The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-28
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Thursday Morning. January 28, 1869.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 1869.
To the Editor OF the Press:
PORTLAND

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 1869.
To the Editor OF the Press:
THE RAILROAD oUFsrroN.
The great lobbies have triumnhed in tb,
United States Senate, and through the aid O
Senators who in the main only represent
their own or some one else's railroad interest
have defeated the ''air line" railroad project:
which Senator Sherman was championinr
1t is seen with regret that both your Senator
voted to take up another Pacific railroad
scheme, and it is remarked as even more sig
niicant that most of the Southern Senator
were either conveniently absent or voted il
favor of taking up one of Senator Pomeroyi
''little jobs trust that shall not be stig
matized as "lazzaroni," or other disreputa
BILE name by Mr.. boucher r-or-whatever-you
call-it-Harlan, for so referring to the action,
Perhaps the reason why the Southern Sena-
tors we're so oblivious of the principle and
policy involved in the "air line" project, is }
be seen in the fact that the great railroad in
terests which united in a recent letter de-
nouncing Shermans bill are all interested in
oNuOibSo 70 dOSOiU COHITUl lue ledulD1
Southern routes and to build up others. Be-
sides the Southern Senators want the aid OF
all u get their own pet schemes OF Pacific,
International, Mississippi Levee and other
roads, put through Congress; lands, bonds
and all OF the 80 yeas for postponing the
"air line" bill, 1 find that three Senators, at
least, voted as Representatives of the Ohio
and Baltimore corporations; Messrs. Whyte
and McVickers of Maryland, and Van Win
kle Of West Virginia. Mr.. Bayard of Della
ware may be fairly put down in the same
boat Cameron and Buckalew voted for the
Pennsylvania Central Cole, Corbett and
Nye represented the Central Pacific, and 9th
er expectations OF that character. Harlan
and Crimes Of Iowa, How ard of Michigan,
Thayer of Nebraska, Trumbull of Illinois, and
Norton of Minnesota, represented the Union
Pacific interests; some so as far as to say
that is true also of New England Senators.
As against the principle of the Sherman
bill,-that OF the general government right
through Congress to override State lines in
this matter of railroads. doubt if more
than the following votes were dictated by that
feeling: 'Bayard and Buckaew, perhaps as
Democrats, Doolittle, Hendricks, Patterson.
Of Tenn, McCreery, and Davis of Kentucky,
and Dixon OF Connecticut. Some of the 9TH
els wanted to get nd of the discussion GER
tainly Pomeroy and Ross voted to kill the
measure.
The press aud peo pie of the Eastern and
old States ought to consider we'll and at once
the rail road question. Let me suggest the
present position OF many States-in so far as
the United States Senate is concerned. The
Pennsylvania Central has just elected its at
torDey, MIR. Scott-nominalIy of course as
United States Senator to represent the State
OF Pennsylvania. New Jersey sends Stock
ton to represent the Camden and Amboy
road. The Pacific Central controls the Ohio
and Mississ ppi, the Missouri Pacific, Eastern
Division (Kansas). So far as Senators
from Kansas are concerned they belong to the
railroads; in the case of Mr.. Pomeroy, to the
Atchison and Pixies Peak or Central Branch
Pacific road as it is called II should say pa
renthicaly that the road belongs to the Sem
atorl lin that of Mr. Ross to the Union Paci-
fic Eastern Division; both are always ready
to act in the interest of any scheme which
promises land grants and subsidies. Penn
sylvania, Missouri (bY one of its Senators at
leastl and Kansas will act together. Beyond
IN TIE near furnre he Colorado and New
Mexico, soon to be admitted as States. The
four Senators to be sent will represent first,
the railroad combinations suggested and Sec
ond their States. At least ten Senators, and
probably double that number where the
south west is considered, will act together for
what will be virtually one great corporation,
controlling at least 5000 miles of direct route
and as many more of branch roads.
If you go further North the combination
will found still more formidable The Union
Pacific now has in Congress one of its lead
ing directors, Hon. Oakes Ames of Mass, and
its chief engineer, Gen. Dodge of Iowa. The
former has already put a pin into Alabama
and is now building Tor is about TO do SOY a
road across that State. Without suggesting
what power that interco influential road, built
by the munifcenee of the American people,
has east ofthe Mississippi,.et US see what it has
beyond. So far as Iowa and Nebraska are
concerned, its Congressional delegations are
only its mouth pieces. This is altogether
true of its Senators. Beyond the two State.
named, lies Wyoming Ia territory created BY
and for the benefit of the ,ailroad which err
long will want admission as a State, Utah
comes next; Colorado is sure to be its servant
and as it is already evident, Montana, Idaho
and Oregon are bound to be tied to its car
The Union Pacific will during the next four
years be the real owner of from twelve to six
teen votes in the Senate, with a prospect ol
several more as the Territories become States
1t is moderate estimate to say that at the
present moment the two lines and their cor
relatives have suggested, control at least fif
teen Senatorial votes, and influence by the
rivalry of conflicting interests, as many more
Within the next two years these two roads
and the Central [Cal] Pacific will have be-
tween the Mississippi river and Pacific Coast
under their direct control, at leas
$500 miles of road, and nearly ol
quite as much more will be subordinatet
to its interests. They will have possession
(so far as Congress is concerned) of the State
of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Neva
da, Oregon and California, with the probabil
| ity added of Colorado, New Mexico, Utal
and Wyoming. speak of the Senate espe
cally, because, as experience proves, it is cas-
ier to get lodgment therein. Legislatures art
manageable and purchasable. The Pacific
roadS nnru hnildino Or andowad have receirnf