Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-11
sHE TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILROAD


The st. Louis people seem to
think hat the Texas and Pacific
railroad is a scheme merely to ex-
tend the Iron Mountain monopoly
for their sole and separate benefit.
The st. Louis Republican, in a re-
cent article, after conceding that
hr. Hayes has been induced to de-
clare that he will not make any
rnfayorable recommendation in his
message in regard to this subject,
llor veto any bill hat may pass,
and that the railroad aid will prob
ably be granted, goes on to say:
1t is fairly certain that Congress will
not pass any bill which undertakes to
place a railroad gridiron all over the
S,outh under the thin disguise of pro-
Viding necessary branches Of tie main
Pacific line.
Those who wish a new trsnsconti-
rental railroad built by the aid of the
Overnment credit must concentrate their
efforts upon the main stem. and permit
ibe branches to take care If themselves
j must not be forgotten that one great
Consideration to induce the government
20 lend its credit is the fact that two ex-
listing roads, to which a large land grant
Las oeen made by Congress, propose to
nbandon one-hsli Of the lands they are
ioE entitled TO by law, from the point oil
thar junction. These are national en-
ierprisss, bit every brspch road which
proposes 70 connect any particular To-
tality with either Of these main lines is
l~.eeesssrlY alocsl undertaking, Of which
1 harerr3 could be DBned Just as de-
fsrTinE Es ar one Lei the proposition
20 10 congress without the burden Of
i5sss lorsl feeders, ard there vii be DO
ehb7es . 1stszi 1t; but If il Is 70 Be
loaded lOE1 with branches. the bill viii
sEl fhis sssasn. Sc Z has heretofore.
That i 70 SAT the Southern
msl5srs IN congress are expected
ID Tgte for TIE extension Of a road
from Ehish thsE are nov entirely
eat q and prohibited, aad which
IN future would Be run necessarily
in the interest Of S. Louis and
Cities East The people Of the
Southern States east Of the Missis-
Eippi river want a Southern road or
hone al all They are unwilling
that the Union and Pacific mo-
nOpoly should be psrpetuated and
doubled back by Southern route
from which they would be forever.
excluded. If this Is the plan every
Southern congressman should op.
pose it, and doubtless will. w are
opposed to a Northern road with a
Southern name. ST. Louis has al
ready two direct connections with
The Texas and Pacific railway-one
by the Iron Mountain road, which
is run exclusively in the interest Of
st. Louis, and another by way OF
DennisOn and Dallas running
over the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas railroad. In addition TO
this the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad Company is authorized
IN the bill introduced in the house
last winter from the Committee on
Pacific Railroads to construct its
line from Vinita a point high up
in the Indian Territory, where the
st. Louis road comes in to the NJ.
K. and 7. railroad to a connection
with the Texas and Pacific road on
a point not further north than the
SD parallel of latitude and between
the 99th and Tooth degree Of
longitude. This long and splendid
line would give st. Louis every ad.
vantage, even if "gridiron lines
extended southeast from Shrcve.
port to every important point on
the Mississippi river. The bill.
as reported by the committee.
guarantees the interest on the
bonds Of the Atlantic and
Pacific Railroad Company, the east
ern connections to the Mississippi
river to the amount of $4,000 pei
mile but $4,000 per mile shall b.
retained in the treasury to guar
antee the interest. st. Louis woulc
accept this and cut off a line from
Memphis to Marshall by way o
DevslIs Bluff, the eastern connec
ton to Vicksburg and all othe
lines that might come in eompeti
ton with the greatest railroad mo
nopoly Of the age. Southern rep
resentatiyes will see to it that NJ
bill not essentially Southern ant
National is passed.