainly accomplish their journeys
in the shortest practicable time, and with con-
se1uent lowest cost for freight-the trains
never having to go on side tracks to wait Tor
lightning express or mail trams-the traiAs
going in one direction, say Eastward, to take
one track, and those going westward the other
track, of course-the business to be so systenlc
atzed, by telegraph and general regulations,
a. to pyQyile iGg SwiIeliDg trains on or off
the ttagN at the towns along the routes where
such tiAls lelQpg, -
A Viii Point III each of these Railroad bills
is that. WHICH requires that the new routes shall
be NJJNa open on e1Nal terms, like the Erie
and other canals 10 all PERSONS who may choose
% 5ay tolls and put conveyanees on them for
freight or passcnseys~thus cOunteracting the
tendencies toward RAILROAD monopoly. Other
provisions aip at securing the interests Of the
public and the shareholders by rigid fPancial
rules resbettibg stock, mortgages, and general
nnianagement-in addition to the not unusual
requirement in Congressional Railroad laws
that the National Government shall have the
right of transporting its mails, arms, men, sup
blies, and munitions OF war, free Of charge.
Illustration Of the proposed movement OF
railroad freight trains with uniform velocity
may be found in tho endless bands with buckets
for elevatUg grain to tho lofts Of st0gelVlSes