New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-21
The Southern Trans Continental - Tenn
Acott's Programme.

In order to q full understanding of the
scheme in which Colonel Scott enlisted bis
| indOmitable energies to secure government
aid for the Southern Trans Con tinental line
| memorial to Congress, and the bill which
accompanies it, will be found of interest.
| They are carefully summarized in special
| dispatch to the Boston Post, from which
| such points as are Of special Importance to
an understanding of the project are pre-
| sented below.
The memorial sets forth that the length
of the Texas Pacific railroad is 1875 miles,
and the Atlantic and Pacific 27l3 miles
The land grant to the first is 1900, 600
acres, and to the last 9,55S, 0lS; that in
both cases the construction has been ar
rested by financial embarrassment; that
the money expended 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
common line will save 1900 miles of the
road and restore to the United States
$50, zoo, 900 acres Of land. The memorialists
also present that a system of railways,
based on English capital, has been inausu-
rated in Mexico, the line from the city of
Mexico to Vera Cruz being completed, the
influence Of which will be to divert the
southwestern trans-continental trade into
English channels and away from the United
States to which it properly belongs
In view Of all these facts the memorial
lists pray, first, that the Atlantic and Pacific
be allowed to defect its line from Vinita
Pacific defect ENTHUSIASTICALLY so as to
effect junction at some point not west
ward of the l52d meridian; second, that for
each section OF twenty miles or more of
continuous road constructed and equipped
by either company, the Secretary of the
Treasury, in the name of the United States,
shall guarantee the interest at five per cent
in gold on bonds to be issued by the COM
pany for road constructed in the plain or
open country, say for one half of the line
authorized, at the rate of $4,000 per mile,
and for round and mountainous country
$45, 000-an additional $4,000 per mile to be
issued by each company and be deposited
by the Secretary of the Treasury until after
the completion of The road, which each CON-
pany is authorized to build the same to
be then expended in the purchase of addi-
tional improvements, rolling stock, ETC.,
such as the increasing business Of their
roads shall require; third, restoration to
the government OF about 100000 acres on
the Atlantic and Pacific old route, along
the thirty fifth parallel fourth $4,000 per
mile in bonds of the $40 900 authorized
one-eighth Of the entire issue to be retained
as already specified, by the Secretary of the
Treasury and sold by him, if any time dur
ing construction the proceeds of the sales
of lands, government transportation, postal
and government Geographic service, and
the entire net earnings of the road are not
sufficient to meet the maturing interest.
The memorial then concludes with an ap-
peal on behalf OF the interests of the South
west.
The preamble of the bill which accom-
panies this memorial recites that the Texas
Pacific company has now constructed an d
in operation 3l5 miles OF road, together |
with 30 miles partially constructed and in
various stages of completion, and that the |
Atlantic and Pacific, including the line from
st. Louis to Springfield, has in operation |
1868 miles of road; also, that the surveys of |
both lines through to the Pacific coast have |
been FLED in the office OF the Secretary Of |
the Interior, and reservation of the alter |
nate 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 Northwestern |
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
If one great Southern line through to the
Pacific, and by the union of the two pro-
posed lines into such cOmman line, whereby
90 900, 900 acres of land heretofore granted
will revert back to the public domain.
This bill substantially embodies the wants
ct for tn in the memorial and preamble, as
bove given.-N. Louis Tunes