The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-12-23
From tho Southern ITpmc.j

a highly respectable body of gentle
>mcu. 1t was presided over by
distinguished son of Massa ohusc tts
the Hon. Josiah Quincy, who is tn
President of the Association. Com
mittees had been appointed at tn
last meeting to submit reports OF
various subjects, relating to trans
porta1ion, such as railroad transpor
tation, water or canal transportatio,
nnd the relative coast Of each. Thes,
were full aud able, but generally
partook of the bias Of mind of eaol
chairman " ho made the report.
| The basis Of presentation in ths
Convention was that Of the respcc
tive State in the House of Reprc.
scntatives in the Federal Congress
There being but few Southern State,
repl resented New York, Ohio, Iii.
nois. Iowa ard Minnesota had th.
absolute control over every uues.
tion Which can before the conyen.
ton. These States being generally
we'll sup' lied with railroads., aud
each delegation having soue ma
t:onal or local water line to be con.
structcd, ran the controlling rowor
almost entirely in favor OF canals,
rccomm,ndipg large appropriations
to them and ignoring entirely nation
al railroad interests urged by the
Southern States.
~ resolution Of national charac.
ter was introduced by Col. Wm.
Johnston Of Charlotte N. g., and
failed to pass on account Of the mere
local schemes favored by New
York and NortL Western States,
viz
"WnERhAs, The construction of
sh'r canal across the l>lhmus Of
Snez, connecting the watvrs of the
Hcd aud Mediterl anean svas, has
greatly diH'iuishcd both the time
aud distance of the voyage from all
Southern and Western Europe to
India, China, japan and Autralasia,
and whereas the shorter route from
the United States to Eastern and
Southern Asia is through our Paci.
Gc ports, and we have but Que rail
way connecting the Atlantic aud
Pacific OCEANS, by which cowmercial
Intercourse can be maintained
throughout the Union with Caifor.
MIA aud the continent Of A ia con-
tanning over 00,OO0,000 Inhabitants
or one half the population of the
globe, and whereas the Texas or
Southern Pacific rail route is about
500 miles shorter from tho Pacific
to the Atlantic ports than any other
constructed or projected line and
whereas its proposed line runs
through a settled country, of great
fertility of sci, aboundlns in min
eral wealth, Of comparatively cheap
construction. and through mild and
temperate climate, without OBJ
tluctions from snow and ice in win.
ter.
Rssolred, That this Convention do
cordially recommend to the Congress
of the United States to extend to
said Southern Pac fic such reasona-
bic aid as will ensure its speedy com.
plction, as it is great work of un
doubted national Importance"
In behalf cf this resolution the in.
troducer stated, the country was
greatly in nc cd Of another transacon-
tinent,l route, that one was wholly
insufficient and nec"ssaily proju ccd
\ monopoly that for s,veral mouths
in tho year, passengers Travelled it
at the peril of their lives from snow
and ice, and frrigbts were sometimes
weeks aud months in transit. The
construction of tho TcAas Pacific
would invite large immigration to
our Southern TIE. ritor'es, raj idly set.
tie them and develop their 'ccs,
increase the pr. duction Of ootton,
grain and other productions, thus
greatly adding to tie wealth Of the
nation. The Increased value Of the
lands alone in few years would
more than double the cost Of the
road. 1t would vi hlize our entire
railroad system in the South by ill.,
creasing their traffic. IL w6ald give
increased commerce and activity in
every Atlantic port from Galveston
% New York and every portion Of
the country would bc strengthened
and invigoratod by the additional
wealth it would produce and the in.
creased commerce it would sc tier
over the limos of connec Ing road :.
from St. Louis, Cal 0, Memphis,
Vicksburg, New D !ess aud Ca
yoston. 1t would carry civilization
with it's construction lnl dim nish
the cost anil Lumber Of troops ne-
ce<sary to defend our Southwestern
Territories from tho Indian incur~
sons to less than ole half Of what
they now amount to.
But these arc not tho only national
benefits to flow from this load. 1t
will probably reduce the cost Of
transportation from California to one
half the present rate. This would
invite vastly increased trade from
Asiaa. In fact this is the prize to oe
won. The commerce of Asia is tho
greatest Of all the national objects