The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-12-09
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.

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SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
Memorial to Congress and Resolutions
Adopted by the st. Louis Convention.
This Convention, of delegates duly appointed
from thirty states and Territories, many
cities and Boards of Trade, Merchants EX-
changes and other commercial bodies, constitut
ing body of $50 delegates, representing not only
a large proportion of the people of the United
States, but of the active producing business cap
ital OF the country, and now assembled to take
action upon the construction of a Southern line
of railroad to the Pacific, do respectfully repre-
sent to the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States, in Congress assembled:
That Southern Transcontinental Railway
from the waters of the Mississippi via Ell Paso,
to the Pacific Ocean, or near the thirty
second parallel Of latitude, is imperatively de-
manded.
!. As a measure Of sound craftsmanship: Be-
cause it is only by constant intercourse, business
and social, that the great States now growing up
on the Pacific slope can be permanently bound
in a common interest with our Eastern and South
ern communities; and it is, therefore, sound
policy and wise foresight to promote the most in
innate relations between all sections of our com
mon cOunJry-a necessity already recognized by
the Government in its grant of bonds and lands
to the Union and Central and Kansas Pacific
Roads, and of lands to other transcOntnental
lines on the thirty second thirty fifth and forty
seventh parallel, under the belief that private
capital would furnish the needful funds to COM
plete these highways; but, owing to the great
commercial depression, they cannot be built by
individual capital, and the responsibility still
rests upon the Government to secure the compile
ton of at least one additional transcontlnental
line.
> As means of National defense: Because
it is the duty of the Government to have line to
the Pacific unObstructed at all seasons of the
year, for the prompt transportation of troops and
supplies, should trouble arise with any foreign
Nd In
coast be exposed TO insult and attack-such line
to be sufficiently removed from our border to en-.
able it to be all protected against the movement
of any hostile force.
3. As local military necessity: Because the
experience of the Natisn on the Central Union
and Pacific Roads has proven that the rail and
telegraph. and the facilities thereby provided.
furnish the only sure means of lnterceptlng and
Furnishing the hostile Indians, and unmistakably
indicate the adoption of the same methods to pre-
vent constant depredatiODs in Western Texas,
New Mexico and Arizona, make life and proper
ty secure, and establish there the same law and
order that pr vail along the present Pacific lines.
4. AS a measure of practical economy: Be-
cause, as already shown by the experience of the
present Pacific Road, the expense of maintain
ing military establishment for the protection of
the Southern territory against Indian depreda-
ti0ns will be largely reduced First, by enabling
the Government to transport troops and supplies
at one fifth of the present cost and second, by
enabling il to dispense with the services of two
thirds of the present force through the facilities
afforded for transportation and the movement OF
troops and thereby save from ) Is 900 900 to So,
coo 900 per annum, and at the same time provide
more efficiently and economically for the care
and maintenance of the Indian tribes who are
under the charge of the Government.
;. As a commercial necessity to the y ,00), 900
Of people inhabiting belt of country from 90 to
200 miles in width, and stretching along the en-
tire South Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico and
Old Mexico TO the Pacific Ocean. who have no
direct communication with the Pacific, and by
reason Of their geographical pos tion cannot
share in the benefits conferred by the presentPa-
cific line.
8. As direct saving to the people of the entire
country, because It will give a competing line
between the two oceans, both for the large local
and through traffic of this country, and for the
great through traffic of the Sandwich Islands,
India China, Japan, Australia and Western
South America, thereby cOnferring a substantial
benefit upon the entire nation; and because
this manner the people of the United States will
best be protected against a monopoly to whom
they have loaned S55, ,0O0, 600 of six per CentGOy
ernment bonds, and made large grants Of land 10
build the present Pacific line, and for whose ben
eft the Government is now paying yearly up
wards of three additional millions out of the
treasury; a corporation thathas established arbl-
trary rates for transportation, and is now seek
ing to perpetuate itself as closecOrporaton, ana
control its lines, and such as it may hereafter
build, in its own exclusive interest, instead of
making them an open highway such as the people
of this country have right to demand
:. Because the communication thus establish
ed with the rich and productive States of Old
Mexico would secure large and lucrative trat-
fc, now diverted to other countries, and would
thereby increase the revenues of the Government;
while. at the same time, the connections made
with the lines now projected from the capital of
Mexico to its northern border would stimulate
and develop this trade, and enrich the citizens OF
our own country by the exchange Of our manu-
factured goods for the products of her soil and
mines.
s. Because it is the duty of the Government to
protect the citizens whose guardianship it as
nod undpr tho treaty obligations in the aCOul-
stiOn of the Mexican territory in which they were
resident, anu also all other citizens who have
been induced, by the grants made by the Gov
ernment to aid the building of railroads, to settle
in the Territories which those roads are intended
to develop.
age the people of the South, who may very Justly
and with great force urge that, while TO- 900 000
of the public moneys have been appropriated in
the Northern States and Territories since the or
ganization Of the Government, there have been
but Is, 900 ,O0l expended IN the southern states
and Territories.
10. Because, not on'y will this road, as a
means of National defense, strengthen the mill
tary arm of the Government, and at all times
perfect the security of our Pacific Coast against
attack by foreign Powers, reduce the expenses
of its local administration, bind our country
more closely together, facilitate communication
with the Pacific and with Old Mexico, develop
new traffic, and the agricultural products and
great mineral wealth of Texas, New Mexico and
Arizona; but it will also, by the demand for
manufactures and productions of every descrip-
ton, including iron, steel, cotton, wool, timber,
and other materials needed in the construction
of engines, cars, bridges, machinery, buildings,
etc. for the of the road, and by the laborers
employed in building and maintaining the same,
give employment to the furnaces, mills and ma
chine shops of the country, and once more re
vive and stimulate the depressedfndust of all
sections.
And, whereas, to secure to the Government
and the people these several advantages, and,
in addition thereto, secure the return to the peO-
pie of thirty millions of acres of land heretofore
granted to build the thirty NTH parallel line, and
save the building of 800 miles of road. it is, in
the judgment of this Convention, not only the
right, but the duty of the National Government
TO render such aid, properly secured, restricted
and guarded, as will secure the prompt compile
tiOn of the line referred to, and Of such extern
siOns as will give to all sections the advantages
resulting therefr IN. Now, be it resolved;
l. That Southern line to the Paclnc ocean
should be built on or near the thirty second par
ael from Shreveport via FL PasO 70 san Diego,
where it will make connection with the waters Of
the Pacific in a safe and excellent harbOr, and
connect also with the railway lines now building
from San Francisco to the southern part OF Cali
fOrnia. thus securing continuous line to that
great city and port.
2. That there should also be constructed exten
sions from the most eligible points on the Texas
and Pacific Road to New Orleans, Memphis and
Vicksburg, and from point near the l0;id meri-
dian to Ninita, IN order to reach the Mississippi
River and to connect with every road and harbOr
of the Atlantic coast, and with every railway east
of the Rocky Mountain slope.
3. That to insure to the Nation the greatest
benefits from this line of road, and to prevent its
being controlled in the interest of any one party
or section of country, there should be established
such regulations as will maintain the road from
Shreveport to the Pacific as an open highway and
as completing line to all ranscontinental rail-
roads, to be used on equal terms by all connect
ing roads which are now or may hereafter be
built-similar regulations to be applied 10 the
branches receiving similar aid to the Texas and
Pacific Trunk Line.
4. That it should be built at the lowest cash
cost, in order that the people shall be protected
against undue or oppressive charges, and shall
be secured in its use at the lowest possible rates
required to protect the comparatively small capi-
tai actually expended in Its constructions re-
suit which can be greatly aided by its consTuc.