New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-24
THE TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.

THE TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The two contending chieftains, Scott
and Huntington, represent the contest
which has been going on for the control
of the Southwestern route, and tho land
appropriations dependent upon the loca-
ton. Each of these chiefs has congress
sional representation whose vote end
action is directed according as the ex-
igencies of attack and defense Of the re-
spective lines may require legislative COM
pensation. The telegraph informs us that
the railroad chiefs have effected COM
promise on the basis of divided admin
istration. Scott will construct and control
the east end of the road, and Huntington
seven hundred miles of the western end.
Although the schedules of through
freight fare and connections are made
uniform, with q right reserved to Con.
gress to regulate any Objectionable rate
or difference, still it would have been bet
ter if one administration had been en-
trusted with control of the whole work.
It would have incurred less expense
and more effectual competition against
other and rival lines across the CONT
nent. 1t will be important that the
House of Representatives shall rescind
the resolution under which it was COM
mitted against giving any Federal aid of
money, bonds or lands to any public or
private enterprise in the present financial
condition of the government. This cam
paign impeachment removed, Messrs. Scott
and Huntington may unite their re-
spective forces in Congress to carry
out their compromise. The wished-for
success Of this enterprise will incidentally
place the Democrats derelictive Of duty
at the last session of Congress in prom
inent aspect before the country. It will
establish the impression that they subor-
dinated this great work to party success;
that they preferred the charge Of finan-
cial Encouragement against the Repub-
licans to Southern road to the Pacific.
It will prove also that the House of Rep
resentatives could pass no bill until out
side and lobby interests had issued orders
to that effect We renew our suggestion
to Hon. Mr.. Nash, to move the reconsid-
Grafton of the Holman resolution, that
this conscientious obstacle to Democratic
support may be removed.
The REPUBLICAN has heretofore shown
that the Texas Pacific railroad, as located
by Mr.. Scott, is calculated to benef;
cities north of our own latitude, and that
it is in fact work by which Philadelphia
will flank New York out Of the South
western and Pacific trade lying south OF
thirty-three degrees north latitude. The
control Of This commerce is secured
against any Southern city south of that
parallel by the capital investment, while
the through gauge, comprising that OF
four-fifths of the railroads in the United
States, will require change of gauge
and rolling stock on almost all the South
ern roads, to secure even the priv.
| ilege of Southern connection with the
Texas Pacific road. We suppose,
as the enthusiastic young surgeon
| said when he cut off the limb and could
not secure the gushing artery, ooh, d-n
the minutiar" our Southern Represen-
tatives will regard the passage of this bill
as triumph, and will regard matters OF
freight and gauge control as minutia un-
worthy thought. As a man might per.
ish with thirst even with water pipe
gurgling at his ear, so New Orleans may
be refreshed by hearing that Texas rail
road-so-called-is bearing almost within
sound of its whistles commerce to East
ern ports, for which New Orleans is pin.
ing and perishing.
The same telegram, however, which
advises US of the probable compromise Of
St. Louis and Philadelphia, intimates
that New Orleans is to have branch
! connection with the Pacific railroad.
This, We presume, to be the
same complicated provision in cluded in
the original bill. The very indirect and
imperfect connection with New Orleans
thereby provided for will require reason
and it may be possible that the Legisla'
ture or the city government of New Or
leans will express their opinion as to the
route which this connection should pur
sue. With the prospect of an extension
of the Morgan and Mobile roads to con
nechon with the Houston road at thu
Sabine river, the Texas railroad connec
ton may be made at less cost and will
more advantage on this joint route who'll!