New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-16
AID FOE TIE SOUTHERN PACIFIC ROAD.

A PLEA FOR A sUBsIDY-CONGRESs ASKED TO GUAR
ANTEE RAILROAD BONDS AS AN ACT OF JUSTICE
THE MATERIAL RECONSTRUCTION Og THE SOUTH.
TO the razor Of The Trf6une.
SIR: The able and fearless manner in which
THE has continued the good work begun by It's
noble founder in defending the rights Of my section
against unscrupuous misrepresentation induces me 10
believe that you will allow space III your columns Tor
the purpose OF calling attention TO measures which VIII
help to repair the effects of the caamities from which
the South is now suffering The fact that you may not
approve of the measures shall advocate Will render
your tolerance in publishing them the more grateful
Our political reconstruction it is conceded by you. is
toeraby well completed, and there 49, hope, little like
hood that efforts defeated partsans are making to
defeat the progress Of my State will meet with success
Our material reconstruction however. has only just be-
gun and for lis completion national aid Is ncedfui
Congress has munifcently aided the East the North
and the West in the improvement Of their harbors and
the completion their network OF railroads Not only
National enterprises like the Central and mon Pacific
Railroads, but also obscure works. Ike the I'M
provemen Of the harbor of Duluth. have been freely
aided by the national purse The south has mad h,tie
Mississippi and its Delta have been sghtngy regarded
railroad has been built for US even adequate pro-
lection has been frontier settlers and our
Intercourse with Northern states has been hanpeged
embargOed by the perpetuation OF the Indian Ter
ritOry as barrier between and them IMPOVERISHED
by war; prey of the carpettagger ana the scaawag
worse pests than the coton-wolmwe nave oeen leit
unaidcd to way back 10 prosperity. Ii may be
right refuse us compensation lOr our slaves, 10 hOld
US responsible for debts fraudulent officials. in whose
election had no share, have imposed on us but 1t
be right TO refuse aid from the National Treas
ury 10 which equally with other sections contribute
The State OF Texas nODy stryon 10 retrieve its dis
asers and has built, since the war, l2V miles or ran
road without the receipt Of cent or an acre OF subsidy
from the United States Other States nave done in their
degree equally well. But among our needs there Is
one great work of equal sectional and national
importance, without winch all our Work u frdg-
mentary and rghtful progress impossible
mean the construction OF South PaciiG Railroad
such road would unite our scattered ana disconnected
troubles, and would open to the eneTrslhg cuzens OF
Mississippi Alabama and Louisiana, territory III
which they would find prosperity and peace Its con-
strIctlOn would benefit to every part OF the South
and Uould make amends for 10 years of neglect. AIN
aware YOU are opposed TO subsidies but Is II just to stop
them altogether before helping us "a little You may
road. That however, avails nothing Tor the completion
OF such work. Capital for railroad OuiuihH must
mainly come from Europe ana now slRnt te Value at
tached land grant by European capitalists ID shown
NV the remarks of Mr.. GTiilen in MS pamphlet ON
"Amerlcan Railways rs Investments lie computes
that n land grant under larry HNoTapie ciIcuIn
stances will realize less than 1--WE per cent OF its
amount per annuIn, and shows hat such land grants
have contributed less than five per cent or the
cost of the roads actually built during the past
20 years. Without direct ana, such guarantee
OF the interest OH the bonds of the Company,
the south cannot get Pacific Railroad III tins genera
on and generation Is the one that mas suffered III
the past ana requires aid in the present.
get the road independently OF congress-
hut the road is needed now; if not act OF national
of national charity.
that If the Government takes absolute and iiret lien
on the road, stipulaEg that AN amount OF the gross
earnings Sufficient meet the interest be set aside FOX
that purpose and regulates its charges to prevent
oppression and monopoly, the guarantee Of the interest
would be costly or dangerous, and the saving to the
Government in its military transportation ana It's mail
would be almost equaI 10 te interest OF mo cost
OF the whole road. SOUTHERN PROGRESS.
Cohesion, 1eIds, April 49, 1874.