Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-12-20
The eRaNGERs AND rNE RAILROADS.

partly built across the Southern bor-
der. 1t is work of such magnitude
that the prospect of its being COM
pleted in reasonable period of time,
if ever, without the aid of the whole
people, acting through the Govern
ment. is not hopeful, and the question
now presents itself to the people and
more especially to those devoted TO
farming and agricultural pursuits than
any other, is it for the interest of the
nation, for that of the farmers and ag
riculturists generally, that this assist
ance should be rendered ?
The difference in the climate and
character of the country over viii ,h
the two routes pass are almost as OPP
posite as could be imagined. The one,
cold in Winter and hot in Summer,
covered with snow at one season and
drenched with rain at another, and
having its requisite number of streams
to carry off the superabundance of
water, which are crossed by bridges
and culverts, continually exposed to
damage by Hoods and heavy rains, the
washing away of embankmcnts, the
freezing and thawing of the road-bed,
together with the greater wear and
tear, cost and delay in operating
road of high grades and sharp curves,
are items which amount annually to
much greater sum than the interest
upon the money expended in the con-
struction and stocking of the road.
The sd parallel route is free from
cold and snow, uneXposed to the dam
aging effects from the freezing and
thawing of the road-bed, with minor
extremes of heat and cold. The
amount of rainfall is inconsiderable
consequently but little or no damage
is to be suffered by the washing away
of bridges, culverts or embankments.
No part of the route has high alti-
tude, but runs over extensive plains,
giving low aggregate of ascents and
descents and without high grades, the
wear and tear of the road and the cost
of the propelling power will all be so
much less than upon the present road,
that the rate of freights and fares and
the length Of time in transit may be
greatly lessened and still leave the
operating of the road a profitable bus
| ness. a@ s.nfssg effV atE4AH
Most of the delays and expenses
caused by distractions constantly re-
curing upon the northern route, will
| be avoided on the more southern one.
From the shores of the Pacific to the
| Mississippi river or maritime port in
Texas, there are but two rivers of
magnitue, both of which would be
crossed far down their courses, which
is of no inconsiderable Importance
The products of the soil can be trans
ported with greater ease and less cost
in proportion to distance in the direc-
ton of the flow of the rivers of a
country than in the opposite direc-
ton. Thus, a railroad along the 32d
parallel, crossing the rivers at right
angles and near their mouths, will
drain the country of its products with
greater ease and at less cost than one
traversing the country near the sources
of its rivers and streams.
While it is undisputed that in the
past, railway corporations and specula-
tors in the construction of railways
have overreached the people and the
Government and have unjustly drawn
large sums of money from the people,
it does not follow that for that cause
the Government should henceforward
abstain from aiding and assisting in
+i,0rn rr>,,if'-,e. ~, rsa ~, +,n poo
| pie for their welfare and which, with
out such assistance, must be indifi-
nitely postponed. Such is not the
policy that guides individuals. No
man OF energy folds his arms and sub
sides into inactivity because he
has been overreached, swindled
or cheated by competitor or
late him to greater care and watch
fulness. His experience serves as
beacon in his future course. So,
conceive, it should be with the people,
acting through their Government. If
in the past they have been de-
frauded, instead of supinely turning
their backs toward great and beneficial
| enterprises, they should be only the
more ready to engage in them; as,
from their past experience, they have
acquired knowledge Of the snags and
| quicksands which lie in the way and
are better prepared to avoid them in
the execution of similar enterprises.
If those who have been entrusted with
| the powers of the Government have
been deceived and outwitted in the
past, they have that experience to
guide and direct them in the future,
so that they are better able to guard
and protect the interests of the people.
If the people have been deceived and
defrauded by, those to whom they have
entrusted the Government, this dere-
LECTION of duty by their agents should
|
the people to bestow that care and the
exercise Of that sound judgment in Sc
lecting to whom is committed the
management of the affairs of the ma
ton, so as to insure an honest and
efficient discharge of those duties.
1t would be humiliating fact, if
such should be proven, and one which
would destroy all faith in our form of
Government, that the people are in
competent or unable to select proper
agents to manage the business of Gov
ernment; but am far from harboring
belief in the existence of such fact.
An intelligent man finds no insupera-
BILE difficulty in making a bargain or a
contract in such form and manner as
will leave little or no room for decep-
tion and non.performance. And what
any intelligent man can do, most GER
tainly can be accomplished by hun
dred or more intelligent persons.
There are not wanting among twenty
millions of men q few hundred, of
honest, upright and competent citi-
zens, who might be selected and sent
into the Congress of the United States,
If such men are not to be found there
at present, who could readily frame
law, contract or act of incorporation,
by the operation of which this great
and needful enterprise could be ac-
complished without much, if any,
risk of the peoples being defrauded.
believe in the power of the Grange
organization of the country not only
to secure the aid of the Government
for the immediate construction of this
great com m arcial hiuhxvuy hnf 70 do