The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-02-27
TOM SCOTT'S PROGRAMME.

| In order to full understanding OF
the scheme in which Colonel Scott en-
listed his indomitable energies to Sc
cure government aid for the Southern
Trans Continental line of railroad, the
substantial features of his memorial to
Congress, and the bill which accom-
panies it, will be found of interest.
They are carefully summarized in a
special dispatch to the Boston Post,
from which such points as are OF special
importance to all understanding OF the
project are presented below.
The memorial sets forth that the
length of the Texas Pacific railroad is
1875 miles, and the Atlantic and Pacific
2713 miles. The land grant to the first
is 17,OOO,O 900 acres, and to the last 49,
55S, ,O1S; that in both cases the construc-
ton has been arrested by financial en-
barrassment; that the money expend-
| ed in the construction of the Texas
Pacific railroad is private capital solely,
and that the abandonment of the two
separate lines and the construction OF
a common line will save 1900 miles OF
the road and restore to the United
States $50, 1000, 900 acres of land. Inc
| memorialists also present that Il system
of railways, based on English capital,
has been inaugurated in Mexico, the
AAuS lEOllA Cuo C1Ny VI I1C-AANo w VIZ
| Cruz being completed, the influence of
which will be to divert the southwest
ern trans-continental trade into Eng
lish channels and away from the United
States, to which it properly belongs.
In view Of all these facts the memo
rialists pray, first, that the Atlantic
and Pacific be allowed to defect its
line from Vinita enthusiastically into
Texas, and the Texas Pacific defect
so as to effect juno
ton at some point not westward of the
152d meridian; second, that for each
section of twenty miles or more of
continuous road constructed and equip
ped by either company, the Secretary
of the Treasury. in the name of the
United States, shall guarantee the in
terest at five per cent in gold on bonds
to be issued by the company for road
constructed in the plain or open coun-
try, say for one-half of the line author
lied, at the rate of $50, 900 per mile,
and for round and mountainous country
$45, ,OOO-an additional $4,000 per mile to
be issued by each company and be de-
posted by the Secretary of the Treas
ury until after the completion of the
road, which each company is author
lied to build, the same to be then ex-
pended in the purchase of additional
improvements, rolling stock, ETC., such
as the increasing business Of their roads
shall require; third, u restoration to
the government of about 100000 900
acres on the Atlantic and Pacific old
route, along the thirty-fifth parallel ;
fourth, $4,000 per mile in bonds of the
$4,000 authorized one-eighth of the
entire issne to be retained, as already
specified, by the Secretary of tho Treas
Il 1>~x H. 8 Ip1r.
ing construction the proceeds OF the
sales of lands, government transporta-
ton, postal and government telegraphic
service, and the entire net earnings OF
the road are not sufficient to meet the
maturing interest. The memorial then
concludes with an appeal on behalf of
the interests of the Southwest.
The preamble of the bill which ac-
mpanies this memorial recites that
the Texas Pacific company has now
constructed and in operation 315 miles
of road, together with 22O miles par
TALLY constructed and in various stages
of completion, and that the Atlantic
and Pacific, including the line from st.
Louis to Springfield, has in operation
1858 miles of road; also, that the sur
veys of both lines through to the
Pacific coast have been filed in the
oAl1SS VI lAO boCSiCS1iy VI lIS AhlSl1o
and reservation of the alternate odd
numbered sections Of land granted has
been made. 1t is further set forth that
the interests of the government, as well
as the people of California, Arizona,
| New Mexico, Missouri and Texas, and
all the Southern, Western and North
western States now connected by lines
of road with the eastern terminus OF
the said Atlantic and Pacific and Texas
Pacific roads, will be promoted by the
immediate completion of one great
Southern line through to the. Pacific
and by the union of the two proposed
lines into such common line, whereby
1000, 200 acres Of land heretofore grant
ed will revert back to the public do
main. This bill substantially embodie:
the wants set forth in the memorial anC
preamble, as above givep.-,S. Lo,i
| Times.
ORIGIN:OF THE ssPRINTER'S DEVIL
When AlluS ManutiuS set I'm in bIlS