Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-02-07
ORDER THE FREE PRESS.

The Pacific railroad, which is the com
mon designation Of the whole line from the
border settlements of Missouri to CalilOr-
MIA, is composed, As most intelligent read
ers areaware, of the Union Pacific and Cen
tral Pacific roads. These, one being the
Eastern and the other the Western half,
form one connected line. and received aud
from the government a. such. The Union
Pacific, according to the annual report just
made, cost Sll4, 25s, 535. The cost Of the
Central Pacific is not given, but As the in
debtedness Is over $1,000 900 more than
that of the MON and the stock ~ubScrip-
tions over $50, 900 900 more, wesuppose the
cost to have been greater. The cost Of the
whole line, therefore, as assumed by the
companies can hardly be less than 500,
coo 600. How much of this was bona tlde
payment IN cash, or how much was fictitious
to enable the Credit Mobilier contractors
to make enormous sums of money, i not
known The New York Herald thinks that
800, 600 900 carefully expended, would
have made the whole line and equipped it,
and that hundred and forty millions,
probably, have gone into the pockets
Of the Congressional and other spectators.
The Indebtedness of the Union Pacific
amounts to SIS, 1914 ,5l2, and of the Central
to $50, 900, 1872, making in all Sl56, 1884,
644 The loan of the United States to the
Union was S27 ,236, $40, and to the Central
S27 ,s55, $50; in all, SIS. O92, 1872 This is
in second mortgage bonds, which the United
States has to pay interest on, with little
prospect of ever being paid, except a small
portion, a. a consideration for the railroad
carrying the mails. The government hay
ing consented to accept second mortgage,
the companies were enabled to Issue first
mortgage bonds for the market, and. on the
strength of the credit given them by the
government, 10 realize over So, 600 goo in
addition All this was independent of land
bonds issued, and Of the proceeds Of sales of
the vast amount Of lands granted During
the last year, the earnings of the Union
and Central Pacific were ST., 1886 1916, and
the net earning probably $4,000, 900.
On such a showing, there seems to be
eminent propriety in Senator Edmunds'
amendment t. the appropriation bill, which
requires that the amount due those roads
~ the | nited States for freight shall be
withheld until the overdue interest shall !
have been paid. and until the five per cent. |
On the earnings of the roads shall have been |
paid over 10 the government, in conformity |
with the law. It appears, in fact, to DE the |
aniS way ia which the government is likely |
t. get any return from its heavy investment. |
Bat I've states Of the Union elect their
governors annually, viz: Connecticut.
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Rhode Island, all New England states. No
les than twenty-six States and Territories
have gubernatorial terms of four years.
while twelve have them of two years New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
choose Governors for three years. and in
New York they are talking of extending the
term to three years. The salaries Of these
officials differ quite a. widely, ranging from
5000 in Louisiana (ior such man as
Warmoth , and 5000 IN California. to
81 500 in great State ike Illinois. and
$1,000 III Vermont. Rhode Island and some
Others. Biennial legislative sessions are
now the rule in California, Delaware.
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky.
Michigan, Missouri. Nebraska.
Nevada, Ohio. Oregon. Tennessee and Yer
mont, besides several Territories Maine
and Pennsylvania are now moving toward
biennial sessions.
CRspiT MoanIER Pays FOR DKArH AID Is
Ds>'tp.-ln the court of common pleas at
On saturday, Judge Allison
J cad hi- decision on the petition of the