Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-04
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC R. R.
Action OF the Convention at Saint
.- Louis.

.
r.-. ". Louis. ....- 7
This convention of delegates, duly ap-
pointed from thirty one states and terri
tories, many cities and boards of trade
merchants exchanges and other com
mercial bodies, constituting body of
1863 delegates, representing not only a
large proportion of the people of the
United States, but of the active produ-
cling business capital of the country, and
now assembled to take action upon the
construction of a southern line of rail
road to the Pacific, do respectfully rep
resent to the senate and house of repre-
sentatives of the United States, in CON
gress assembled: zt.5sll a&4
That southern trans-continental rail-
way from the waters OF the Mississippi
via Ell Paso to the Pacific ocean, on or
near the 32rd parallel of latitude, is i'm
peratively demanded: #.-
l. As measure of sound statesman
ship. Because it is only by constant in
tercourse, business and social, that the
great states now growing up on the
Pacific slope can be permanently bound
in common interest with our eastern
ana southern communII1eS, and it is
therefore sound policy and wise fore
sight to promote the most intimate rela-
tions between all sections of our COM
mon country; necessity already re-
cognized by the government in it's grant
Of bonds and lands in the Union and
Central and Kansas Pacific roads and
of lands to other rtrans-continental lines
on the 32nd, 35th and 47th parallel un-
der the belief that private capital would
furnish the needful funds to complete
these highways, but owing to the great
commercial depression they cannot be
built by individual capital, and the re-
sponsibility still rests upon the govern
ment to secure the completion of at
least one additional trans-continentaI
line.
2. AS a means of national defense.
Because it is the duty of the govern
ment 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 country, and the posts
and countries Of the Pacific coast be ex-
posed to insult or attack such line to be
sufficiently removed from our border to
enable it to be fully protected against
the movement of any hostile force.
3. AS local military necessity.
Because the experience OF the nation
on the Central, Union and Kansas Pacif-
lc roads has proven that the rail and tel
egraph and the facilities thereby proyi-
ded, furnish the only sure means of in
tercepting and furnishing the hostile In
dians, and unmistakably indicate the
adoption of the same method to prevent
constant depredations in western Texas,
New Mexico and Arizona, make life and
property secure and establish there the
same law and order that prevails alenp
the present Pacific line.
4. AS measure of practical economy.
Because as already shown by the eX-
oerience of the Pacific road, the expense
of maintaining a military establishment
or the protection of the southern terri
'ory against Indian depredations will be
argely reduced: l. By enabling the
government to transport troops and sup
plies at one-fifth of the present cost.
:. by enabling 1t to dispense with two
hlrds OF the present force through the
ABILITIES afforded for transportation and
NE movement OF troops, and thereby
save from eight to ten millions of dol
ars per annum, and at the same time
provide more efficiently and economi-
ally for the care and maintenance of the
indian tribes who are under the charge [
If the government.
D. AS commercial necessity to the
2,OOO,OOO OF people inhabiting belt
II country from four hundred to seven
hundred miles in width, and stretching {
long the entire south Atlantic coast, {
he Gulf of Mexico and old Mexico to {
he Pacific ocean, who, by reason of l
heir geographical position, cannot share /
n the benefits conferred by the present Z
'acific line. a
u. AS direct saving to the peo- i
lie OF the entire country. Because |
will give Il competing line between i
he two oceans, both tor the large O
ocal and through traffic of this com- i
~ and for the great through traffic o
nth the Sandwich islands. India, China. o
apan, Australia and Western South
america, thereby comforting Il substan- Ii
al benefit upon the entire nation and t,
ecause in this manner the people of h
ne United States will best be protected a
galnst monopoly to which they have C
'aned S55, 100000 Of 6 per cent gov t.
rnment bonds and made large grants W
t land to build the present Pacific line, 81
nd for whose benefit the government p
now paying yearly upward of three "
dditional millions out of the treasury; L
corporation that has established arbi ii
AIRY rates for transportation and is now O
eeking to perpetuate itself as a close fl
orporation and control the lines and b
lch as it may hereafter build in its Al
wn exclusive interest, instead of
laking them an open highway such as D
he people of this country have a right it
demand. m
z. Because the communication thus n,
with the rich and productive v,
ates Of old Mexico would secure II
.rge and lucrative traffic now diverted
} other countries, and would thereby ii