The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-09-09
le Virginian.
The Southern Pacific Railroad.

For the Virginian.
The Southern Pacific Railroad
SENATOR JOHNSTON's LETTER--THE QUEs-]
TION OF IT'S EASTERN TERMINUS, ITS
GAUGE AND IT'S CONTROL.
Messrs. Editors:-I read your PAPER with so,
tmuch pleasure, and concur so generally in its
views, that am disposed, in dissenting from
what you say OIL the subject OF Senator John |
> ston's recent letter OH the southern Pacific
railroad, in your issue of the End inst. to ex-
plain the grounds OF my dissent, and I trust
that, as the subject is one Of great public mo-
i ment, you will give these paragraphs insertion
lin the next VIRGINIAN.
( There are four lines of connection and pro-
#poscd connection with the Pacific coast by
railroad. The first is the projected Northern
Z Pacific road running on parallel OF latitude
#higher than St. Paul. Minnesota. The second
His the completed line of the Central Pacific
&railroad laid down near the AID parallel, in it's
8gcneral course, not much south OF Chicago
81 The third is the road which, it is generally
Sconceded, will never be built, projected along
35th parallel, nearly OIL the latitude OF
! Memphis. The fourth is the road projected
sson the 32d parallel which is the best route of
3all, and which will be OH the latitude of Vicks
dburg, Mississippi.
These several roads were projected with ref
: erence to the advantages they would seycrally
8confer on those sections of the Union to which
3they would be respectively tributary. /. The
broad near the 10th parallel would, OF course,
sconfer all its advantages upon those cities, rail-
&roads and localities of the North, lying in the
1fhighcst ATTITUDES Of the Union.
Il 2. So, also, the railroad which is completed
&2and is called the Central Pacific, laid down on
Nthe parallel of AZ degrees, was expected and i'll
Htended for the more especial benefit OF those
-
aael east of the Mississippi River, to wit: those
north Of the Ohio River and OF Mason
Yard Dixon's line. The parallel of AZ degrees
absects that belt of States, and it is plain that
4bnth the Northern Pacific and Central Pa
4cific railroads, are for the immediate benefit
SNof the northern States OF the Union. The Gen.
Stral Pacific railroad is central only in name
2The territory of the United States lies between
6latitudes 800 and 400, and line central be-
Htween these limits would be the latitude of
ESQ. But this Central Pacific railroad is near
The latitude Of 42o, When is nearly five degrees
ssor more than three hundred miles further
north than central line. These two roads
Wherefore are northern roads, one of them ~
cling OH the line of 400 and the other OH that Of
H42o, whereas the southern States east Of the
MMississippi all lie below 800.
81 and 4. As to the road which, for while,
1was proposed to be constructed along the 35th
Sparallel of latitude, and which would have en-
Injured jointly to the benefit Of the northern
3and southern States east of the Mississippi,
Ethere is no longer any probability Of its con-
Instruction, and there will therefore be no road
Eto the Pacific ocean which can contribute its
Edirect advantages to the cities, railroads and
States OF the Union south OF the line OF the
AOhio River, but the road proposed to be con-
&strpcted OH the Sind parallel of latitude, which
I&is the latitude of Vicksburg. No effort has
Never been made by these latter cities and
States to deprive the northern cities and rail
4 roads ct the Greet advantages which they are
I. deriving from the roads on the AID and 49tf
i parallels. But the converse Of this statement
cannot be made with truth, for
q LIST. Last winter proposition was strongly
oppressed upon Congress to consolidate two cct-
4 tain roads and companies headed respectively
s by Mr.. Scott. of Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Pierce,
Mof Missouri. 10 these companies Congress
g had made valuable donations of public land,
Tand had conferred upon them valuable fran
SichiscS, with a view, as to Mr.. Scott's company
4 to constructing railroad on The line of the
s 32d parallel, and, as to Mr.. Pierces company,
q of constructing road OH the 35th parallel
q Neither OF these companies has any capital OF
q its own contribution. The whole credit OF
each is derived from the donations OF Congress.
#and the valuable franchises conferred by that
5 body. The men who manage them are mere
jobbers and spectators i'll the benefactiOns OF
i the nation. Mr.. Pierce's company. called the
s~xAtlantic and Pacific, has never constructed a
kfoot of road. 1t has in some way absorbed
& under the name of purchasing railroad ruiz
n ming southwest from st. Louis to the nearest
i corner of the Indian Territory But it has
i abandoned all purpose OF constructing road
Z to the Pacific on the Both parallel, for which it
Nwas chartered, and received its donations of
& land from Congress. The lands OH that route
care barren, and the company is fllibustering
.fsouttwestw ardly after better lands on Il bet
ter route. The plan is to consolidate the two
sschemes of Mr.. Scott and Mr.. Pierce. Mr..
/ Scott has, by some h0cus pocus OF railroad job
:. bling, gotten control of the line of the 32d par
@Ssallel to the Pacific, and formed company
Ehaving the benefit of large donations OF land
& from the State OF Texas, and OF the donations
Nof land intended by Congress for the Southern
4 Pacific Railroad.
n The proposition of Messrs. Scott and Pierce
Ef.to Congress is, to be allowed to consolidate
&their two schemes and projects. They ask
q for authority for Mr.. Pierce to run his road
J from its present terminus at Vinita, i'll the
Snerthwest corner of the Indian Territory, to-
the intersection Of the 32d parallel of latitude
&wth the 10th meridian, which is point en-
SSthe river Pecos, in west Texts, about seven
Shuntlred and fifty miles due west from Vicks-
burg, and for Mr.. Scott to run his ''Southern''
S Pacific Railroad from that point westward to-
ssSan Diego. They ask for this consolidated
&donations of land which Congress had granted
isseyerally to the companies organized for con-
Estructing roads OH the 35ih and 32d parallels,
! but also for a loan of United States bonds to
NSthcr consolidated company sufficient to ena-I
s,ble them to build the whole consolidated line
Efrom San Diego to st. Louis, or rather to vi,
Anta.
= will not enlarge on the generosity OF Messrs ;,
SScott and Pierce, in proposing that Congress
!sshall supply all the necessary means and cred-
gifts for building this road, in consideration OF
satheir own liberal offer of shape and talent
a'rhey are both said to be very smart and very
#handsome men, and I have no tlo;bt that
)Swhat they propose would be very good ar
arrangement. concede that these gentlemen
twill put in great deal when they subscribs
StIler persons and their wits for the benefit of
lathis great enterprise.
1t is not on that groshd at all that object
to their proposition. object to it because it
proposes to construct what, by every consider
cation OF comfy, good faith and fair dealing,1
&ouglit to be a southern road, into northern
BROAD. 1t is proposition to construct road,
Sfrom San Diego, on the Pacific ocean along the
line OF the sd parallel as far as the l04th me-
aridian, and from that point (which is $50 miles
awesr Of the Mississippi at Vicksburg to which,
getty, or to Memphis, it ought to be extended)
Ito run it up northeast to st. Louis, which isl
s3near the parallel Of 80 degrees, OR seven del
agrees above its true terminus.