Vicksburg weekly herald., 1870-08-13
unAnnER aR ComnERpE.

OF tne DOafut ihtfOuuceu ueus Ueo.
c. Mckee, member Of Congress, to
those present who proceeded TO
speak upon topics interesting to the
business men and people Of our
city. lie gave q review Of the ef-
feet of the Congressional increase
Of banking facilities for the West
and South ; s3,OOO,0OO had been ap-
propriated for this State, but
S5,000,00O were needed. The
speaker then proceeded 10 investi-
gate the Pacific railroad question.
He told Of the difficulties encoun-
tered in pushing ahead the in
terests Of the Yicksburg route as
connected with the location Of the
Pacific road upon the 32d parallel.
Said the Stantons had a bill before
Congress in connection with their
Chattanooga and Alabama road
that in its provisions proposed to
build the Southern Pacific road
from San Diego. Fremont and his
party have now accepted the char
ter for South Pacific route which
takes the 80 degree and embraces
Vicksburg in its line. The Fl Paso
route Is dead.
The great dissensions caused by
the rivalry between Memphis and
Vicksburg regarding the two pro-
posed routes consumed the most
valuable time about three month
or more, which threw action on tn
bill to the end of the session, and
finally resulted in its temporary
defeat. Our interest, the interest
of Vicksburg, is that the main
trunk shall begin at Marshall
Texas will assist this road no
doubt. In the territories the road
will get an immense grant The
Gulf States, delegation insisted upon
a 5 feet gauge, while the opposite
party wished a 4 feet 81 inches
gauge. A ) feet gauge is that almost
universal throughout the South,
and it Is necessary that the gauge
should be uniform. The opposition
Is based upon the fact that the 49, I
gauge is that of important North
ern roads. Nevertheless ifthe peo-
pie OF this district and of the South
say they will submit to the latter
gauge he will act according to their
wishes. The speaker said he re-
fused to favor the Stantons' project,
because he thought it wanting in
the strength necessary to success.
1t was reported at one time that
the Mississippi delegation in Con-
gress favored the Memphis route,
aud that the speaker was among
them. When Mr.. Stanton was
questioned If he had ever made
such assertion or conveyed such in
formation as that he, Mckee, was
favoring the Memphis route, Mr..
Stanton said that he only meant
that Gen. Mckee opposed the STAN
tons project and not that he op-
posed the S2d parallel route. II
was remarked at Washington by O
good Judge that a charter for the
road from Marshall to San Diego
was worth in the market about 81,
100000.
But finally they did succeed IL
getting the bill laborCd for through
with Southern incOrporators, ant
Fremont at their head.
As the charter passed the Senate
he thought it all could be asked ant
that it would pass both hous0l
? OF the next session. The incOrpora
tors Of the thiIty-second parable
route have a majority fayOrinl
Marshall as the eastern terminus o
the trunk line. The speaker though
that before February the charte
and road would DO something real
something alive. Capital will b.
easily had because this southern
route presents advantages for prof
It's that will be all sufficient induce
ments
Said the land grant to the Nortl
Louisiana road must and would b.
renewed.
Regarding the levees Gen. Mckee
said a committee was appointed il
the Senate to investigate their con
dition and understood this commit
! tee would examine into the matte
personally, and hoped the Chambc
of Commerce would give then
every information. The United
States has 100000 acres of lanC
In Mississippi, and we cal
? get that or much of it and cal
make the building Of levees q ma
tional matter. Harris, the Louis
lana Senator is true and staunch fo