Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-05-18
Memphis Ell Faso and Pacific Rail.
road

We had the pleasure to announce the ar
rival of Hon. b. H. Epperson, President,
and James NJ Daniel Chief Engineer and
Superintendent of the Memphis Ell Paso
and Pacific Railroad in our last issue.
These gentlemen are just from New York,
where they have been since last May, with
the exception of a short trip home last fall,
constantly engaged in perfecting arrange
ments TO build the NJ, FL p. p. Railroad
These gentlemen who have had this en-
terprize in charge, have had almost insup-
cradle difficulties to overcome not the least
among which were the political difficulties
and the uncertainty of every thing in the
South That they have been able to effect
anything, is rather II matter Of surprise, as
well as congratulation. The people of Tex
us, and especially the citizens Of this por-
ton of our State, have it now in their pow
er to secure the construction of this road
II is expected that the people and State
will do what ever they can to promote this
project. If the people exhibit spirit of
hostility to it, or throw distractions in the
way, the construction will not only be re-
tarded, but may be defeated. The capital
lists who have undertaken its construction
do not wish to exclude the people of Texas
from any participation or interest in it, but,
on the contrary, they anxiously desire that
they shall lend n helping hand TO become
interested to the ex tent of their ability and
means, knowing the fact that the citizens
Of the country, in protecting his own
means and interest in the road and in the
State, will be the more fully guaranteed
that his own is protected. They want the
people on the line especially to become the
owners of the stock, and thereby owners of
the road Knowing the inability of the
people of Texas to pay money for this stock,
they propose TO take lands within 20 miles
of the line, at twice its taxable valuation,
and issue full paid stock in payment there
for. The party thus paying his stock not
Parting with the title or deeds TO the land
until the road shall be placed in running
order through the country in which the
land is situated Further, tbey propose to
pay all taxes on the lands thus contracted
for stock, from the date that parties shall
sign the necessary documents.
Suppose the people on the line Of road
should deed one half ofiheir lands and there
by secure the construction Of this road,
would not the other half be worth FIVE times
the whole at present? Would it not be the
best investment they could maker The
ih0u0OlutT nus uOlliihE i'tt II Aht iNeu 70
not built. This proposition is so obviously
fair we cannot see why half million acres
Of land cannot in this way be obtained.
Hitherto Col. Epperson and Maj. Daniel,
almost alone have devoted their time and
money TO this project, and they have put il
on the best footing ofany road in the South;
they have succeeded in brining it into ia
vorable notice throughout the United States,
England and France. They have obtained
the means necessary to commence the work,
and the energetic contractor, Maj. }. II.
Pratt has organized an effective force to
push forward the work with energy, he
having received ten thousand dollars worth
Of carts, barroEs, &C., with which 10 com
mence operations. The work on the road
is now progressing. The clearing Of the
line is going forward, and the roadbed Is
being graded ss Of yore, but will progress
much faster 30 soon hs the Engineers can
lay of the work for the Contractor. The
line has to be relocated, as al the stakes
have disappeared. The base Of success Of
these gentlemen has been the land grant
from the State and the ressrvati0n--Je-
fsrs0n BuUefin.