New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-13
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD,

Pacific Railroad is of vast Importance
Two propositions to effect this are Deiore
Congress, viz: Bills providing for the
"Trans- Continental" and the "oo"'h'
western" companies.
Tracing its course on map will show
that the Trans Continental" project en-
.irely excludes Louisiana from any direct
benefits arising out of this great under
taking. Running from Memphis, Ten
nessee, to Little Rock, Arkansas, thence
bv DETECTION toward Jefferson and Dali
las, Texas, it proposes to establish, by
means of government subsidies, channel
of trade from the Pacific coast, through
Texas, and running northward, which
would shut ont New Orleans, and any
private enterprise that might be ventured
10 her interests, from all hope of successful
competition. This is popularly called the
Fremont bill.
The s'Southwestern," better known as
Senator Kellogg's bill, provides tor con-
tinuance of the line which, beginning at
Charleston, South Carolina, on the Allan
tic Coast, is already in active operation,
via Vickshurg. on the Mississippi river, to
Hallsville, Texas, excepting gap of sixty
five miles, already graded, between Monroe
and Shreveport, in this State. From Halls
vile, by nearly direct route through FL
Paso, it provides for road to San Diego
OH the Pacific Coast, thus establishing, on
the thirty-second parallel, the longest air
line railroad in the world; and by some
hundreds of miles the shortest practicable
route between the two great oceans.
During the past winter probably the
strongest combinations ever organized at
the national capital have lobbied for the
success of the Fremont bill. Political,
social and other less reputable influences
have been unstintingly employed to carry
this measure, so inimical to the Gulf States.
For a time it seemed as if all opposition
must be swept aside, and its advocates
were jubilant over their supposed assured
victory. But the prize 80 coveted was
snatched from their very grasp. At this
critical juncture, when from East, West
North and South, wealth and talent had
been gathered in the Senate Committee
chamber to favorably influence report
which must virtually decide the fate of
the bill, an eloquent and able champion
of the rights aud interests Of our people
was fttingly found in the person Of Sena-
tor Kellogg. A "bolt from the blue
could not have more startled the as
sembled ring.
The report of Mr.. Howard, Chairman
of the Senate Committee on Pacific rail-
roads, as we'll as of the committee to
which the bills above designated were
specially referred, is before us, and no one
reading the accompanying speech and tes-
timony of the Senator from Louisiana can
for moment doubt that to him belongs
almost exclusively the credit for defeating
the speculative, aud to US OF Louisiana, in
imical schemes of the Trans-continental
clique. He remorselessly exposed the
MISREPRESENTATION and false pretences re-
sorted to by General Fremont and his as
sociates to obtain money from French
capitalists, (the latter have since brought
criminal suit against them); he exhibited
the bad faith that had characterized all
acts of the so-called company from the
time of its original organization in 1856;
he showed that the rights and franchises
granted by the State of Texas, upon which
these parties mainly based their claim for
additional privileges and subsidies from
Congress, had been long ago forfeited
and he strenuously urged the committee
to see to it that this most important public
work be intrusted to the control of only
those whose position aud record would in
spire general confidence and be guarantee
of their determination to complete, at the
earliest possible day. whatever road
should be decided upon.
Our latest advices from Washington in
dictate that a new company will be formed
under the style, perhaps, of the "South
Pacific Railroad Company" The pro-
vision, Of the charter Ito be reported by
the Senate committee), which have been
already discussed and about agreed upon,
fix the initial point of the trunk line al
M arshall, Texas, with branch running
direct to New Orleans, and provide for the
lease or purchase of the Vicksburg, Mon
roe and Shreveport road. A branch may
also be constructed to Little Rock, Arkan
sas; and no discrimination in rates OF
freight or travel. or in any other respect
shall be made in favor of any of these
connections of the main line.
There is now fair prospect OF getting
conclusive action upon this subject before
Congress terminates the present session
It is summation all whose interest.
are in the South most earnestly hope tt
see reached.
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS PAY.
Finally, the new Treasurer of the Cit.
School Board is in possession of SOM
money with which to pay a por
ton of the salary due the teacher
of the public schools. State Super