Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-29
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
Active Operations. Favorable to
the. Scheme.


Efforts OF ttae Opposition : LibeFa
Views of Northern Representative
Washington Correspondence Of the St. Loui
Republican
The railroad charge on Congress con
tinues, Notwithstanding the holiday recess
Gen. Dodge and Judge Baker, Of st. Louis
who lead respectively the Texas and Pacific
and the Atlantic and Pacific wings of Ton
Scotts army, remain here and continue &C,
tive lobby operations on the members OF
Congress whose homes are such distance
from the national Capital that they have not
been able to HE themselves away to par
take of the Christmas pudding amid their
own family circle. Many of these are the
representatives Of Southern and South
western districts, which are naturally in
terested in the active prosecution of this
particular trans-continental project from
reasons Of a local character.
DIVISION IN THE CAMP.
While united, however, upon the gene
raj proposition of Southern line, there
are such an innumerable quantity Of side
suggestions made that great danger exists
that the whole enterprise will sink beneath
the accumulated weight of these, forced
upon it by sectional greed. The same
ruinOus jealousy which has always hereto
fore divided the powers of the West and
South, threatens equally disastrous conse-
quences in this case, and it is hoped to 1,a-
plOy the holidays TO good purpose in awak-
ening these members to the vital necessity
of taking more enlarged view of the sit
uation than that which is confined to the
limits and bounds of their own States and
countries. It has been charged already
that MIR. Scott had yielded to this sectional
pressure to an extent that would hopelessly
sink his proposition. Your correspondent
has received most emphatic and authori-
tative denial Of these reports, with an as
suranee that every effort is being made By
all parties directly interested in the con-
struction of a railroad to the Pacific coast
on a Southern line to avoid any of these
entangling agencies.
WHENCE THE OPPOSITION COMES.
There is, however, a most determined
and aggressive opposition at work against
the scheme, an opposition which hesitates
at no mears, however covert and insidious,
to compass the desired end. Naturally |
enough this opposition comes from the |
present established trans-continental line |
and gathers vast influence from its widely |
ramified connections. The Union Pacific |
in the East and the Central Pacific in the |
extreme West control immense power, and |
they are widening it in every way they can
exercise to demolish the Scott combination.
Though not united, they work for the COM
mon end in perfect harmony, and to their
strikers may be traced in the main all the
rumors of a damaging or disparaging kind
with which the press dispatches sent out
from this city are loaded.
DAMAGING RUMcRS DENIED.
The first of their skillful inventions was
The rumor busily circulated about the open
ing days Of Congress, that the Scott combina-
ion, the Northern Pacific and cotton tax
-efund were to float TO success in the same
BOAT. Withouta shadow Of truth to support
L, this charge was soon abandoned and
systematic effort begun, which continues to
his day, to excite the local greed of the
7arious sections of the South and West, |
md thus divide their power. That much |
n secret, while meantime the rumor was
lept going that every city in the South,
.ttained to respectable proportions, had
zen promised branch line. The end Of ,
he rope has been about reached in this di- !
ection, and there is a chance that these ru-
mons will revert TO the injury of those who !
invented them. Every man cs.nt hope to !
ave the new Pacific railroad run by his
rOut door, and this fact begins to pierce
heir inner consciousness. They perceive
he folly in persisting in such course, and
Il these side issues may yet be Topped off.
lemphis and New Orleans, through their
continue clamorous that
hey shall be recognized as terminal points |
t this end, and branch lines, enforced with
be same Congressional guarantee asked }
1,f,y eIon 10 al f. |
lem.
LIBERAL VIEWS.
Notably in contrast with this sectional
upidity is the enlightened liberality t
hich has been unexpectedly met in some II
T the Northwestern States. Some Repre- o
.ntatives from Wisconsin and Iowa have +
wen emphatic expression to their favor :
II the Southern line, and are equally I'M
,aring in condemnation Of the Northern o
acifc chimers. They foresee the certain a
that the one will be constructed with y
,rtainty and yigor, that it is demanded by Il
le growing importance and wonderful b
-omise of the region Of country which it b
snetrates, and that it will compel needed I,
forms in the already existing Union Pa O
fc line, while, with equal clearness of 8
sion, they can see that no amount Of
Overnment aid can make the Northern =
acifc practical OF useful. .
THE WORK AHEAD. II
In this condition matters rest at present, /
I'd open persecution Of the enterprise be- /
re the Congressional committees is de- Il
yed until after the holidays. The House Il
on the Pacific Railroads will II
I'D their first meeting ON Friday, Jan. s, II
hen Mr.. Scott, Gen. Dodge and Judge
aker are expected to be heard. h