Arizona citizen., 1874-10-03
THE TEXAS PACIFIC.

1eXdS faclUc hdllrOdu JO urge upOI lutu-
 bers of that body a just consideration of it as needed national highway and en- titled to public encouragement, and es- pecially should all the people do so in
 the South and southwestern States and
 Territories No section of the nation has more urgent need of this road than Ari- zona. Our Territory is an interior one, and, without railway, every article of export and import has to be transported
 by wagon hundreds of miles, save that needed in the valley of the Colorado and on the Gila contiguous to the Colorado. Arizona is in length from east to west 4Oo miles, and the bulk of all articles needed by
 her people from abroad must be, as now, hauled in wagons an average of about 3OO,
 until a railway is built, and our surplus products must go like distance in like manner to find market. Freight on our exports to and imports from San Francisco or New York now amounts to from Sl40 to S200 per ton. Government is annually paying enormous sums for transportation of troops, supplies, and mails. AS the people make up the government and fur nish the money to pay their own and its exorbitant expenses, when such are nec- essary, the building of the Texas and Pacific railway will prove a measure of economy to the whole people. The mass of the people are in favor of internal i'm provements. and Congress at it's late ses- sion spent much time in consideration of most comprehensive system of them from the Missouri and Mississippi valleys to the Atlantic seaboard.
 Let the people at once and all along the line from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, make themselves unmistakeably heard on the Texas and Pacific road. They can, if they will, exert power to some purpose. The road is partly built. It has received Congressional assistance, which in the distant future, is believed to be worth more than the company now ask. What is wanted, is not franchise worth one hundred or more millions of dollars fifty years hence, but one that will enable the company to at once pro- ceed to rapidly construct the road. Its officers have thoroughly examined what is necessary to this end, and seek no more. They find they can offer an advantageous exchange of rights and powers to the na- tion, and themselves be amply strength ened for the immediate prosecution of the work. Three weeks ago, the direc- tors held meeting in Philadelphia to de- eide upon what to ask of Congress, and here Is their decision:
 The proposition is that the company, in return for guarantee of six per cent. interest on its bonds by Congress, shall agree to allow the government to retain the entire cost of transportation ot troops and public stores, and all money received from the telegraph, and give in addition a lien on some of the best land.
 We observe the press generally fayors or is silent upon this proposition. Itis so fair and advantageous to the people at large, that the justly disposed journals approve and recommend it, and the growlers and drags maintain silence. We believe if the pronounced friends ot the enterprise, keep the company's fair proposition be- fore the people and see to it that Congress men are properly reminded of their duty in the premises, that at the ensuing ses- sion the necessary legislation will besecur ed. The company can and will go ahead upon Congress acceding to what is now sought, for it has carefully ascertained upon what kind of legislation capital can be obtained
 Let the people of Southern California, of Arizona, of New Mexico, of Texas, of Louisiana, and all the States in a line eastward, wake up to their present duty, and see to it that their representa- tives in Congress do theirs. It is easy and delightful to contemplate the pros pect ahead for all the country indicated, upon the completion of the Texas and Pacific road. Not less than 10000, 900 people are directly interested in the enter prise, and they can, if they will, exert the power required to secure the early com- pletion of it. The time is suspicious and should be improved.
 "FI F'RONTERIZOD D comes to Our office It |