New-York tribune., 1874-12-15
expecting direct return thcrefrom These apprcpria

expecting direct return herefrom. These appropria-
tons have been for the public good The general benefit
was expected to than repay the special outlay OF
treasure striking example of this policy is afforded
ton Of $50 o0 for the Improvement OF the Des M01nes
rapids in he Missssipp River by canal To that aPpro
prlation is attached this provso THAT canal tna
NAV be constructed around the said Des Mones OF
remain free TO the navigation and commerce of
said river and tolls shall ever be collected thereon
S m 1h OF OF ISno @ of the
Mississippi River. In this case the Governments
sS'@ @S 5P ha h P1PSs UPps ssspp int
Build your boats for the upper river
rupted navigation st. Louis st. Paul the Des
MONIES Rapids shall be overcome by canal when sna
cost you nothing. and on which you shall pay no tolls
Is contracted for the geners benefit of commerce and
for the public good. Az OF the appropriations made
from the Treasury OF the United States for the improve
ment OF rivers and harbors, for the maintenance OF
buoys the establishment OF lighthouse and ifesaving
stations the perfection OF the coast survey and the de-
ense OF our coast for the common good or ne pun
the National Treasury The worst case that can
be presented against the Union Pacific Railroad COM
pany IA better than this.
SAVING TO THE GOVERNMENT INFECTED BY THE
ROAD.
Suppose that 1t should the future as 1t has not
in the past pay the interest on 1.-THE Government ponas
issued In aid OF its construction nor provide Tor the pay
ment OF said bonds at their maturity what theh'
What the worst of the casei Two departments OF the
The Postmaster General states, In communication 10
the House of Representatives, In answer to resolution
rendered bv the Union Pacific Railroad company lor
49, ana that had the road not been constructed
II would have paid for the same service over te rues
merged into this one for the same time sl9yfo ~ DC
ing saving calculated the basis OF pounds trans
ported by stage of S072G3 25 per annun But 10 iuui
ton to this direct saving the PosmasterGeneral states
1t Should be borne in mind that the the railroad route
bttweI the Missouri River ana the Pacific Coast IS S
the service Under the contract which expired IN ISo
,S 'fseda. I'm %s & for % from & Ac % Nam S YdeS1 TO S1n inclusive and
"a u days residue the B the railroad route the tune the
the mails overland before the completion Of the railroad
was ess than pounds per day & The paper o az p er
such matter conveyed between Tie western
March % 1861 Now that section having 6eep Iegea m
% % n;an PscSa Paeise RaoSa s96 pouns per day
vide sIs!es' IS feet e9s & with al 9s aDpaHte ~
,o department and distribute Gs ' % Te w mes saH the
detention Of mails n such offices is avoided and the greatest
On the lst of January 1873 the Secretary of War com
municated TO the House Of Representatives OF the Con,
the O he Cef Of 6s Of S
Army of the United states, NJ G. Megs from Wmeh
Railroad had saved the Government large sums IN that
department OF the public service. Making an average
used he states thus AT this rate, the
estimated cost OF transportation OF the freight moved
by the Union Pacific Railroad. including express
charges. as shown above, during the time commencing
Juv 1866 and ending Jan. 2S 1873, would he as follows:
Total estimated cost Of moving the troops and sup ,o 90
plies by stage and wagon. $40 ia ~
Total actual cost by railroad 33i-S1l 81
Estimated difference equivalent about &C per 5O92s2 6j
AS 4 NATIONAL INVESTMENT THE ROAD WILL
PAY"
From this statement il appears that the saving to the
Government to June 3 1872 upon the transportation OF
postal matter alone by OF the construction of the
Union Pacific Railroad amounted to $643579 55. Upon
the same basis the saving the Government from this
source to Sept 80 1874, amounted TO Ol5S29 90 This
statement assumes that the amount as weight carried
only equal 10 that Transported previous 70 lhe con-
structiOn Of the road but III fact the amount oy ran mas
been over six the amount formerly transported Dy
stage, that the real saving taking welGnt ai0ne ~
The basis Of the calculation. has been aDcn soWlsy 80
The statement from the War Department above clteG
shows that the saving upon military transportation to
June 3O 1872 S65O284 IS, and upon the same OASIS
saving to Aug 81 l67i would have been ss4G2lO9 7d
Thus appears that during the past two years or since
une 80 1872 to the Government in the raLs-
poraton postal matter, of troops, stores &c, mas
been at the rate Of 81 s94 s9i 40 per annum.
The case comes to this Allowing that there will be no
amounts carried from year 10 year. the saw
inc dining tle thirty wears CDeing the time for which
the Government bonds issued IN order TO secure
the construction OF the road would amount to $685.
s4Gsa2; the Government has advanced in bonds at SIX
per cent S2 237 90: interest same for thirty years,
1926 eco; total, s765O26 6o0 balance due Government
saVings alone. Sl9,G5j,76S. ~,
have not pretended 10 account for fractions In the
estimates but have simply presented round NUMBERS
and by this rule find that the Government at the END
OF thirty years. Will be positive gamer by the con
should be returned to the Treasury from the Com
pauy except by the modes above stated. As National
investment, believe that the Union Pacific Railroad
without cXaggeratIon. will pay We leave the results
with those whO under the existing laws OF Congress ana
such amendments may be enacted have the power TO
direct LIS Ia eag duties JAMES f. WILSON
j. IL. WILLARD,
JOHS c. >. HARRISON,
i. B. BREWER,
JoHN A. TBBus.
The Hon. c. Delsno, Secretary OF the Interior.