Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-02-15
THE ENP0RTAXCE ar CONGRESS-
lssNAL AID T0 THE SOUTHERN PA.
CHIC RAILWAY
BY voLNEY z. HOWARD.
RESOURCES OF AR1zoNA.

/ RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
In relation to the route from the Rio
Grande to the Colorado, Lieut.. Beale
agrees in the main with Whipple. That
the route is highly advantageous, and
traverses 8 country containing large
area of good agricultural land, aud 4 re-
gion abounding in grazing, water, wood
ana timbe and rich In mineral resources.
since these reports were made, not only
rieh deposits OF the precious metals have
been discovered, but rich mines OF lead,
copper and iron, which would alone sup
port a railway. Mountains of salt have
/ also been discovered in Arizona and New
Mexico, which will be found of the
greatest benefit, not only for general use,
but the working of the mines. There is
no longer any doubt that both Arizona
and New Mexico are destined 10 aston
ishing development by the means of
railway.
CALIFORNIA FREIGHTs.
The Southern road will tap one of the
hnest grazing regions Of the world Pre-
vlous to. the rebellion, a large business
was carried on by driving cattle from
Texas to Illinois, where they were fat
tened for season, aud then transported
to New York and other markets, on the
railroad. The vast gramina plains of
New Mexico and Arizona will ultimately
be turned to account in the same WAy.
A writer in a late number of the Mer-
chants MdgdziRe shows from the stats
ties that railways are already taking the
lead of the New York canals in the trans
portation of Western produce.
From Southern California we can send
forward the product OF our mines, wool,
Wine, oil, brandy, hides, tallOw, the or
aDge, the lemon, the olive, the pome-
granate, the walnut and the almond.
The grape OF California is the most lus-
cious table grape Of the world, and could
he so packed as to arrive in New York
and other markets in perfect presetve-
ton. Mr.. Keller, of Los Angeles, a few
years since, shipped box by the way of
Panama, 70 Mr.. LOngwOrth, of Cinein-
natl, which arrived in tolerable preserva-
ton by that route, and some Of the finest
punches were exhibited by MIR. Long
worth ss euriOsities in the principal no
tells. By railway they would arrive in
perfect condition.
The people in the Southern counties
should cultivate extensively the orange
and other sem.-.ropical products II
they plant the trees now, they may be |
sure of q railway transportation before |
they are in fun bearing; and, as these |
fruits do not besr transportation through |
the tropics by sea, we can never have |
any successful competition.
In what other part of the Union can |
you grow the ceresls, all sorts Oi vegeta-
bles, the orange, the lemon, and almost /
every other fruit on the same farm?
ROUTE FROM THE COLORADO.
The survey of Lieut. Whipple contem-
plated that the railroad would reach San
Pedro by way of the Csj0n Pass. Sui
sequent explorations have demon
strated that the true route is by the |
San Gorgorio Pass, through San Ber
nardino, as shorter in distance and bet
ter supplied with timber and water. Be.
sides, from the San G0rgOriO, San Diego,
in l2O miles, can be reached, as well as
San Pelro, and it is of the utmost i'm
portanee that the road should connect
with both these posts, as we'll as San
Francisco.
From the Los Angeles Valley the true
route is by one Cf the passes through the
San Fernando Range, and into the Tu-
lare Valley by the pass OF the TehRlta-
pee. and thence through that valley aud
the San JOcquin to San Francisco. These
are both important agricultural regions
The Tulare is extensive and has great
agricultural power. 1t is known 10 have
extensive beds Of asphsltum, and is be-
lieved to possess large deposits of oil. 1t
il a country that cannot be developed
Without railroad, but with one will add
largely to the commerce OF the Stale.
ROAD FROM DENVER TO CALIFORNIA.
One Of the branches of the Union Pa
cific Railroad Is now engaged in survey
ing, with the view Of construction of a
branch from Dsnver City, which will
soon be reached by the Central road, to
o3 the Rio Graude, a dis
tance of $50 miles from thence to the
Colorado is 440 miles, and from the Col
Drado TO San Francisco, 740. These dis
tsnces may be increased by the detours
Of the -osd. A road from Albuquerque,
2iO miles, would intersect, near FL Paso,
tae Texas Central at Van Buren,, refsrred
to in De Boi0. By making this short
connection, California Will practically
have two roads-one by the thirty secoad
and the other by the thirty-iifth parallel.
rEXAs ROAD ON THIRTY-sECoND PAR
ALLEB.
Ia 1860 g French company proposed to
advance sixteen millions OF dollars to
construct the road from the Texas line,
near Shreveport, on the Red River, to
FL PasC, on the Rio Grande. The ar
was broken off by the civil
,
peace, and will be carried into effect as
soon as Texas is restored to her position
m the Union. This route, as stated by
he writer in De BO1U as well as the rail
'oad explorers, passes through country
IF great agricultural power, and which
has also such mineral resource.
There is no reason to doubt that the (
donations OF land to the Atlantic and
and Pacific Railroad will OF themselves
enable the company to construct the
Dad in time. But it will take too long |
period if the company is compelled to j
-ely on the sales of land There is no
good reason why we should not ask Of
Congress an advance of bonds 10 the
amount Of $lG,C00 to the mile, to the ex
ent CT the advance to the Central road.
DAN OF BONDS BY THE GOVERNMENT.
The Government could take mort
rage on the road to secure principal and
interest, requiring the Company to pay
be interest as it Rccrues, 50 that il will
)e, in fact, only a loan of its credit !
With these bonds the Company could go
ntO the market and raise the money for
be rapid construction of the road. Nor
Fonld l object to see the same loan of
'redit to the road 70 Puget Sound. A /
oan of about thirty millions to each
Dad would be sufficient TO enable the t
to construct these great na- !
ional works in a few years. There :
would be no risk to the Government, as
be companies would give ample security g
n the mortgage, even If they failed, as I
be bonds would be issued only on the !
completion of the road by sections of !
twenty-five miles On the lines adopted /
ne roads would more than pay expenses
md interest, as constructed. II the road =
we're commenced on the Pacific, the Col L
rsdO and the Arkansas at the same :
ime, each section of twenty-five miles /
you'd pay as fast as constructed. The }
iovernment would gain in the sale of :
Is public domain, in the growth of the /
ouptry, the increase of revenue, and il
be transportation of military stores and ;
be mails. With these roads constructed 2
cross the Continent, it would have no Il
lrtber necessity for expensive Indian l
vars. 1t would be a wise economy to :
educe the army and increase railroads u
o the frontiers. v
The Government has expended more
. the late Indian war than it would u
ave cost to construct the Northern road, 7
Which would have prevented, il. It
7ould be great economy in the Govern
nent TO loan its credit to the construction :
: these roads to the Pacific to the
mount of sixty millions, thirty to each
Dad, which would be ample, If it had to {
sy the bonds in the end, of which there
no probability. Indian hostilities can
e most economically prevented by fur
ishing the means Of cheap Immigration
o the over-crowded population Of the
atlantic centers, aud transferring the n
immigration at once to the
treat West, instead Of retaining it for
ears In the Atlantic citles.
Nor is there any doubt Of the power of {
congress to aid in the construction of c,
hese roads. As stout q State Rights .
nan as Jefferson Davis contended, both
Secretary OF War and after ards in
n the SpEafa that fba oonnnot;o, aFALa