Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-12
THE TEXAS PACIFIC.
Action of the GAINESVILLE District
Council of Oranges.
Congress Strongly Urged to Aid
the MISREPRESENTATION
and Address by Hon. g.
A. Henry.

and Address by Hon. 6.
A. Henry.
At a meeting Of the GAINESVILLE District
Council Of Oranges, at GAINESVILLE, on the
9Th inst, the following resolutions were
offered By Hon. g. A. Henry:
Whereas, the Boards of Trade Of New
Orleans and Louisville have earnestly in
vited the attention of Congress to the great
Importance Of the Texas and Pacific Rail-
road, and respectfully urge it to extend to
that road and company such aid as will be
necessary to secure the completion OF it at
the earliest practicable moment and
whereas, the State Oranges Of Texas and
Kentucky have passed resolutions strongly
endorsing the necessity of said railway to
the prosperity Of the whole country, and
especially to the whole South, and have
respectfully solicited their Senators in
Congress TO employ every effort consistent
with their official duty, to effect the pas
sage of the bill now before Congress, with
such national guarantees as will insure
the success Of the road, provided the said
Texas and Pacific Railroad makes such
guarantees to the Government Of the
United States as will secure it against loss;
therefore, following the lead Of the State
Oranges Of Texas and Kentucky, be it
Resolved by the GAINESVILLE Grange, that
we heartily approve Of the action taken by
the State Oranges Of Texas and Kentucky,
in recommending TO Congress to aid in the
speedy completion Of this great interna
tiOnal highway, connecting our Southern
States with the Pacific Ocean, with branch
es to Memphis and Louisville.
Resolved, that we request our Senators
and Representatives in Congress to extend
to that company and railroad, such nation
al guarantee Of interest as may be neces-
saTy to secure the completion Of the Texas
and Pacific Railroad, at the earliest practi-
cable moment.
Resolved, that the Texas and Pacific
Railroad possesses great advantages over
any other route to the Pacific Ocean, being
shorter by several hundred miles in the
first place, and over a country that is bless
ed with a mild and genial climate, exempt
from ice and snow storms, which so fire.
quently blockade the Northern Pacific
Railroad.
Resolved, that the United States, having
given, in times past, princely endOWments
TO other railroads, and especially TO the
Northern Pacific Road, it is nothing but
Justice to the Southern States that the Gov
eminent Of the United States should ex-
tend its strong arm and helping hand to
aid in developing the resources OF the
whole Southern belt Of States, which have,
as yet, received nothing in this way, and
which lie too far south TO derive any bene-
ft from the Northern Pacific Road.
Resolved, that the growing commerce Of
the country, requires another road 10 the
Pacific, and one that will compete with
the Northern Pacific Road, in bringing
down freights to a reasonable rate, and
which will hold in check that enormous
monopoly, and save to the whole people
millions in the cost Of trans sentimental
railway commerce, one free from the OBJ
structiOn Of ice and snow in winter, which
will develop the mineral wealth Of our
southwestern territory, and invite immi-
grafton all along the line of the railroad,
from the Pacific Ocean TO the Mississippi
River; immigration which would
I'LL up belt Of territory
more than 800 miles wide, and
embracing an area Of $4,000 square miles,
in the most delightful climate in America;
q territory rich in mineral wealth, and
now almost uninhabited, and which is
closed TO industry, and enterprise and COM
merce, for the want Of transportation to
the markets of the world.
Resolved, the Texas and Pacific Rail-
road is an enterprise too large for individual
capital TO accomplish, and is Of too great an
neglected by Congress.
Resolved, We have nearer home an in
tereSt Of no less magnitude and which lies
a1v to ha.-H1 uu1nsah eh 80
be fOstered by Congress: the improve
ment Of the navigation of the Mississippi
river, opening new outlets to the sea, and
the protection of the fertile lands lying on
either side from inundatiOn BY the over
flow Of the river. We as earnestly recon-
mend these improvements to Congress as
being absolutely necessary to the prosperity
of sixteen States lying in the Mississippi
Valley, embracing a belt Of land unsur-
passed by any in the world for fertility, and
whose productions contribute 70 the COM
merce of the world incaiculable wealth.
REMARKS OF HON. G. A. HENRY.
When the resolutions had been read, Mr..
Henry addressed the Council as follows:
Most Worthy Master and Brothers Of the
GAINESVILLE Tobacco District Council:
Avoiding all political ENHANCEMENT, and
looking alone 70 the general good in de-
the resources and wealth Of the
country, the Patrons of Husbandry and all
grange organizations feel they are prOmOt-
ing the great object of their organization if
they lend their aid and patronage 70 every
enterprise that aims to increase the general
prosperity. It is therefore proper that l
should invite your attention to the passage
Of the resolutions which 1 have had the
honor to read in your hearing.
A bill is now pending before the Con |
gress Of the United States simply asking
that the Government will guarantee the |
payment of the interest, and not the prin- |
cipal of the bonds of the Atlantic, Texas |
and Pacific Railroad, upon making the |
secure against any loss. 1t is |
in no sense a subsidy they ask. 1t is no |
gift Of bonds or grant of lands, |
but simply that a loan of the credit of the |
to the extent Of the interest |
on the bonds Of the company ac-
-ually required to construct the road, shall |
be guaranteed by the Government 70 the |
holder. Against this liability of the Gov
the company will place in the /
hands of the Government, first, the entire 4
earnings of the military and other trans |
DOrtatiOns Of the Government; second, all |
telegraph and postal service Of the Govern
nent; third, the revenues from all lands /
hitherto donated by the Government; fourth, |
All the net revenues from al other sources
1ther than those above referred to, to meet
he possibility Of S1,750 per mile, the
amount Of interest asked to be guaranteed
Dy the Government, from the eastern line
IF Texas to the Pacific coast. Here give
7OU the substance Of all that is asked for
by the company, which is simply that the
Government guarantee the payment of the
interest on the bonds, on condition that
me company put into the hands Of the
ample security against loss.
The great argument is, by opening a rail-
Dad to the Pacific, We invite immigration /
ali along the line Of the road, 1885 miles |
Ong, to a territory now almost uninhabited /
md of no value to the Government, but
which is Of wonderful fertility, and that
1OrtiOn which lies in New Mexico and /
ArazOna Astounding in mineral wealth.such |
Is iron, copper, gold and silver. Nor is
his all. The line Of the road penetrates a
belt of country 800 miles wide and cover
NC about five hundred thousand square
niles, which will be brought into market,
now unOccupied and in the most delightful |
climate on the American continent for the
labitatiOn of civilized man.
Absolute justice to the whole South de-
hands this railroad should be made. and /
hat the Government should extend the /
aid the company sOlieits. The 1
~ L l.