New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-19
PACIFIC RAILROAD GRANTS.

10 tie Editor Of The Tribune
SIN. You copy this morning paragraph
from The Epen0 POSta paragraph emanating from the
washington correspondent of The Cincinnati CONNER
I ON tbo proposed Pacific Railroads. which is calcu-
lated 10 mislead your readers, If unexplained.
II there represented that several companies are seek
ing aid for the construction Of various lines OF railroad 10
fbe Pacific making in the aggregate an enormous
amount 1t should be stated that some OF these corpora
lions are merely rival candidates for the same aid over
the same route while others fictitious and irrcspon-
be concerns put forward to embarrass the genuine ana
deserving claims Of the others Now for the facts:
1t is morally certain that at no distant day three
great of railroad will traverse the territory between
the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean, Railroads are
more vitality useful at this day than are ships OF war OF
standing armies. The United States have now most
encoulagin outlook on the Pacific Ocean, and the
immense industrial military, and cvlllzing interests OF
the intermediate regions daily attracting more ana
moro attention. BY an iberal and narrow policy the
Government retard and depress this advance nan
century. BY judicOus and enlightened poilcy OF
guarded encouragement TO such of these Internal I'M
provements as are responsible hands and to such only
s the re1uIrements Of the country need, 1t can hasten
the development of the Western trade and settlements
fifty years add hundreds OF millions 10 'he IaAple
national wealth. dispense with its army on the Hooi'
and at tho same time not eIend an dddon~ oo''d' ~
The ppbiic rereWeS 1t is manifest to any ono WHO WI"
Give the subject consideration that the requirements Oh
sueh course and that instead OF being loss 10 inc
national treasury, it is positive GAIN
II The Government has tried the experiment OF en-
couracement in thecase Of the Central Line WIN inc
most satisfactory and gratifying results Inc haton mas
been enabled to dispense with numerous forts and troops
required for the frontiers the schedule time between san
Francisco across territory has been reduced W
Il 6avs and Will soon be reduced TO six, and all TINS wit
ont the loss of dollar 10 the Government The WORK Is
hene pusbed with unexamped vigOr but could not nave
been completed within 20 years but for TINS hdorsemen'
of the Government The indications arc that tns snee
line will be unequal TO the requirements OF tie volume
! OF traffic.
ITT Now n sbonld he understood that Government
| uv'ernhrh'
does not ore one dollar this line 10 only loans the as
OF its credit for given time to the extent OF less than
half the cost OF the roads and takes very ample soour
y for the debt beside requiring IL to be repaid in full
| principal and interest The Government is the prnopa
customer OF tho road and 1t is easily shown that thu
transportation services and the proportion OF tho earn
ngs reserved by the Government winOt only moro thai
pay the interest upon the bonds loaned but will be suf
cent to repay both principal and interest before tho
maturity Nay more, the actual saving TO tho Govern
men the cost of transporting mails troops and stores
actually exceeds the total interest paid out temporarily
by the Government its bonds SO that though 1t gve
nothing 1t could afford to make the whole loan gift
and stu gain by the transaction.
" OF theoher;wo lines proposed, Is lnohoatt
matter while Other is strong and important reality
The Northern Pacific RAILROAD will day be built tn,
great Northwest demands it, and the success and ecOnO
my Of the other two will warrant It, Meanwhile oil thu
important interests be accommodated by branol
line interesting the Central Trunk route cay at TIN
north bend Of the Humboldt River and thus afford relic
TO the Oregon and Washington settlements What lie
importance is the Southwestern route. Kansa
Pacific Railroad IL is commonly called whieh nedr
400 miles built. and which trAverses regions
immense agricultural wealth 1t Is estimated that LOAF
of less than forty millions In bonds the terms
to the Central route, would suffice TO carry this line
San Francisco, and would give double line Of
muncatOn with the Pacific at all OF the yeaI
Now, Sir. IL seems that should, by simply grantin
tho Of this amount OF bonds accomplish two desirable
things-do away with the necessity for out
posts and garrisons, which OF immense cost
and open up a country which would lead straight 4
specie payments. The Government VIII not lose dollar
the people and the Will gain enormously. Thu
Congress has the right to maintain post roads and 4
provide for the defense; there be any
reason for Withholding that encouragement which cost
nOthlngl
II will not have escaped your notice that the objections
OF The Post grow out OF the fact that these roads b.
built OF American iron of the best quality As
| aQement American industry, these great nationa
enterprises have special claims to fair hearing Re
| specially yours, II. T. o.