Fair play., 1875-12-02

a. = Jirect saving n the people OF the entire
country, because it will give comPoonS Mne
seH ,SroaDh traidc Of this country. and for the
s,reat throush traffic Of the Sanwich Islands. In.
| lila China Japan, Australia and weetern SCUM
America. thereby conieIrcs s,nd hs,:.nse in this
manner the people Of the United states Mx % Sest
| he protected against q monopoly 70 whec Mey
have loaned s5' 600 oo o. sn pr rsnts o. sni to
build the present Pacific line, and Tor whose oen-
eft fhe government is now paying yearly uP
wards Of three additional miIiions SuL y, .ne
,,sasmrv. a cOrporatiOn that has established AZ
hi,rsrv rates for Transportation, ana Is now seek
| inv to psrpetuate itself rs close coFP"rauon'
! anal control its lines. anil such asn may nsle .,
after build in its own exclusive nteiess ins'eau ~,
Of making them an open highway such a. the
| neoplc OF this country have right To demand.
Because the communication thus estabiisn,
ed with the rich and Pto1ucuS rS ,"cr.t;ve -. trof.
| hc, now diverted to other coun!Iies: anu ~ou..
thereby increase the revenues u tne tiOvernmens,
while at the same time ne fre% the capis" Of
| Mexico tO its northern border would etlmulaI7
and develop this trade, and enricn tne ci.ens ~
| our own country by the exchange OF our manu- ,
factured goods for the proftucss oi nef s"i' Ill"
mines.
s. Because it is the duty Of the Government 70
| protect the citizens whose guardianship IL as
sumed under the treaty OBLIGATIONS: IN tae aTIu.. n.
| resident and also all other citizens VINO nave
| been induced, by the grants made by tne t'ov-
ernment to aid the building Of railroads. u settie
in the Territories which those roads are ih'en"e"
| tO develop.
.. As a prudential and proper act. to encour-
age the people Of the South, who may very Justly
and with great force urge that. while $l'a CO
| Of the public moneys have been appropriated IN
the Northern States AMI Territories since the or
| ganiZatiOn Ofthe Government. tnere nnSc oeen
but aI?. .NO' .0W expended in the southern states
and Territories.
TO- Because, not only will this road. as a
means Of National defense. strengthen the mill
tarv arm OF the Governments. and as all times
perfect the security Of our Pacific Coast against
| attack by foreign Powers, reduce the expenses
Of its local administration. binu OUT country
more closely together, facilitate communication
with the Pacific and with Old Mexico, develop
new traffic, and the agricultural products and
great mineral wealth OF Texas, New Mexico anu
Arizona; but it will also. by the demand for
manufactures and productions OF every aescriP-
AMI other materials needed IN the c0nstrucuOn
Of engines, cars, bridges, machinery. buildings.
ETC.. for the use Of the road. and by the laborax
employed in building and maintaining the same$
give employment to the furnaces, mills and ma
chine shops Of the country. and once more revive
and stimulate the depressed industries Of all Sec
tons.
And, whereas, to secure to the eGovernmentand
the people these several advantages. and in a,idi-
ton thereto, secure the return To the people OF
thirty millions Of acres Of ani heretofore granted
to build the thirty bfth parallel line, anu save
the building Of son miles Of road. II Is. in the
judgment of this Convention. not only the right.
but the duty OF the National Government to rem.
der such aid. properly secured, restricted and
guarded, as will secure the prompt completion Of
the line referred to. and Of such extensions as
will give To all sections the advantages resulting
thereirOm Now. be it resolved
1. That Southern line to the Pacifck Ocean
should he built on the thirty -secOfSd par
allel from Shreveport via FL PasO tn San Diego,
where it will make connection with the waters OF
the Pacific in safe and excellent hafbOr, 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.
>. That there should also b. constructed extern
siOns from the most eligible points on the Texas
and Pacific Road to New Orleans. Memphis anil
vicksburg, AMI from point near the ll3d meri.
River and to connect with every road and harOOr
of the Atlantic cOast, AMI with every railway east
Of the Rocky Mountain slope.
3. That to insure To the Nation the greatest ben
efits from this line OF road and To prevent its lie
ing 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 "pen highway and
as completing line tO all transcOntiI entail rail-
roads, to he used on equal terms by all connect
ing roads which are now or may hereafter be
built-similar regulations u he applied To 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 bo protected
be secured in its use ut the lowest pO-sible rate
required 70 protect the comparatively small capi.
tai actually expended in the cOnstruction-a re-
suit which can be greatly aislesl by its cOnstrc.
ton at this time, when material and labor can
he secured at prices much below those that have
prevailed for many years past; and that Con-
to protect the peopl. against speculation and
oppression in the use Of this National highway.
S. That the building Of the main line should
proceed under such regulations - will insure
the construction Of the road. continuously, from
the point Of its present compilation In Texas 70
San Diego. in California. or until it meets an ex.
tension Of the same line from San Diego.
6. That the construction Of such q line and
branches can be best secured BY the extension Of
Government aid to the line and branches hereto
fore mentioned in these resolutions, In the form
l'mited amount Of five per cent con -trucijon
bonds. payable in fifty years. SO that the entire
Liability assumed shall not in any event exceed
the actual cost OF the line and said branches such
liability to be secured by fret mortgage upon
all the railway: property and franchises Of the
companies and upon the lands granted by tte
Ofthe line and branches In meet the interest matuT
ing on these bonds, while the road is in cOurfe
Of construction. to be met BY the deposit in
the United states Treasury Of ono eighth Cf
the whole authorized issue, and the sale Of
the same. II it become necessary, after applying
all net earnings and proceeds Of lands, and the
sums que for Government transportation, mail
and telegraph service, To meet the interest so
maturing az aforesaid, 80 that there shall be no
outlay by the Government; these bonds 70 be is-
sued only to the actual amount Of cash expen.ied
upon the road and braches. and upon the certin.
cate Of sworn commissioners appointed by the
Government to supervise the building Of the line
and branches, ana their redemption Ut maturiiv
to he assured to purchasers and holders by pr:
viding sinking fund out Of the revenues Of the
road and branches, 70 be paid by the companies
into the Treasury Of tire Cnited States. of such
amount as may be Sufficient to pay OF and dir
charge the entire bonded obligation Of the coDI
panles. on which the Government has guaranteed
the interest
.. That the President Of this Convention be
requested to prepare an address to the people of
the United States. cmbOtlying the views Get forth
in the preamble and resolutions adopted by thie
Convention, and that he be authorized 70 an
point committee OF thirteen. who, with the
President Of this Convention shall present an
engrossed copy Of the proceedings Of this Con-
vention. together with the address, 70 the Presi.
dent Of the United States. the presiding onicer Of