The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-05-06

MONNOE, LA, MAY d, 1871. ~
q. ". HaeoRAN1H, naitor.
a. .. HILL, Associate Editor.
THE TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Last week we published the New
York Worlds account of the meeting
Ind organization Of the Texas Pacific
Company. Since then we have
come into possession of a few points not
given in the Worlds article, which, as
they bear upon the railroad interests Of
this section particularly, are not unde-
serving prominent place in our COL
umns.
The reader will recollect that Marshall
o. Roberts was permitted to subscribe
for II 600 shares of the stock of the Tex
as Pacific road, being u majority Of the
shares, and that General Fremont was
permitted to take 5000 shares, leaving
1900 to be divided equally between the
remaining corporators. Mr.. Thos. B.
Scott, President of the Union Pacific
road and ice-President of the Penn
inent parsonage in the organization of
the Company, and he was, we were
told by the World, in entire accord with
Mr.. Roberts and desired his election to
the Presidency of the Texas Pacific
Company. These two railroad kings
appear to have worked together admit
rably, and doubtless did so with a
thorough understanding, since such
men seldom trust anything in so gigan-
tic scheme to chance or misconstruc-
ton.
1t appeared to us at the time we read
the Worlds article that the coalition
between Roberts, Scott and Fremont
was not a very favorable indication for
a Southern Pacific route. Fremont's
interest is in the direction of Memphis ;
Scots in the Pennsylvania Central
and connections toward Cairo; Rob
erts' interests arc in Texas. Thus, we
SEQ that from the Texas line in this di-
rection none Of the controlling incorpo-
rators have any railroad interests. It
is also a significant fact that the guage
fixed for the Texas Pacific is four feet
eight-and-a-half inches the guage of
most Southern roads, including those
on the 32d parallel, being five feet.
This clearly indicates, on the part of
Roberts 4 Co., n circuit north around
the railroads on the 32d parallel, and a
connection with the Cairo and Fulton
road, the charter of which, we learn, is
owned by the Pennsylvania Central
road. 1t is not q fair Offset to these in
dications Of unfriendliness for the route
on the SD parallel, that the Pennsyl-
vania Central owns also n road in process
of construction from Atlanta to Rich
mond. This road might be profitab1y
used without any Pacific connection,
and operated, in fact, to the injury of a
Southern Pacific route. We conclude,
therefore, that so far as Roberts & Co.
are concerned, no effort will be made to
extend the Texas Pacific on the sgd
parallel, further than some point thereon
suitable for q connection with the west
ern lines of railroad.
Our hopes of assistance, in completing
the road across North Louisiana, from
the Texas Pacific, may as well DO nban-
doned for the present, and We must
look to other sources of relief. Perhaps
the greatest relief which could be affor-
ded would be the settlement of existing
Allegation with reference to tho title to
the North Louisiana and Texas road,
and, we are happy to say, that we have
strong assurances that the differences
may be arranged in few day Nego-
tiations to that end have been pending
for some time, and there is disposition
to accommodate conflicting views and
interests, on both sides, and to give
some heed to the unanimous desire of
the people so deeply interested in the
road. This arrangement reached, and
proper assurances given by those who
become the real owners of the road, we
are satisfied abundant means might
be secured to connect Vicksburg and
Shreveport within the next two years.
The deep interest these two cities noe
have in making this connection, is good
guarantee that they will aid the road
very literally. The time has come for
something to be done, beside talking
about the great natural advantages of
the route on the 32d parallel. Not less
than ten States are interested in the
work and their aid may be relied upon.
ha