The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-12-10
THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD.

-
THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD.
We are very much afraid that Texas is to
be cheated out of the very great benefits
which were anticipated by the completion
Of the Texas and Pacific Railroad. We
have uniformly favored this road as the
most important and deuirabIe to Texas and
the South of any other in the United
States. Its completion was looked forward
to with the greatest eagerness, for reasons
which we have heretofore given. Spanning
the country from ocean to ocean at a point
where neither snow nor ice would ever in
terfere with freight and travel, it was be-
lieved to be the route, which, above all
others, would add untold wealth and bene-
fits to the South, and become the highway
Of the nations, along,whieh the wealth Of
Ana, the East indies and Africa would find
speedy and safe outlet. But a telegram
to the New Orleans Picayune of the fifth
instant, reveals more fully the purposes Of
the company, and we now proceed to give
q synopsis Of the bill which has been or
will be introduced for consolidating the
Texas and Pacific and the Atlantic and
Pacific railways, at or about the 104th
meridian:
'SThe preamble cites that the Texas and
Pacific Railway Company has been hereto
fore authorized to construct, furnish, main
tain and enjoy a continuous railroad and
telegraph line, with the appurtenanees, from
point at or near Marshall, in the State of
Texas, to the ships channel in the bay of
San Diego, along or near the thirty-second
parallel, and that the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad has been authorized to construct,
furnish, maintain and enjoy continuous
railroad and telegraph line, with the appur-
tenances, from the town Of Springfield,
Missouri, along or near the thirty-fifth par
allel of latitude, by the most practicable
route to the Pacific ocean, and further re-
cites the condition of these roads at the
present time, showing that the Texas and
Raciic Compass has 325 miles of road
plete6 and the Atlantic and Pacific
DOmpany mas 368 miles of road in opera
ton, and that the government has reserved
the alternate sections of public lands on
each side of both lines of roads in accor-
dance with their congressional land grants
through to the Pacific coast. The preamble
also asserts that the interests of the country
will be promoted by connection of these
roads, so as to secure the completion of q
Southern line to the Pacific, and restore to
the government about thirty million acres
Of land heretofore granted to the said COM
panies.
"The bill, therefore, proposes to author
| iZc the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Com
pany to extend its road enthusiastically to
point of junction with the Texas and Pa
cific Railroad not further west than the
one hundred and fourth meridian, and the
two companies shall together enjoy all the
benefits acquired by their original charters,
except that the land grant shall not be du-
/ picated.. Both lines, from the junction
east, shall be put on an exact equality as to
all consigned business over the main trunk
line. The Texas and Pacific Company is
also authorized to acquire, by purchase,
consolidation and otherwise, the property
and franchise of any other corporation now
authorized to construct a railway over any
part of the route, from the Colorado river
to San Francisco.
"The bill requires, on pain of forfeiture
of franchise, that the Texas and Pacific shall
be put in operation from its eastern termi-
nus to the point of junction within three
years, and the Atlantic and Pacific to the
point of junction within six years from the
passage Of this act, and that the main trunk
line shall be put in. operation through to
the Pacific coast within six years from the
enactment of this bill.
THE bill further provides that the gov
eminent shall guarantee the payment of the
interest on yearly five per cent. bonds, to
| Ia hryf 20. ko
amount of $40, 600 per mile of road con-
structed, acquired and equipped by each as
aforesaid but the amount of $4,000 per
mile Of these bonds shall be retained in the
United States Treasury, to be sold, if nee
essary, to make up the amounts to be de-
posted, as hereinafter provided, for the
payment Of the guaranteed interest"
By the consolidation of the two roads,
the benefits which Texas and the South
would have derived from the Texas and
Pacific road viii be neutralized or absorbed
by the Atlantic and Pacific route. The great
cities of the North viii so control the freight
and travel as to turn them northeast at
the point Of junction. This would build
up st. Louis and pour the millions of dol
lars which of right should pass through
Texas and the Southern cities, into those Of
the now wealthy and prosperous cities
which tap by rail the Atlantic and Pacific
Railway. The Texas and Pacific proper,
from the one hundred and fourth meridian,
would scarcely earn the expenses of the
road; and Texas, while contributing a
/ princely amount to build it, would receive
but small portion of the benefits. We
therefore trust that, when the Legisla-
ture of the State Of Texas assemblies
in January, suitable steps may be taken tc
secure the State against loss. Millions Of
acres of the finest lands in the State have
been donated for the buildingof the Texai
and Pacific, but if we are to be cheated Out
OF our just rights, the Legislature should
repeal the acts granting lands to it; and
thus withdraw with dignity from any fur
Their participation in an undertaking which
win never give an equivalent for the mag
nifcent domain donated. m
i We have had intimations before Of the
purposes Of the company, but never saw
any definite statement Of the plan of opera
tons. Now that it is unmasked, our South
ern oOtemporaries viii readily comprehend
the injurious results to the South.
i
TnE Houston Telegraph publishes, with
much Satisfaction, an article from the New