New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-01

half dozen roads to the Pacific Ocean.
Let us get off of our doorsteps and look at
this in a statesmanlike view. Here is a
road upon which four millions have
already been expended; it is road to
bring commerce here; to take US out OF
the grasp Of that monopolist. By means
of his monopoly compels us to his own
rates, and obstructs the commerce. He
is now making, I understand, clear
profit of four millions of dollars
yesr, and he can afford, sir, to sacrifice
one million if be does not fulfill his con-
tract to build his road. The difference
between these two companies is this, one
has the energy and business foresight to
see that this will no: only be benefit to
the State. but to themselves. l believe
that one is live company, with means
and energy; the other is selfish, rasping
monopoly, that stands in the way of COM
merce. That is my conviction, and be-
cause l see from one prosperity to COM
MERGE, aud from the other that prosperity
taken out of our hands and placed at the
feet of this monopolist, l oppose one, and
favor the other. The total cost of the
road, from here to Mobile, is six millions,
and the cost of the road from here to
Houston will not be less than twelve mil
lions. Now, differ in toto with this Sem
ator from Ouachita as to the expense of
building such a road, and that road will
not pass through the swamp. 1t is
through some of the richest planta-
tons in the State, between here and Madi-
hof
plantations must have large canals and
bitches for their proper drainage. Every one
of these canals must be bridged, and from
estimates that l have seen, believe five
millions to be necessary TO complete this
work. Nov, suppose myself it will be
| an easy matter to build road from here
to Donaldsonville, but you compute the
| expense, not only Of building those bridges,
but every plantation road on these sugar
plantations must be bridged, and you will
| find it no easy job to build road to Donald
| sonville From Donaldsonville west, it will
cost 100000 mile. l am satisfied that
this estimate is correct. Now. the princi-
pie objection seems to me to be the gra-
tuity but I tell you that the principle OF
gratuity built the Pacific railroad, and the
principle of gratuity lies at the foundation
of every railroad in the West; it is through
that large amount Of public land given
| them BY gratuity that such large
number of railroads have been built
in the West. The illinois Contra al
| railroad cost the State forty millions;
and YOU do not mean to say that the State
of Illinois can not afford to give twice forty
millions for the improvements and bene-
| fits received from that road, and the other
| day was voted almost unanimously ten
millions to build road, not one foot of
which is in the state or city that voted for
| it; it runs through Kentucky and Tennes
| see, what COMPOUNDED fools these men must
be, to vote ten millions for a road, not
| one foot of which is in the state voting it.
Now in Massachusetts,, the little State OF
| Massachusetts, votes and pays, and is
| taxed constantly five millions to bore q
| hole through rock, to bring commerce
there by this foolish principle; she pays
| that to go through mountain, rather than
| go around it; that is the spirit and enter
prise which makes our country the great,
| est on earth.
Now, sir, when these Objectionable
features of monopoly and overriding
the judiciary, with these Objectionable tea-
lures stricken out; l am prepared to vote
for the bill, believing it to be to the well
fare of the State to build this road, and
the sooner it is built, the better.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. President, l am
somewhat astonished, that the bill has
been discussed on its entirety, on a mo.
ton to take it up section by section. L
seems to me that the proper time to dis
cuss the bill fairly and squarely, would have
been to discuss it at each section read by
the secretary, for l assert that at the pres
ent time there are very few Senators or
| the floor, that know in what condition the
amendments are that will be offered tt
| the bill. Therefore, l say that all the
words and eloquence that has been ex
pended in this promiscuous manner II
| debating the bill, has been lost. The
| direct question now before the Senate is tht
motion made by the Senator from
Claiborne, to refer the bill to thu
Committee on Finance, and the Com
mittee on Railroads, jointly. Tha
| isl the motion before the Senate, ant
upon this motion the bill has been dis
cussed from one end to the other; no
! alone the bill now before us, but the bill
| as it passed the House in the first in
stance. That bill, as it originally passed
the House, and not the bill now before us
has formed the great theme Of argument
of the Senator from Claiborne, and all thu
points he made in opposition to this bill
can have no effect, because that is not be
fore the Senate, and will not be considered
at all. therefore think that there is ;
uniform desire on the part of every Nom
Der of the Senate to end this discussion
which has been allowed through nothing
but courtesy. l do not intend to argu
the bill at this stage, but will say some
thing in connection with the point mad
by the Senator from Ouachita, in regard II
gratuity generally. That, he admits, il
the only objection that he has to the bill
The remarks of Senator Lynch on this sub
iect heartily indorse. 1 was Interested b.
the usually eloquent remarks by the Senate
from Claiborne, but he was talking on {
subject not before the Senate, and conse
quently there is nothing to answer as ia
as this argument is concerned, except ont
point: He asks what security have We tina
this company will build this road t.
Texas? What security have we that they
will not pocket the subsidy without build
ing the road? That question is YER.
easily answered. Senator Lynch has tn
figures before him, giving the actual cos
of the road from New Orleans to Houston
at twelve millions. Its cost from here t.
Texas is eight or nine millions, and tn
amount received from the State entirely
when the whole work is done, is three mil
lions. Now sir, is it reasonable to presume
that men having means at their command
would reasonably go to an expenditure o
eight or nine millions for the purpose Q
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