The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-01-06

country there II no chance for him TO
negotiate them IN the United States,
Then, ~ the undertaking II too great
for private enterprise, without govern
meni aid IN some substantial way, the
enterprise must lnger for many years
Ia all probability The road viii he COM
pletcd ~ FORT Worth during this year,
but no further. Over ten million dol
lars have already been spent aud this
eXhansts It's resources, 7
This IL an enterprise In which the
whole South, and especially Texas, Is
Interested, hence the deep Interest felt
by the people Of this State In every
thing concerning II.
When Colonel Scott went into this
enterprise, Texas had by an net Of the
Legislature agreed TO donate to 1t six
millions of dollars In State bonds, but
the public feeling being averse TO this
legislation, u compromise to substitute
lands instead OF bonds was effected.
These lands Will only DO available, TO
the company, when the road II COM
pleted, What the company wants now
Is means 10 build the road. The bitter
and unrelenting war against railroads
throughout the country, wagcd indis-
crlminately, has had an effect TO prac-
tlcnlly prevent the extension or build
ing Of new roads, This warfare has
produced such distrust In the public
mind, both In Europe and the United
States, that capitalists will not loan
their money 10 build railroads. lta
The South and West will have TO
wait until the country grows up, and
the people In these sections shall accu-
mulate surplus Of money, before they
can invest Ia building railroads. In
Texas there IL no such surplus. With
out MD from the government, then, the
building of our railroads for the present
must cease. There ARE many who hold
that the true theory Is, that railroads
should not he built until the country 10
settled up along the contemplated road,
and the people have the money neces-
sary for Its construction. We will not
stop to inquire whether this Is the true
doctrine or not suffice II that the coun-
try has not been acting upon II for sew
eral years past. lfit now becomes the
policy, the settlement of the waste
lands In the South and West, and in
Texas, will be greatly retarded, The
older States aud more settled portions
Of the country may be benefited by
such n policy, but that the Southwest,
ALPHABETICALLY Texas, would begreatly
injured by 1t, can hardly be contro-
verified. Railroads have built up the
Western States, giving to their lands
immense value. The energetic popu-
lation who seek these unsettled lands, |
do 50 in the prospect of railroad facili-
ties for the marketing Of their produce.
Can it be doubted, therefore, In view
of all these considerations, that every
legitimate effort should Mt once be
maze for securing the early completion
of the Texas and Pacific road?
IfColonel Scott shouldapply to Con-
gress for aid, wethink that our Con-
gressmen should render him every as
sistance they can; and, in fact, the
same may be said of all the Southern
members. Congress furnished the
means for building the Union Pacific
road, the benefits Of which 20 to the
West; and as that body has been in
the habit of annually voting sums for
improvingthe harbors, rivers and lakes
IN the North, we see no reason why
the South should not come in for some
of the benefits of such policy. Since
the North has procured its roads by
subsidies, we think ii but just and fair
that the South should have the neces-
sary aid in building u road SO impor-
tant andso necessary to its prosperity.
We have no hesitation in saying that
the time has now arrived for the South
10 act AS unit on this question if she
desires to secure highway to the Pa
cilic during the life of this generation.
The advantages to arise from the COM
pletion of this road are too plain to
need comment The opening to set
lement of the fertile lands of our State
and the Southern territories would
seem to warrant every reasonable ex-
triton to effect the object in view.
The increased yield of cotton, tobacco,
md the cereals, would add immensely
o the commercial value of the national
wealth. 1t would at the same time ,
~ opening new sources of traffic for /
with other lines, do much {
o vitalize the entire system of South
I'm railroads, and the business gener-
lily of the Southern States. The gov
besides reaping large bene-
Its in this way, would enable our peo-
Ne to utilize the vast deposits of
precious metals, and other minerals in
Western Texas, New Mexico and Ari-
ona, now practically valueless for
want of this highway. .r
The Indian question could be man ]
ged, the territories made safer for life !,
nd property, and millions could be
aved to the Government in the cost of =
and the subsistence of
roOps. -a.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad as a i
Highway across the continent will at
IL times be free from distractions, {
rossing as 1t does the mountain d.
ides at low elevations and saving
.rgely in grade and curvature.
The road cannot be built from the
ales OF land, but when completed the :
lnds would be an excellent security. I
he government in extending aid In F
,me practical form, should be secured :.
eyond all peradventure by first '
lortgage on the line, its franchises, a
'nds, and property of every descrip- :,
OH, and the line should always be .
pen to all connecting lines on equal "
rms, not to be controlled by any Z
)ecial interest.
We do sincerely trust that the South-
n members of Congress will take
tactical view of this question, and =
mite in demand for necessary aid.
fter what the government has done
# other sections it is but just and fair :,
lat 1t should do as much for this, and l.
lille this highway passes through
outhern territory, it is eminently
ational In its benefits, and ought to 90
the favorable consideration ~
men of all sections ~