The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-12-27
THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC IAAN
ROAD COMPANY.

The position Of this company Is pc
culiar. 1t has asked the government
Of the United States through Congress,
IN endorse its bonds az means OF 10 p
idly completing the road to the racine
Whether this will he done, we have no
means of knowing. It, may be con-
sidered doubtful. There are states
men-able, and conscientious-who'
however much in favorof the great en-
terprise, cannst vote for . measure OF
the kind under their view. OF the Con
stitution-to say nothing OF sound GOV
ernmental policy, How many such n
Congress, we do not know; but they
belong to that school of conservative
men who have ever opposed constru-
ing tho Constitution Of our country as
IL it vere an, India rubber band. Be
sides this, there will, doubtless, be
greater or less sectional opposition.
We are satisfied that the road can
not be constructed as required by It's
Federal and State charters, that IS,
Within the times prescribed, unless
BY some such aid, the company, II
forced in times like these to throw It's
bonds on the European market and
soil at ruinous discount, is too
sacaoious to adopt such dernier
resort Unless aid comes from some
quarter we see no means of avoiding
lamsntable delay in the cempletionpi
the great work SO important to Texas
and the Middle States.
The road has large claims to four
noble considerations. Under tremen-
dous disadvantages, it has accomplish
ed wonderful achievements. tits I'M
Aeniable that it undertook too much
in agreeing to complete SO much road
in 4 given time, while its sources OF
supply were limited to the .precarious
navigation OF Red river and the spare
or extra facilities of the Central road.
Rod river, in 1872, was too low
for boats for seven months. The
Central road could do but little
in bringing up material, and that.at a
great cost, the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas failed to connect as soon, by two
months, as was expected-so did the
Great Northern at Minneola--and it
seemed as If the Fates were, for time,
against the Texas and Pacific.
These facts were all brought up in
the last Legislature, pending the great
compromise bill for adjusting all mat
ten between the company and the
State. Even then an able and stern
opposition was raised against the bill;
but, in view Of all the facts; it .passed.
BY IT the company waste complete the
entire double connection to Fort Worth
via Dallas, by the first day OF July,
1874, and via GAINESVILLE aud Sherman
by the first day of January, 1875. AS
things stand, it is palpable that this
canaot be done. The company will
be compelled to ask of our Legislature
An exten ZION of time. 1t will DO able
to present Il strong appeal, founded on
the facts herein referred to, and in adj
.dition, the present panic in monetary
affairs, extending from Oregon to Lon
don, Paris, and Antwerp.
While SO briefly glancing at general
facts, and, keenly anxious for the rapid
extension of the road west toits Pacific
terminus, We must not lose sight of JUS
tice or Interior results. The company is
indebted two or three thousand dollars
to citizens of Texas, for labor md
means furnished to build the road al
ready in operation. They are our own
people, and OF the most deserving and
enterprising classes. Nonpayment, to
some Of them, is equivalent to pecu-
MARY ruin. Before the company asks
relief, by an extension oftime, of the
Legislature of Texas, 1t must pay these
domestic claims, and appear with clean
hands. If so appearing, the people, in
view Of all the facts, will not object to
such reasonable extension of time as
Justice and this extraordinary crisis
may indicate as equitable. Texas VIII
not crush such a great national enter
prise by any subterfuge, but her repre-
sentatives must be just as well as gem
erous, and justice demands the protec-
fion Of her own people.