The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-14
Southern Pacific Railroad.

and benefit of the Southern
otales fos the reason that the common treasu-
~ OF the country. in which the people Of the
inherent States have an equal interest, has
oeen drawn upon to construct a Pacific rail-
road, which. from its geographical location, can
only contribute to the immediate interest of
the Northern section of the Union, whose sys-
tenn Of Improvements it connects with. Not
only has the Central Pacific Railroad been
completed from Omaha, on the Missouri, to the
Bay OF San Francisco, on the Pacific, but i'm
mense expenditures of national resources have
been made in inaugurating another enterprise
seven degrees north of that line, but which,
for the present, has been suspended. The
munlficence of the government In its doEation
OF lands and monies to the great scheme Of
connecting the Atlantic and Pacific divisions
of the country by rail, now that the stupendous
tons are being realized, finds no one so indif-
ferent to the progress and development of the
nation. as to question its eminent propre-
ty. Had, however, the country been at peace,
when the necessity Of the great work was fully
demonstrated. it will hardly be denied that the
craftsmanship of the country would have cho-
sen more southernly route, one freer from the
impediments Of IL hostile latitude, and more
largely equalzing the benefits between the
sections, that must naturally flow from it. In
deed, up to 1860, all the experimental expedi-
tions and surveys that had been projected for
the purpose of ascertaining the most practical
passage to the Pacific, gave the preference to
the routes not higher than the 37th parallel
1t. Whipple's inland explorations, probably the
most exhaustive that were ever made under the
auspices of our government, clearly demonstra-
ted that the Both parallel presented less OBJ
structions, and more advantages. than any
route north of it, while that on the 32d parallel
was even superior to the 35th, inasmuch as all
possible climatic distractions were removed
from it. Ever since the value of the territory
acquired from Mexico became fully known, the
impartial intelligence Of the nation has recog-
nized and urged the necessity of Pacific
connection along this parallel of latitude, and
but fol the war between the States, railroad
would long since have bound together the Pa
elf coast and the Mississippi Valley by a. rail
connection between San Diego and Memphis
or Vicksbulg, thence distributing its benefits to
all sections of the country, by the various sys-
TENS Of roads that would have sought the con-
nection at its eastern terminus. The necessity
of this trans-continental enterprise was so inn
perative in a commercial point of view, that
the energy of the country, finding itself embar-
raised in adopting the most favorable route, by
reason of the hostile condition of the sections,
determined upon location that would have
been secondary at least in consideration had
the nation been at peace within its own Dor
ders. The Central Pacific railroad owes its
existence to the disruption between the States
but having been completed Notwithstanding
the many disadvantages that interpose to its
being national highway, by reason of climat-
ic obstacles that the ingenuity of man cannot
surmount, its great importance is recognized
in that it has developed and populated a large
area of territory that never would have been
road affords.
We have heretofore argued in favor of the
Texas Pacific railroad, and government aid il
constructing it,as question of national justice
and the only method Of equalzingthe favors Of
the government between the sections. We
thought and wrote upon this subject with nc
other idea than that it was a Southern enter
prise, designed primarily for the benefit OF the
Southern States, but incidentally and naturally
national in it's general results. The unanimity
which has characterized the sentiment Of
Southern Legislatures, Boards of Trade, Com
merce, and Exchange, n its favor and the
propriety OF extending government assistance,
had led us to believe that there was no ground
for debate on this point, and that the interest
northern men were taking i'll it, was to partic-
pate in the benefits that would ensue to the
South, in the development of her resources
We still believe that no combination can be
made, that will be powerful enough to deprive
the South Of its legitimate share in the advan-
ta9es that must result from its construction
While we admit the force of the powerful ar
gument Of a ''Virginia Man" published in the
VIRGINIAN two weeks ago, that the terminus
of the Texas Pacific road proper at Fort Worth,
would open the Pacific and intermediate trade
that would come over it to the system of roads
leading to St. Louis and the North, it is by ne
means conclusive that the Southern States
would not receive all the advantages and bcne-
fits that might be expected from its construc-
ton. The very fact of Pacific railroad ter
minating in Southern latitude, at point ac-
cessible to its principal cities, would compel
the construction of branches to command the
products Of the Southern States, for these
would be as much an object as the Pacific trade.
We cannot we'll conceive how the Texas Pacific
road could be other than Southern road, when
it contemplates connections with New Orleans,
Vicksburg and Memphis. with its main stem
confined to the 32d parallel of latitude. That
some of the trade would be directed to St. Lou
is, and thence distributed over roads leading
north, and northwest, we have but little doubt:
but at the same time these channels of COM
munication that would intercept some of the Pa
cfic trade. would also afford market for the i'm
mensely enhanced productions of the South. bv
reason OF the new improvements that would be
constructed. Let once the avenues of COM
merce be opened to the South, and free access
given to the markets of the world, and she can
confdentially enterin competition with every
and all other sections Her peculiar resources
of wealth will take care of themselves. will
compel the enterprise and even the orarice of