The national Republican., 1868-12-28

Tho New Yorh TribSSe'. Onslaught.
upon the District ItAiIroad Bill
No Danger of Loss TO the District |
in the Construction of the Works
The Invarfable Result on the
Prosperity OF cities of Making
them Railroed Centres, &c.
DECEMBER q, 1875.
To TnE REruBLlCAN:-The New York Tri-
bune attacks Senator Sherman's railroad bill
with muca vehemencc. 1t alleges, in plain
English, that its provisions arc designed, not
so much to facilitate travel and commerce
to and from the National Capital, as to put
money In the pockets of advcnturers, to be
wrupg from the taxpayers OF the District OF
Columbia for the most part These grave al
legations have not, so far, been sustained by
the presentation or publication ofany distinct
| faots to prove them. Nevertheless, they de-
serve attention and consideration on the part
| OF Congress and the people OF the federal me-
| tropolis.
1t is certainly true that Senator Sherman,
In bringing forward the bill In question, had
no conception OF the existence OF the Tribune's
alleged cat in the meal tub" II there Il 10,
1t must have been put there by some party or
parties who undertook to relieve him from the
labor OF preparing the details Of the mea sure
The Tribune's allegation is that the bill
people Of the District of Columbia for the con-
struction Of the four proposed railroads, with
| out so much as asking them to vote yes or no
upon IT. and then virtually donates the money
| to be so raised, to those in whose favor Con-
gress may grant the several charters. Its
| theory is that, as In the case OF the State of
New Yorks subscription to the construction
Of the Erie railroad, the District subscription
to these roads will inevitably be swamped, in
| favor Of profits on preferred subscriptions or
stock or bonds that will be necessary to the
| completion and equipment of the improve
ments. And, further, that the parties to whom
the charters will be granted will, inevitably,
a., sell them out to distant capitalists, and thus
make fortunes out OF the transactions; leaving
the purchasers to construct the works and
swindlo the District out OF Its two and half
millions subscriptions In so doing.
Igive your readers the TriLuHe'S ideas upon
the District railroad projects, leaving each to
place what value he may please upon them.
am free to confess the belief that IL the
District can obtain the railroad facilities con-
templated by Senator Sherman's bill, by a dead
outlay Of two and half millions OF dollars,
ou which no dividends shall ever be paid, the
bargain will prove very advantageous one
to this community. The roads, constructed
aud in successful operation, would surely il-
; crease the actual profits and savings OF the
people OF the District OF Columbia to the
amount OF probably two millions and a half
annually. Assuming that the population Of
the District will be at least one hundred and
sevcuty-fve thousand when the four roads
shall be completed, two and a half millions
will only represent a saving, profit and Rd.
u vantage OF something less than fourteen dol
= lara to or for each iuhsbitant. 1t is hardly tc
u be doubted that the completion OF the roads
IL would advantage" each man, woman ant
child in the District lin the aggregated to tha
p amount. Some would, of course, reap hue,
y dred fold that advantage from them; others, 4
may be, a thousand fold. Some, on the othe
'e hand, might reap less than fourteen dollar
u per annum direct advantage from them; bu
n only those whose subsistence might not cost
L. hundred and forty dollars per annum. Ii
ID these times there is hardly child of five year
D. old among US who does not cost its parents o,
y the community hundred and forty dollar
u per annum. am not frightened, therefore, BY
;, the Tri6unc's taxation-a nd u n-div idend
Il bugaboo, even as viewed from the ugliest stand
n point.
:. But 1t is very certain that, before the bill be
&c comes law, Senator Sherman and its other
y Congressional friends will SO guard 1t By
n amendments III that be necessary as that the
u question OF the Districts subscription sh al
II be submitted to the people OF the District; anC
o' next, so that the District subscriptions, wheI
" made, shall surely be a. safely guarded for thu
y, benefit Of the District, as any private subsorip
t tions to the work. This Ia all that can be dom
=, or that Is ever done In such cases-all that 4
,o ever asked or dreamed OF In making State
a. county, or corporation subscriptions TO work
Nj OF internal Improvement.
=. The chances are twenty to one that the con
y structlon of such a complete system of rail
a roads radlsting from or centering at Wash
/. ington city, will accomplish for 1t, to greater
Il or less extent, what similar systems of rail
roads have accomplished for every American
n and European city to and from which numer
o Gus railroads have been constructed. In nc
a. single case on record, In either hemisphere
&c have they failed greatly to increase the popu
lie latlon, wealth, manufactures, commerce, en-
e. terpriSc and energy Of such favored localities
ly to extent annually far greater In Its adyRnt
n. ages and direct benefits to the community a
an large, than the value OF the amount OF none
p the particular city may have Invested In tn
re series of works. make no exceptions. Th
ny rule has proved an invariablc one SO far. Their
re, Is therefore no reason whatever to doubt tn
ne result upon the prosperity OF Washington Q
nd the construction OF the four railroads CO ntem
ar plated In the bill OF Senator Sherman.