The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-08

W. are lnueULeu w wv JOhN ~
( Brown, vice president OF the Texas Pa
! citic railroad, for copy of the bill intro.
duced by Mr.. LAMAR in the Forty-tourth
Congress incorporating the Texas Pacific
Railroad Company. The present Con-
gress will probably have not work over
this question. The bill is ingenlously
drawn so as to destroy as far as possible
the idea OF q subsidy. 1t proposes to re-
ceive aid from the government 1or the
construction Of the road, but rot in q
direct manner. The government is TO
become security for the pay ment OF in
terest on the borGs issued by the com.
pany.
The entire length of the proposed road
upon which interest bonds
are asked will be as follows; Trunk line
from Fort Worth TO Fort Yuma l,lS7
miles; from near Gorgonia Pass to San
Diego 100 miles; the eastern extension TO
New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis and
st. Louis LOIS miles. Upon these dlt-
ferent sections bonds are to be issued
only for the actual cost of the work not
exceeding SS5, 900 per mile on the trunk
line, $4,000 on the San Diego cOnnec-
ton, ana $4,000 on the eastern connec-
tion-the cost to be sscertaIned and re-
ported by commissioners appointed on
the part of government. The bill pro-
poses to secure the government for It's
guarantee and liability as follows:
First, 1t will hold u first mortgage, as
the roads are constructed, on the roads,
equipment, and all the property OF the
companies.
Second, The government is to receive
and retain the entire proceeds OF the
sales OF lands OF the companies granted
by the General Government and so much
OF the land granted by the State OF Texas
as is given Tor the road to be constructed
west OF Fort Worth, say about 100000
acres.
Third, The government Is to retain IN
the treasury all dues to the companies Tor
the transportation OF troops, munitions,
supplies, &c, and for postal and telegraph
service.
Fourth, Such part Of the earnings OF
the road from general traffic as may be
necessary TO meet interest and sinking
fund.
Fifth, There are also to be retained IN
the treasury bonds of the companies to
the amount of $1,000 per mile to be sod
and the proceeds applied TO the payment
of any current interest or sinking tuAd
the companies may have Isiled to pro
vide for.
1t is contended by the friends of the
scheme that the North, the East and the
West all having psrtaken Of the ilber-
ality of the government that it is but just
that the South should have an equal
share, and it is furthermore cCntended
that the building of such road would
restore the prosperity to the South which
she once enjoyed.
There are two difficulties, however
with which the patrons of the measure
will have to contend. One is the idea
that the bill is not intended solely for the
benefit OF the South, but that It is move
in the interest of the Commerce OF the
North, and that Tom SCOTT is running
il in the interest of his Northern roads.
But the most serious objection raised
against the enterprise is the old Demo-
cratic idea of the unconstitutionslity OF
subsidiary aid from the general govern
ment.
1t cannot be denied that the south
western part of the Union would be
greatly prospered by the building of
such road. II is equally true that this
bil, divests the scheme OF anything like u
Credit MoJiijer appearance, and Is ap.
parently fair proposal to the Govern
ncnt to aid in the work. The country,
20 great extent, has recovered from the
extreme States rights doctrine Of by
zone wears. But still it IS uHpsiatable to
true Democrat to think OF aiding in d
subsidy, ard that too, when it may be
opening the door TO others. If this