, 1874-02-21
THE SOUTHERN TRANS CONTINENTAL,
RAILROAD.

Vashi,,otos {Fsb 12> Dispatch to the Boston Ppsk.
So much has been guessed and surmised about
the programme Of Col. Thomas Scott Tor secu1-
ing Government aia In the construction OF the
Southern T1ans-continental line of railroad, that
the following Abstract Of the memorial and bill
which lie has prepared for presentation to Con-
gress will be OF interest. The memorial sets
forth that the length OF the Texas Pacific Rail-
road is /, ,975 miles, and the Atlantic i Pacific
ana miles. THE land-grant to the first is H.
900 acres, and to tho last 49, 558 018; that in
both cases the construction has been arrested
by financial embarrassment; that the money e1-
pended in tho construction OF the Texas Pacific
Railroad ia private capital solely, and that the
abandonment Of the tYo separate lines and the
construction OF q common line will save !, 500
miles Of road and restore to the United States
80, ,00D, 600 acres OF land. The mornorlalsts also
present that system OF railways, based On
English capital, has been inaugurated in Mexico,
tho line from tho City OF Mexico to Vern Cruz
being completed the influence Of which will be
to divert the southwestern trans-continental
trade into English channels and away from tho
United States, to which it properly belongs. In
view Of all these facts, the memoria1lsts PEay,
first, that the Atlantic l. Pacidc be allowed to
defect its line from Vinitoz enthusiastically into
Texas, and the Texas d Pacific defect north
westwardly go US to effect 4 junction at sono
point not westward Of the sad meridian second.
that for each section Of twenty miles or moro Of
continuous road constructed aud equipped by
either Company, the Secretary Of the Treasury,
IN the name of the United States, shall guaran-
tee the interest at 5 per cent in gold on bonds
to be issued by the Company for road con-
Rtructed IN the plain OF open country, say for
$4,000 Per mile, and 70, round and mountainous
country 81. .o00-an additional $4,000 per mile
to be issued by each Company, and be- deposited
with the Secretary OF the Treasury until after
the completion Of the road, which each Company
is authorized to build, the same to be- then ex-
n
ments, rolling stock, ETC., such as tha officers OF
the Company anall certify under oath the increas-
ing business OF their roads shall require; third,
restoration to the Government OF ABOUT 50 O00-
900 ecros OH the Atlantic l. Pacific old route,
along the thirtytifth parallei; fourth S. 900 Per
mile II bonds out Of the $4,000 authorized, one
eighth OF the entire issue. to be retained as al
read; specified by the Secretary Of tho Treasury
and sold by him, if at any time during con-
etrucslon the proceeds Of the salea of lands
1nent telegraph service, and the entire net earn-
1ngs OF tie road are not sufficient to meet the
maturing interest," The memorial then con-
clndes with an appeal on behalf Of the interests
Of the Southwest. The bill which accompanies
this memorial is entitled '' An act amendatory Of
aud supplementary to the acts Of March 3, 1871.
aud May 2, 1872. incorporating the Texas Pacific
Railway Company, and the act Of July ~, 1866
incorporating the Atlantic i Pacific Railway
Company" The preamble recites that the Texas
IAcluc NOulpauy mas now constructed anu ID
operation 315 miles Of road together with 900
miles partially constructed and in various stages
Of completion. and tha. the Atlantic l.
Pacific, including the line from. St.
Louis to Springfield heg in oper-
alton 3G3 miles of road; also, that the
surveys of both lines through to the Pacific
coast hive been fled in the office OF the Secre-
tary OF the Interior. and reservation OF the alter
nate odd-numbered sections Of land granted has
been made. It is further set forth That the in
terests of the Government Of tho United States,
us we'll as of the people Of California, Arizona,
New Mexico, Missouri. and Texas, and all the
Southern, Western and Northwestern States,
now connected BY lines OF road with the eastern
terminus of said Atlantic i Pacific and Texas
Pacific Roads, will be promoted by the immediate
completion OF one great Southern line through
to the Pncilc, and by the union OF the two pro-
posed lines into such common line, whereby
3d. 600, 900 acres Of land heretofore granted will
revert back to the public domain. This bill..sub-
Btantialty embodies the wants Set forth in the!
memorial and preamble, as ADORE GiTen. !