Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-10-02
Another Pacific Railroad.

to large addition to her population,
is another Pacific Railroad, and it Is
even doubtful If the railroad is not
her first want, since that would inev-
itably contribute largely to her pop
ulation. Our isolation was relieved
very much by the construction of the
Central line, but that line has too
much the character of q monopoly to
yield all the benefits that were ex-
pected from it. Both the Central, and
the Uuion Pacific Companies fell
under the control of persons some
what lacking in an appreciation of the
benefits conferred upon them by
generous public. A distinct, but at
the same time most natural manifes-
tation of self-seeking has ever been
observable in the management of the
road already built and nothing, short
of healthy competition can correct
the evil. But even if more generous
spirit had always been displayed by
them and those railroads had been
conducted on the most magnanimous
principles towards the public; never
theless such is the vast extent of our
country on the Pacific Coast, stretch
ing as it does through many degrees
of latitude, that more than one rail-
road connecting us with the Atlantic
States is absolutely indispensable. Its
necessity is increasing with the rapid
growth of Southern California, which
reaches off towards that part of the
Union with which we are most close
ly allied by climate and productions.
II is now understood that the Texas
Pacific and the Atlantic and Pacific
have been united under one manage
ment, and the energies of both organ
izations can therefore be directed to-
wards the one grand object of pushing
on towards the Pacific Ocean. An
enterprise of so much national impor-
tance ought to have the encourage
ment of the National Government;
Us it indeed has in the form of
large donations of land, but it deserves
some more direct and available aid;
as for example guaranty of interest
at limited rate for limited time
upon a limited amount of lands, is
sued for it's construction, as fast as
constructed, but no faster. Such o
procedure on the part of the Govern
ment would be without risk, and
would result in an early completion of
the road, and at the same time very
great advantage to the Government.
Should the Government in the trans
action be required to pay few hum
dred thousand dollars as interest, a
thing not likely, but possible, it would
be returned ten, twenty or hundred
fold in national glory and renown, in
national wealth, in security along
our border, in exemption from Indian
disturbances, in agricultural, mineral
and commercial developments, and in
many other unthought-of ways. 1t is
susceptible of demonstration that the
Government would save large amounts
Of money in the operation, for the
most expensive portion of our military
establishments are in Arizona and
New Mexico, which would be trav-
ersed by Southern Pacific Railroad.
The anti-railroad feeling that has
grown up in this country out of the
mis-management of the line already
constructed is blindly opposing every
other enterprise of a like character,
but the only way of correcting the
evils wrought upon the public is to
encourage competition, and that en-
couragement ought to come from the
general Government, whence the pres
ent monopoly derives its strength. If
the creation of this monopoly was the
work of Congress, it is unquestionably
the duty of Congress to relieve the
public from that monopoly, which it
can easily do in the way suggested.