The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-01-02

: thirty-four states Of the Atlantic
slope. Surely the route would not
: have been so located had il not been
ut time when Missouri, tho most
central state, was disturbed by con.
tending forces, and when II portion
of tho states were unrepresented.
For years public opinion had de-
mandcd, in the language of the
resolutions Of a meeting held in this
city in 1919, at which Senator
Douglas presided and Senator Ben
ton spoke, "the construction of IL
central, national railway, with
branches to ST. Louis, Memphis and
Chicago" The same demand was
made by the Memphis convention
later in that year, with especial re-
gard to the equal benefits thus to be
conferred upon every section Of tho
country, Both political parties be,
came pledged in their national COR
ventions of 1856, to favor Pacific
railway by the most central and
practicable route" In 1860 the
last congress before the war refused
to pass bill providing for roads
substantially such as now exist
because q more central location was
demanded.
Nor was the objection wholly un-
reasonable. Greater proximity to
the terminus of the road has given
peculiar advantages in trade and
manufactures to cities aud estates
favored in its location. Citizens of
the gulf states have somo right to
complain that they are compelled to
travel or ship freight northward,
almost the distance from Omaha to
San Francisco, before they can-reach
the initial point Of the only route
to the Pacific yet built by govern
ment aid. People throughout the
country east and south of us suffer
in less degree from the same cause.
But it will be fortunate that this
road was so located if the govern
ment, having aided one route pecu.
liurly beneficial to tho northern
belt of our territory, will now in its
Justice aid another for the develop
ment of the central and southern
belts For, while the whole country
would be benefited, the government
would thus contribute greatly to
the settlement, development and
protection of u section which, now
in its turn, stands in peculiar need.
1t would attract immigration and
capital to the impoverished states of
the southwest. Promising the re-
moval of tho tax upon the people,
and the obstacles to the trade and
industry Of that section, created by
the distance from what is now the
main artery Of the nations com
merce, it would revive confidence
and stimulate effort just where the
life blood now flows slowly and
fcebly. Growing commerce will
soon require another and competing
road to the Pacific, if one free from
obstruction by snow, for the protec
tion of our southern frontier and
the development Of our southern
territories, is not already n manifest
necessity. Probably it can never be
built more economically than at this
time of low prices and unemployed
labor. If the unhappy south, pros
trated in its industry and impover-
ished by other causes, feels some.
what kcenly the inequality in
government aid, is it not generous
as well as expedicnt, is it not justice.
as we'll us wise craftsmanship, to
build ut once road which will not
long be deferred?
Industry and commerce are Sc
verelv embarrassed. A revival of
enterprise, new demand for labor
are sorely needed throughout the
land. The people, rs well as the
government, arc heavily in debt.
1t is u sound business maxim that q
debtor should improve the value of
his assets Our assets are vast
resources, only in part developed.
The road proposed will not only
give an immediate stimulus To in.
dustry, bat add permanently to the
yearly production of the country
more than its entire cost.
1t will greatly stimulate the de-
velopment ofthat most fertile cotton
growing belt which stretches along
/ ~. DaI .,,d D.,,oo r;yapo Uban
fully corpressed cotton bears trans
portation great distances by rail or
water, but its bulk, in condition as
il leaves the farm, renders its trans
porlation by wagon quite costly, so
that few productions are more stim-
ula,cd by the building of railways.
Nor is amy other equally important
in our foreign exchanges. In that
fertile region of Texas every acre
opened TO cultivation in cotton yields
yearly product worth in Europe
from sixty to seventy dollars in
gold, aud pays the interest on
thousand dollars of foreign indcbt-
eancss. The richest wheat growing
regions do. not average yield per
acre half us valuable. The six
counties through which the Texas
and Pacific has now been opened
already produce cotton enough
yearly 10 pay the interest on over
thirty millions Of foreign debt
Texas already sends yearly about
halt million bead of cattle to dis
tant markets. IL would vastly in
crease iis yearly products if there
could be secured to large sections of
the state the facilities for transport
alton and the protection from In
diaus which railroads give. Nor
would The Indian territory or New
Mexico fail TO contribute largely,
aud the completion Of the two roads
TO their junction would add encr-
mously TO the supply of animal food.
and cheaper the cost to the eastern
consumer.
In portions Of Texas, and nnder
the mild climate of New Mexico,
l n