The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-30


horn, and pays interest on debts in the
same style.
Southern Pacific Railroad v. The Texas
and PacI1c---A COmparisOn.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
of California, which has IN the neighbor-
hood of 722 miles of road finished without
one dollar of government money, nor even
al endorsement of interest by the govern
ment, extends from San Francisco nearly to
the Colorado river, upan the eastern bound
airy of the Golden State. 1t now simply
asks to be allowed to extend that road
southeast until it connects with the con-
structed road of the Texas and Pacific Com
pany, or any other already constructed, or
to be constructed, road in Texas without
public aid except the land grant heretofore
given the Texas and Pacific party, upon
their pledge to build it without further aid,
which pledge they have ANONYMOUSLY
failed to fulfill, owing to the reckless and
extravagant expenditures of Thomas A.
Scott in buying and leasing railroad ele-
plants, or, In other words, the dOg-in-the-
manager policy of that railroad magnate.
This is all that is asked, and as it has al
ready been granted to one corporation that
pecuniosity, or else greed 10 feed still fur
ther at the public crib, there can be no
harm or wrong in according the same privi-
lege to discreet, well-managed and affiu-
ent corporation, who are acknowledged
competent, capable and financially able to
construct true Southern road without any
other aid, and who, by forfeiture pledge
of substance (vlz. $4,000 per mile) depos-
tied with the Treasurer of the United States,
in case of d noncompliance or failure to
construct without an Endorsement of inter-
est within the specified time stated in their
bill (to-wit.: SIX years., guaranteeing that
they will not ask within that time or after
wards, any subsidy in fact, directly or in
directly. The simple transfer of this pub
lie land is all that is asked, and the South
ern Pacific, by their bill, voluntarily agrees
to the following restrictions:
| 1. That the California Southern Pacific
Road will deposit with the United States
Treasurer bonds to the amount of So, 000,-
| 900, (thls is six per cent. per annum for the
six years they ask to build IN upon nearly
eight millions and half dollars which are
to be returned to the said company at the
rate of 800, 900 for each twenty miles it
actually constructs and equips, and which
will have to be approved by the commits
sioners appointed by the President of the
United States for that purpose -
2. That the California Southern Pacific
Road will transport passengers and freight
over its road at the same rate per mile, east
or west, as any company with whom such
business originates may agree to receive for
the transportation of such traffic over their
own lines.
3. This road extends from San Francisco
to Fort Yuma, on the Colorado river, thence
to FL Paso, on the Rio Grande, and thence
to connection with the network of South
ern roads, reaching the Gulf coast and the
| slope of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to
Virginia, and thus becomes in fact posi-
tive and emphatic Southern road.
| Now, on the contrary, what does Scott
and his so-called "Texas and Pacific Road"
ask9
1. The right to branch off at or near the
one hundred and third meridian to Vinita,
the present terminus of the thirty-fifth
parallel road, which route is through only
small portion of Texas and the Indian Ter
ritory, leaving out of its route every South
ern State proper. ia-
2. To have the interest upon the bonds of
his associated companies guaranteed by the
United States for fifty years, at the rate of
five per cent. in gold per annum.
3. That he may make such changes of
teraini at the eastern and western ends of
his road as will increase its length, and
largely heap up the cost of building, and
by raralleling lines already constructed in
fict serious injury upon the vested rights
of other corporations, whose roads were
| built at their own expense, which he would
not attempt were he not using and monop-
oliZing the government credit.
The above comparison is plain, and not
susceptible of COMMUNICATION, as nothing save
facts are stated, which refers alone to ma
terial benefits to the South, and no sane
man will pretend that SCOTS scheme has
any reference to that section of its inter ests
| whatsoever.
There Is another phase of this subject
that would be we'll for the Southern men,
bers to take into consideration, and that is
its political aspect, because we are 10th to
believe that they would willfully vote for
an anti-Sou.hern road, and at the same
time furnish capital for their political enc
mics upon the hypothesis that 1t was one.
Therefore we ask them in all candor wheth-
er or not they honestly think that the Ma
tiOHdt Republican of this city would support
Scott's subsidy with such zeal and avidity
if Its editor for moment thought that it
was really to the benefit of the South
| 1t is next to impossible for that paper to
do, or advocate, anything to their interests,
and they now urge Scott's subsidy in oIder
to defeat the Democratic party this fall for
the reason that the American people will
not submit to such an outrage as an en-
dorsement of his five per cent gold bonds
by the government, aeheH others equally az
capable and ten times more responsible agree
to build road at their own expense, and
without Jeopardy of the public funds. We
only refer them. if in doubt, to the New
Hampshire election as an earnest of our
warning, because soon as this subsidy Is
passed it will be trumpeted upon the stump
as steal, and the party held responsible. =
Washington Sunday Herald (Dem.).