The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-25

THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILR0AD.-lt IS
now evident that one OF the most important
subjects Of legislation that will occupy the
attention Of the next Congress will be the
Southern Pacific railroad.
From all our exchanges it is evident that
the people of the South will demand from
the National Legislature the construction OF
railroad to the Pacific which shall span the
continent through q southern latitude and
open an avenue OF commerce between tho
Atlantic and Pacific oceans which shall
never be choked by snow or impeded by
the rigorS OF a more northern climate.
The nation has already donated lands and
the national credit to the Central and North
ern Pacific routes to the amount OF hundreds
OF millions, and for the partial payment OF
these millions the South has been taxed far
beyond its proportion. In fact, the cotton
and tobacco OF the South and the whiskey
OF the West have paid nine tenths OF the
money required for the interest on the
bonds issued BY the Government for these
subsidies.
It does not seem unreasonable, therefore,
that the South, having borne so large por-
ton Of the burden Of national taxation for
the benefit Of other sections, should now
ask that o. part Of the national revenue be
appropriated for the benefit Of road to be
constructed through the southern portion
OF the country, especially where 1t is con-
sidered that such road would be free from
the climatic distractions OF more northern
roads, and would furnish constant and
convenient means OF communication be-
tween the eastern and western scacoasts at
all seasons OF the year.
For ourselves, we are in favor OF South
ern Pacific railroad, with the proVISo, now
ever, that it shall be bona .fde article, in
tended specially and primarily for the BEN
eft and convenience of the southern States
and their seaports. We want railroad that
will connect San Francisco and San Diego
with New Orleans, Mobile, Savannah,
Charleston, Wilmington, and Norfolk.
We want straight shoot from the west
crn coast to Texas, and thence branches
that shall cross the Mississippi at Nicks-
burg, Memphis, and such other points as
may prove most convenient to the Atlantic
and Gulf seaports.
We care not who else favors such road.
provided the proper safeguards are secured
for its protection and the necessary guaran-
tees are given that it shall be operated fairly
and suuarely for the benefit OF the country
through which it passes.
Such road we hope and have every rea-
son to believe our representative in Con-
gress will work for earnestly and ably, and
We trust that, in conjunction with the south
ern members generally, he will be able to
give us trans-continental connection that
will open up the trade OF China and the
Pacific to our own unriyalled harbor, and
place us midway on great commercial
highway between the eastern and the west
ern world.-Norfolk Virginian.
We copy the above article from the Nor
folk Virginian because it derives import
ance from the locality of that paper as well
as from the idea that heretofore there has
for some reason existed in Norfolk an nn-
favorable opinion OF the southern trans
continental road except upon conditions
that were likely to defeat the project Alto
gether. Too much seemed to be demanded
for one locality to permit Of the impartial
distribution of facilities to all the connecting
lines.
The Viryinia'a, whose article presents the
claims OF the South to trans-continental
line in very strong light, stipulates for
branches that will cross the Mississippi at
vicksburg and Memphis, &c. We would
ask: Cross how? The discussion OF the
Texas-P Pacific road has developed the fact
that the southern and gulf towns were jeal-
Gus Of one another and sought to impose
prohibitions upon the establishing OF any
thing like through line that would give
one city an advantage over others, and it has
been provided in the scheme pending, we
believe, that the branches shall, il possible,
radiate from common junction, and take
their chances for participation in the freights
from the Pacific. The matter Of crossing
with this arrangement would be left to each
branch that proposed to cross the Missis-
sippi. There are three modes of crossing:
bridge, tunnel, and ferry. The two first
named would be beyond the power OF q
branch road to build. II may not be GER
tain that either the bridge or the tunnel
could be built at Memphis or Vicksburg OF
New Orleans, even il the great Texas-Pa7
cific road were TO. undertake it. As it is,
nothing beyond a ferry: will probably be at.
tempted. VIII that meet the expectations
Of our friend OF the ViTgtnian
9 arc an earnest adYoesate q the. Texas,
Pacific line. We are so for the reasons
stated by the Virginiaa. We are SO for the