The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-02-02
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Railroad Subsidies.

In order that the taxpayers may
gather an idea Of the enormous swim ]
ding, carried on in Congress, in favor Of
railroads VIC submit few facts from Mr.
Washburnes speech inthe House of Rep
resentatives, on the Denver Railroad and
Telegraph bill.
Mr. Washburne sets down tho grand
aggregate Of railroad land grants from
.Ceagtess during the period indicated at
1s5,oo0,o00 acrcs, which, at the lowest
price of Tho public lands, is equal to
1921, 100000 But the real value OF
these lands when given away wus not
less than sjeO,OOO,O0o. The area of the
lands thus squandered is equal to that of
all the States east of the Alieghanicst
from Maine to Virginia, iinclusitc--Aa a
great empire in itself The lands granted
to the Pacific railroads alone are nearly
equal to the area of France. Next, in
the item of government subsidies in
bonds, it appears tdst the Union Pacific
Railroad, LILO miles, which terminates,
going west, somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of Great Salt Lake, will be paid
the sum of S56,00O,0OQ, or sal sesA per
mile, exceeding by SIC, ,Ooerer mile the
cost Of constructions and equipment As
to the subsidies III bonds Gin addition to
the empire cf fands) SO far actually
granted the Secretary Of the Treasury
teperts them: "a. -.sss,-.s,s'',' s.-...
Total subsidies in bonds. -. .S44, 337, 900
To the Union Pacific Rail-
road, 800 miles. ...,.... ...... &C, 1850
Central Pacific from Califor-
mia, 800 miles. .............. 13;764, 900
Union Pacific, Eastern tlivis-
ion, 394 miles. 6,3o3, 900
Sioux City 4 Pacifics69 miles; Life, 900
And so on till the aggregate, exceed
ing forty-four millions, is reached. But
the Union Pacific Railroad, in itsssubsi-
dies of lands and bonds, granted and to
come, bangs them all Quits govern
ment sops enlarging to the splendid fig
ure of SS9,6l5 per mile, or nearly S24,-
600, 900 clear profit on the cost of build
ing and equipplng the road. Mr.. Wash
"
burne says, too, that the road is badly
located and poorly built. and he thinks
it might be well to inquire whether the
company that is lobbying the bill through
is not In reality bogus concern.
This startling exhibit ought certainly
to suggest the question, how long can the
Treasury survive such drains as these ?
These statistics fatty demand retrench-
ment and warn the people. of the ap-
proach Of bankruptcy, or the saving
clause-repudiation. Mr.. Washburne
discerns in the future the condemnation
Of his Jacobin party, by the taxpayers,
hence his opposition to this Denver Rail
road and Telegraph bill, the pioneer bond
and land job of this session Open the
door again, he says, and other jobs lying
in wait, to the extent of s200,QoO, 900,
will walk in--two hundred anillions for
the benefit of spectators, lobbyists and
adventures. Now, granting that the
advantages to the trade Of the country,
internal and external, and to tho new
States and Territories in their develop
ment, and to the Treasury eventually,
will amply ray for the lands and bonds
granted for the main Continental Pacific
Railroad line, the facts still appear that
the legislation upon this subject has been
exceedingly loose and mapifestly cor
rupt, and that in consequence millions of
acres Of land have been squandered, and
nesrly fifty millions of dollars added to
the national debt by the party in power.
The people of this country, the honest
tax payers, insist that the door shall not
be opened to the additional two hundred
millions in these railway jobs lying in
wait in the lobby. a1aal ,If