Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-02-21
THE TEXAS PACIFIC ROAD.
The Views and Opinions of One who
has studied the Question for Him.

The following is the judgment of an
impartial observer. Speaking of the
probable defeat of the Texas Pacific
Bill in Congress, he says: The HER
AID, with many of the best citizens OF
Southern California, maintained that
it would be better to have the South
ern Pacific Company divide the sub
sidy with the Texas Pacific and build
from both sides of the continent to the
centre. This you contended would
have strengthened the chances of the
bill in Congress.
THE SEQUEL
Has proved the correctness of your
position. But the defeat of the bill has
brought to light other facts which
more than counterbalance all the BEN
eft that this road would be to the
people of the United States. The way
the bill was defeated proves conclu-
sively that the Central and Union
Pacific Railroad Companies control the
Congress of the Nation. Such bills as
they wish are passed, and they can
and do defeat all bills which they do
not wish passed.
Or nod from them is sufficient to
have anything rejected, and this they
do against the combined efforts of the
Conservatives, Independents, Demo-
Gratis, Grangers and the expressed will
of the people as indicated in the recent
elections. If while they control only
one continental road they have such
influence over the Government, their
power would be absolute with two
roads. 1t would be better for the
American people to rip up every tie
and every rail that spans the conti-
nent and never have another road than
to remain under such despotism. If
a vote could be taken to-day there is
hardly doubt but twO-thirds of the
inhabitants of the nation would vote
the aid asked by the Texas Pacific;
and every member OF Congress is cog
infant of the fact, but if every man on
the continent could speak out and
demand it, it would not change the
action of Congress.
THAT BODY
Belongs to the corporations, and they
must obey orders. Another trans
continental road, controlled by an in
dependent company would not only
become rival in the carrying trade
but it would curtail their power in the
politics Of the country and the Con-
gress of the nation. This they dread
far more than they dread competition
in the freighting business. There are
many millions due the Government
from those companies, which must be
met as soon as they lose their control
over Congrese. Another road across
the continent, honestly conducted,
would present a contrast that would
open the eyes of the people to the op-
preston they have endured. Then the
payment of enormous sums, which
have been drawn from the hard earn
ings of the people, would be demand
ed. This is what these companies dread
and this is the reason they oppose Tom
Scotts bill. They specially oppose
Col. Scott because he is nOtoriously
honorable in all his transactions.
RIVAL ROAD
Under the management of such man
would be disastrous in every respect
to the Central and Union Pacific Com
panies. There has never been any
trouble between Tom Scott and the
cities and communities through which
he has built his roads. What con-
trast to the history of road-building
on the Pacific coast! What commu-
nifty, what city, what centre of trade,
has not been disturbed or broken up
by the Southern and Central Pacific
Companies? They have never made
a track or laid rail that has not been
done with special reference to drawing
subsidy from the pockets of the peo-
pie, or the breaking up Of some town
or centre of trade.
1T IS A QUESTION
With us whether or not the roads on
the Pacific coast have not cost the cit
izens double the amount they are
worth to us. There is hardly a COM
munity on the coast, from the smallest
village to San Francisco, which has
not been at war with them in some
shape, and in the end they have been
made to pay heavy tribute to them.
while many fiourishing towns have
been totally ruined by them. If new
towns have sprung up on their line,
the very location belonged to the cor
and the road managers pock-
eted the entire value of the towns. In
other words, they made the people pay
than for the nrivilapa of
BUILDING A TOWN.
If they have ever left anything un-
done where they could disturb or
thwart the wishes of the people, we