The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-02-08
TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILROAD.

est, frankest, most lucid arguments IN
support Of this great line which we
have yet seen In print. In connection
with the statements Of Mr.. Bond, n
case Is presented TO Congress so strong
that all objections must necessarily be
overthrown. Our limited space for
bids u full reprint of the arguments OF
these two gentlemen, but we will pre-
sent TO our readers few of the strong
points made. ColoHel Scott thus ept-
omizes the immense advantages to the
entire country in the building Of this
line:
beg to call to the attention Of the
committee the fact, that the construc-
ton and equipment of this line under
the form proposed will bring into this
country, commencing this year and
continuing through the next five years,
from eighty to ninety millions of new
capital; that 1t will give employmentto
many thousands OF our people now
idle; set in motion mills, factories, and
mines, and business Of every Kind con-
nected directly or incidentally there
with, and will be one of the surest
means of reviving the industries of the
country now 80 much depressed. /
trust that Congress will see In the
measure proposed, the great benefits
that must follow the building Of this
road: EEJFtl NJILft Ql
LIST. Through the economies to the
Government in the administration Of
its departments, and the ability 1t will
confer for the performance ofits treaty
and other obligations. r, ,.., "a,
Ind. Through its advantages as n
competing line, for the present and
future, to the people that must use this
road.
I'd. Through the great accretion of
national wealth that must follow its
construction, the increased revenue to
the Government from the enlarged
basis for taxable purposes, and from
the bringing into market many mill
lions of acres now practically una
valuable. 81 9PN .FDtj 31IW Il
All these results can be secured un-
der the plan proposed for less'money
than in any other way. The offer OF
the Central Pacific Company to build
this line without any aid from the
Government, means, simply, that they
will erect their own toll-gates, make
their own charges, and compel the
Government and the people to pny
them an enormous tribute for all time
to come. 1t means that they will take
indirectly from the Government, and
directly from the people who must use
the Pacific road, just what they are do
ing nova sum far in excess of the ac-
tual value of the transportation, or of
the actual cost OF the line--so that the
nation will IN fact pay every year u
heavy toll, amounting to millions Of
dollars, above any proper charge for
the service rendered, or what would be
required under the provisions of this
bill. Their purpose undoubtedly is TO
prevent any competing line ever reach
ing the Pacific coast, in order that
they may carry the trans-continental
traffic at such prices as in their judg-
ment may best suit their own interests.
Mr.. Throckmorton: wouldlike to
ask, Mr.. Scott, one question, so that
the committee may understand the
matter. In your remarks you state
that the government would only be
bound for that portion of the work be-
You'd Sherman and Fort Worth.
would be glad if you would state the
outlines of the bill. ASH understand,
no bonds are asked for four hundred
and forty-three miles of road east OF
Sherman and Fort Worth-onlyl the
road west of Sherman and Fort Worth.
Mr.. Scott: That portion of the line
east of Sherman and Fort Worth Is
constructed by individual capital, and
we will not ask the Government to en-
dorse single dollar upon it.
Last year, the bill covered the line
between Sherman aud Texarkana, be-
tween Fort Worth and Marshall, and
from Marshall ZIG Jefferson to Texar-
kama; but this year, after conferences
with many prominent men in the
South, said to them very frankly,
that in orderto get the extensions TO
New Orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis,
we would ut once strike out our appli-
cation for aid on that portion of the
line, and ask that it 60 to aid in build
the extensions, and thus complete the
whole system east TO the Mississippi
River.
Mr.. Lamar: = III none of the other
gentlemen have any questions to ask,
there is one that occurs to me. You
speak of the provisions of the bill that
guarantee to all connecting lines, and
especially to those of the Southland
that is what makes this measure of
special interest to the South-the use
of this road without discrimination of
rates either per passenger per mile or
per tor, per mile. Does that, apply to
through or local traffic? as,t'' a.,
Mr.. Scott: 1t applies to all points
and all traffic, whether local or
through. , al u hyl.
Mr.. Lamar / notice provision
for enforcing that In the bill. grl,t
Mr.. Scott: Yes sir, through the
courts of the United States.
Mr.. Lamar The guage of that road,
when 1t strikes the line leading to-
ward st. Louis, is different from the
gauge of that line, and also of the
Southern roads connecting with it. 1t
not that discrimination
Mr.. Scott: The gauge of the Texas
and Pacific road is4 feet 81 inches, the
Government. standard the line that
you refer to, connecting with St Louis
is five feet. III HfH
The gauge at Memphis, Vicksburg
and New Orleans il five feet. The
transfer from one gauge to the other is
made by acar lift, a very simple, ece-
nomical aud effective means forchang-.
ing the chr from oneset of trucks to, am
other. There is, therefore, no practice
al trouble about IT,. presumei we
often transfer two hundred andfifty TO
three hundred cars in single day, at
Texarkaha, paftbound to and from st.
Louis, aud part to and from Memphis
and Cairo, over the five foot gauge.