The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-16
NEW ORLEANS AND PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD.

In recent able letter to the Southern
Representatives in Congress, through
Mr.. Lamar, the Hon. II. NJ. I. Hunter
says
"Along the line OF the Pacific rail
roads, new States are knocking for
admission to the Union, while the South
stands still, the same to-day as twenty
five years ago. To hold her own, says
Mr.. Hunter, the South must do as the
North and West are doing-build rail
roads open the forests and waste places
to settlement The steam engine Is one
of the greatest factors In political power
to-day. Mr.. Hunter, seeing all this, adj
viscs, through Mr.. Lamar, the Southern
Representatives In Congress to support
measures for the South like the con-
struction Of the Texas Pacific Road"
From Marshall, Texas, to the Pacific
coast, the Texas Pacific Road, and New
Orleans Pacific, are the same in iden-
tity; but the Texas Pacific will be OF
little or no benefit to Louisiana and New
Orleans, without the New Orleans
Pacific. Let us only have our equitable
portion of any subsidy or aid granted
by Congress to the Texas Pacific, from
we shall heartily favor and applaud the
general proposition which looks to the
construction OF the Southern Pacific
Railroad, now called the Texas Pacific.
As the great Southern seaport, mercan-
tile and cotton centre OF all the
Gulf and cotton growing States, New
Orleans Is, both in commercial rea.
son and in natural geographical
and political position, the plain and
direct Eastern terminus of this trans
continental line Of freight and travel
The more Northern cities already enjoy
the immediate advantages Of the Union
Pacific, which has already cost the
Government OF the United States from
sixty to eighty millions in money, and
us much more in imperial land dona-
tons. The South should be treated with
something like equality or fairness. A
railroad company called a Southern
one should not make use of the words
as device to entrap the votes Of South
ern representatives in Congress, while
the real intention is not to regard the
just claims and business prosperity of
this section, but to make 1t tributary to
certain cities Of the West and North.
We wish the whole country to prosper,
particularly our. kindred communities
In the West, and also the vast en-
poriums Of the Middle States; but
"fair play" is a jewel, and we insist
that In any scheme Of Congressional
appropriation for a Southern Pacific
railroad, as contradistinguished from
the present Union Pacific, which is and
always has been regarded as Western
and Northern institution, New Orleans
shall not be left out OF the calculation as
the leading Southern Mart. In making
this demand we only demand justice.
In the meantime the citizens Of New
Orleans should make ready to construct
this road to Shreveport, louisiana, first,
and then to Marshall, Texas, from their
own unassisted and impoverished re-
sources, II necessary. There are up
wards Of one hundred millions Of assess
ed taxable property in the city. Cannot
this large amount Of property find
sufficient means to place in the hands Of
practical men, OF recognized business
energies and responsibility, in the shape
Of the contributions required in money
and the stock subscriptions, to enable
US to build road on substantial but
economical plan, to act as q central or
main conduit to the increasing produc-
tive capacity, wealth and population of |
the youthful but giant State Of Texas.
We have used the word contributions as I
though it might have an analogous
meaning with the word gratuities, but
will not any subscription to the stock Of
the company be profitable Investment
Of so much capital, II this splendid !