Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-01-21
rur PACIFIC

GOVernWeus 1890
other strip ofthe Union Pacific Railroad
through Omaha is in acceptable condi-
t;on Thereupon Government bonds
ill he issued to the company at the
ate of sixteen thousand dollars per
liz and another princely gift Of land
viii mass into the control of the mana
gers. \. hr;,t
without delay. If built, they would
bene6t the government and the people
an greatly that even the considerable
eYnsnse incurred in their construction
would be a most profitable investment.
We do not forget that the building Of
these roads is Of incalculable Importance
to st. Louis. For that reason, we feel
the more anxious that the measures
adopted BY Congress TO aid these enter
nrises shall not be such as to waste en-
ormous gums of money and to throw
vast tracts of land into the hands of
spectators, and at the same time to
prevent the completion of the much.
needed routes. We very much fear that
such is the practical effect Of the mea-
sures hitherto adopted by Congress, and
a regard for the true interests of this
city as we'll as of the country compels
US to ask public attention to the matter.
Take the Omaha route, for example.
Of course, with sixteen thousand dollars
per mile, and alternate square miles Of
land on either side from government,
the work goes on swimmingly enough.
We are told that It is very cheaply and
badly executed; that the grading Is bad,
ties are loose, and accidents are Of ire
uuent occurrence; and there IL abund-
ant reason to fear that the company is
building the road as cheaply as 1t can
without encountering the censure OF
commissioners, whose pleasant trips
over the route are perhaps as thoroughly
attended to as the actual construction
of the track. But all these things are
incidental to most great enterprises, and
can be corrected if the road will ever be
finished. And, for the present, the
road is being built rapidly, If not IN
every respect as we'll as it should be.
For the present: but how long will
this last? The sixteen thousand dol
lars per mile is being paid, though the
road is now being laid over the level
part of the route where there are no en-
cheering difficulties to speak Of, and
where the expense Of its construction is
comparatively light. Also, the lands
are accepted by the company without
much reluctance, being very valuable.
OF course, the company is becoming
enormously rich. Its income is at its
maximum; its expenses are at its mini
mum. By the time the road has been
pushed to the point where the real diff
Guilty and expense Of construction be-
| gins, the managers and the company
will have had opportunity to accumu-
late an enormous wealth. For, if the
| intention of the Government was to
| give such aid as would enable them to
| build the whole road, the amount re-
ceiyed for the eastern end of it must be
enormously in xce of actual outlay.
So, with princely fortunes for persons
| interested already accumulated and in
possession, the company comes to the
| point where the construction begins to
| cost more than the Government pays.
1t comes to barren and wild districts,
where the land is comparatively value
less. 1t comes to the mountainous re-
gion, where the cost of building really
begins. What then?
Congress meant that with the accu-
mulated wealth the company should
complete the more difficult and costly
portion Of the route, where the lands
will be, for the present at least, nearly
worthless, and where the loan from
Government will not begin to meet the
outlay per mile. 1t was the intention
to give the company so handsome asub-
/ sidy for one part of the work that they
could afford to build the rest. Will
they do it2 With princely fortunes al
ready realized, will they go on to e1-
pend those fortunes in completing the
work and fulfilling their contract.
Suppose some business man should
| hire a builder to put up a store, agree
ing to pay ten thousand dollars after
every ten feet of brich had been laid,
but nothing at all for roofing and finish
ing. Would he expect ever to see 1t
fnished2 Every mar can judge for him
self whether this is the surest way to
get a work Of enormous difficulty &C.
complished. Human nature is weak.
| Temptations are many. But we know
of no set of men in this country who
have Just at present 80 much reason to
pray "Lead US not into temptation" as
the managers Of the Union Pacific Rail-
road. .g
We have no doubt that these gentle
men are as honest as men ever are IN
this world. But we do not think that
the completion of q work Of such vast
Importance should be left solely to the
honesty Of purpose Of men who when
they reach its real difficulties, will have
already gained all that they a hope to
gain from the Government bounty. Bet
ter give to every one of these gentlemen
q princely fortune after the whole work
has been completed If the work can
once be finished, the country can we'll
afford to enrich everybody connected
with the enterprise. But it cannot
afford to make them rich, and afterward
hire somebody else to build the road.
We believe that the grants to all Pa
cifc railroad companies ought to be
made in fact as well az in theory wholly
conditional upon the satisfactory COM
pletion of the work. For example, it is
proposed to give away lands enough to
make a comfortable farm for every poor
man in the country. Wedo not grudge
an acre of It, nor should the govern
ment, If the roads to the Pacific will be
built. But we do not believe that the
title to these lands, with the power to
sell them, ought ever to pass from gov
eminent until the whole road has been
finished. With so rich a prize to re-
ward the completion Of their task, tho
companies will be pretty sure to do their
best to overcome its difficulties. Con-
gress ought to investigate this matter
without delay. By slight changes in
the terms of the grants, it o secure
| the object which alone q justify the
enormous expenditure already author
lied. Let 1t deal as literally as it
| chooses with the men who actually
build q railroad to the Pacific, but let it
| not enrich them at the outset and then
leave them to build the road or not as