Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-12
Tne Union Paciac RaiIroad.

The immense sppropriation mace ny
the general Government to the Union
Pacific railroad, and the vast deal OF ex'
nense that was necessary for its compile,
ton. have been spent in vain, so far as
the road is a success. The subject OF
this road WAS much discussed previous to
tho late war between the States, the
Northern Representatives in Congress
coutending that the line shopld be 10
Gated on its present route or 10 more
portberu latitude, losing sight Of the i'm
practicaSility of such scheme. The
Southern members Ia Congress pointed
ont the difficulties to be overcsme IN the
climate, and showed the utter impossir
biIi,y Of The Northern route being made
efficient. 1t was then in the halls OF
legislation that Southern talent and
statesmauship was appreciated and had
its influence. But since that golden
period 10 the history OF the old repaolic,
the reins have fallen into the bands OF
shor,-sighted and corrupt lawmakers,
and to-day the Radical Legislators stand
rebuked for their gigantic folly in at
tempting to build the present Paeihc
road. But anything for en- opportunity
to appropriate aud steal the public
moneys. For already the Northern
press charge the constructors ofthe road
with having pocketed the appropriation
made by Congress,aud SO far built the road
on the first mortgage bonds. 1t is also
charged that the deceased Thaddeus
Stevens, the leader of the Radi-
cal party in the House Of Repre-
sentstives, was found to possess one
hundred thousand dollars worth of the
bonds of this road--a present, no doubt,
for bis influence in Congress In having
the present appropriation made. A great
number Of the leading Northern Radicals
who belong to the ring have been made
rich by this project. which has resulted
in no good to the people who are com
pelled to foot the bills. As tothe present
imprscticable state of the read, we give
the St. Louis dispatches of the 4th OF
March, which go on to say of the published
account of the trials and sufferipgs
of a party Of gentlemes who re-
Gently came over the Union Pa
ciic railroad: The account is given
by one of party which included many
prominent gentlemen of California, New
York and other Eastern States. He says
they we're detained ten days at q railway
station, and could not induce the railway
officials to send train out until they
held an indignation meeting, and tale'
graphed to the Railroad Committee at
Washington about the treatment they
we're receiving. When they did start they
were compelled to shovel snow at differ
ent points. aud were very badly fed. AT
one point they shoveed through o snow
drift one thousand feet long. When they
had the track clear the engineer had only
steam enough ts carry them into the
depth Of q drift. After remaining two
days in this condition about fifty persons
started on foot for Laramie, ninety miles
distant, reaching there in four days, after
much suffering. From Laramie they
came through to Omaha without deten-
ton. Over two hundred persons we're on
the train when it was left ia the snow"
This condition Of things may exist
until June, when the SHOWS break up
and disappear. What is required for the
development Of that yet usknown and
uninhabited wilderness from our western
border to California is a railroad that
can be used three hundred and sixiy-6ye
days in the year, and not az the Northern
route offers, only few months travel
during the year. Will Congress forget
their animosity to the South, make
an appropriation, and give the right Of
way across the public domain for a
Southern Pacific railroad, the only route
that is efficient and practicable to the
western seaboard ? We hope the present
Congress will take the matter under con
sideration and actupon it at once.