The New York herald., 1870-05-14
THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC RAILR DAD.
WASHINGTON. NAV 70. 1870.

WASHINGTON, May IL, 1870.
An impression has been somehow created in the
public mind thar Congress has thus far done nothing
to aid the construction OF Southern Pacific Rail-
road. The facts Of the case are, however. just the
other way. The government has already made pro-
Vision for q Southern road through onr Southern
tier OF States and Territories to the Pacific coast.
By law approved Juy q, 1sos Congress granted the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company charter to
build railroad through Missouri, west of Spring
field Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico Arizona
and Southern California. In the Indian Ter
rItory the branches from Memphis, via Van Buren,
Arkansas and ST. Louis, via Springfield, are to con.
nec the main trunk Of the road being rather below
the parallel Of Memphis BY the same aot Congress
gave the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company and
the Southern Pacific Company OF California alter
nate sections OF public land running the whole
length Of the road, the right of way through the
public domain, land for workshops and depots and
all the coal and iron mines discovered on the alter
nate sections within the prescribed limits.
These agricultural and coal and iron lands nave
greatly appTecatedn value since 1885, OF course it
is not claimed that the money realized from their
sale as the work progresses will build the road, but
| IL VIII give healthy impetus to the construction
ana enable the company to raise money on mortgage
bonds.
There is, therefore, no truth whatever IN the con-
stanty reiterated allegation shat Congress has pro.
vided for Central and Northern Pacific railroads and
left the South out the cold. Additional legislation
nay be needed In minor matters, but the three great
through lines have been provided for ambitious
dealers IN railway franchises to the contrary not
PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION.
While other corporations have directed their ener-
gies to manipulating the bond market, the South
Pacific Company OF Missouri and the Atlantic aud
Pacific Company have been quietly engaged In the
construction OF their road.
Inasmuch as the trade Of New York would reach
the main trunk via It's st. Louis branch, through
the State OF Missouri work was first commenced on
are finished and IN operation, and fifty miles more
VIII be ready for the cars early in June. The Gas.
conade and Ozark mountains have been conquered,
and the iron Horse rapidly approaching the Indian
About fifty miles further west, at some suitable
point on the South FORK OF the Canadian river the
two branches, from Memphis via Van Buren,. Ark,
and st. Louis via Springfield. Mo-, unite and pro-
Southern California to the Pacific coast.
The completion Of the 1rst 205 miles was duly cele-
brated at Springfield NO., last week by large
course Of people. The usual number OF speeches
were made by Governors, members Of Congress and
other celebrities from all parts OF the Union.
The management and control OF the South Pacific
and the Atlantic and Pacific Companies Is Ia the
hands OF some Of the soundest business men IN New
having ample capital to carry out the enterprise.
Francis b. Hayes, Andrew v. Stont, Joseph Selig-
man, Frederick Billings, Andrew Pierce, Jr Oliver
Ames, Uriel Crocker, Isaac Nch and others:
The rails on the Atlantic and Pacific road are now
benglai at the rate 0fa mile and hall per day.
The line, as Will be seen by glance at map. accom-
modates all our Southern States. When the north
ern provinces OF Mexico are annexed to tile United
States we may need fourth line Of railroad through
to the Pacific. At present 1t ts believed that the
three lines now provided for will answer every pur-
nose