The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-12-16
Railroad Communication with the Pacific
EosEcRAss' LETTER.

Railroad Communication with the Pacific.
EosEcRASs LETTER.
Believing the time was fully ripe for obtaining Con
gressonal aid for the construction of the Southern
route to the Pacific ard fearing the conflict of rival
interests the Only immediate impeachment, likely to
postpone present aid in last weekly issue we sug
gested what, consider, the basis Of a compromise,
to secure the one and prcgeEt the other. Our sng-
gcstion and j. for Simultaneous and cooperate
acton from St. Lo2is on the North and Galveston
the South, for an immediate application for Congress
soua aid, for Southern Pacific, whose initial
point is the point Of intersection, or junction,
of the three roads, the present Southern Pacific, the
Memphis and Eipaso and Texas Central We expressed
the opinion, that this point, to be determined by
agreement Of the companies upon accurate survey
would be in the neighborhood of either Dallas Fort
WORTH Wesvcnture to ask the opinion Of the press
upon this important subject.
Since the publication Of our remarks referred to
we haze the letter Of General Rosecrans the
subject of Railroad Communication with Pacific
possessions In tho main, we heartily with
him, that We publish bis letter i'll full. We differ
from him, only upon TIE essential point Of the begin
ming Of the grand trunk route, and agree with him
entirely upon the policy and necessity Of early, stimuli
tancous and cooperate action, the part of all the
companies to prevent, by common understanding,
any refusal of Congress to grant the requisite aid
growing OCT Of the jeaousics and rrarlcs of the
different companies. In fact there is no conflict Of
interest, and there is difficulty, should be none,
in coming to an understanding satisfactory to all.
Gen Rosecran< who is very high authority on the
question, recommends that only th;ee of the principal
lines the Kansas Branch, Atlantic and Pacific ana
| Memphis and New Orleans and Fulton Shreveport,
ought TO ask for Congressional subsidyan TO The
pnlIcy of .:!c Rio Grandc-that that thence to the
Pacific there should be but grand trunk line, upon
which westward bound lines should have equal rights
to run trains at uniform rates ant, charges that from
this point the Rio Grandc to the Colorado, the
rights and subsidies should belong exclusively to the
company first reaching the initial point, con the Rio
trandc and near E! Paso" lie ures will be seen,
the friends of the various railroads organise and
appoint special representatives. discuss and arrange
! this programme.
! Assuming then the apI ointment OF such reprcscn-
tatiycs and their presence soon in Washington, to
definitely arrange the plan programme Of action,
It Is OF great Importance to lay before them, promptly,
| the various plans of concerted action.
Oar limits, at the present time, will not permit US,
to do more than We have already done in the way Of
suggestion bat, VIC repeat, think the aid Of Con
ercss can be obtained from al initial point, neaIc:
than the valley Of the Rio GraId". to wit: from the
point Of interrogation Of the roads named. Congress
en- give in the why Of subsidy only lard money,
and as Texas owns her public domain, Congress
| could make TO grant of lands. How then We
obtain money? Let Texas rcliuqush, as think
she ought and as think she will! her title to that
portion Of her territory lying north of the Red River
in favor Of the United States, conditioned that the
price Of it shall be appropriated to the construction
of the trunk line across Ter limits This territory, if
valuable per &c. is altogether vaueless to Texas, and
is an important acquisition to congress- in view 0! the
creation Of a future State cat Ct the Indian territory
Added indeed to ills territory it would make large
and SPLENDID State through which two Of the greatest
feed rs of the main K line would pass the Kansas
traNch and tie southwest branch of Missouri.
Congress could and would assist by land donations
both Of tbcsO roads, and in its IibcraIity it could well
votd to assist the other routes in money the ex-
tent Of this aid.
We throw out these suggestions, with the hope Of
inviting free discussion among the friends of the
various companies, whose representatives, it is be-
Iieve, will soon meet at Washington.