The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-30
THE TEXAS PACIFIC.
Cost OF Building the Road and What II
Wanted Of the Government.
IAlta California

Alta California;
A railroad must be built across the cont.
nent on the thirty-second parallel. 1t is de-
manded by the southern states, to give them
direct access to the Pacific coast; it is indis-
pensable for the development of the industry
of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona; it will be
of service in bringing the custom of northern
Mexico TO the American market The polit-
ical influences enlisted in its favor are
powerful, and will ultimately compel the
government to aid the companies which
have undertaken the work. With
out such aid the road never
will be built. Congress did once give
a land subsidy of 25, 600 acres per mile for
that portion of the road in Arizona and
Mexico, and Il, 800 acres per mile in Texas
and California, but the company which was
TO build the main line had poor credit, and
not having built any road in the last four
years has forfeited its right to the subsidy.
The main line between Fort Yuma and
the present terminus OF the road in Texas, is
about 200 miles. of which 500 are in Texas
and $50 each in Arizona and New Mexico.
The federal government does not own any
wild land in Texas; all the public domain
there belongs to the state, which for that
reason should bear most il not all of the ex-
pense of constructing the road to its western
boundary. This would leave 200 miles to be
secured by congressional aid. The Southern
Pacific company did offer to build this road
for the land grant, but as the soil is poor and
much of it worthless. this consideration is
not sufficient to secure prompt construction.
The loan of some bonds or the guarantee of
some interest will not be inappropriate.
The Chicago Tribune, which bitterly op-
poses any government aid to the road, thus
states the amount demanded as subsidy:
Bonds for the main line p,ls0 miles
at the rate of $4,000 per mile..... Sal ,545 600
Bonds for San Diego connection Zoo
miles, at s3O,OOO per Mile. 100000
Bonds for eastern extension Q,OlS
miles, at $4,000 per mile ......... 25,45OOOO
Interest for 30 years at per cent, at
the rate of So, $50 per year....... 1892 500
Grand ..... sl7l,sS7 500
This grossly misrepresents the demands Of
the friends OF the road. 1t is not proposed
to make the government responsible for the
principal of the bonds for the total is too high
by $40, 000 600. The advocates of the meas
ure, for the purpose of presenting it in the
most acceptable form, should cut off all
the connections, and content themselves
at first with securing the main line,
leaving the branches at each end to be
constructed by local enterprises or to
be aided by congress afterward. In
stead of aiding the construction of 1900
miles of road, it is sufficient TO aid 200, and
for 500 miles in Texas, the aid might be for
not more than $4,000 per mile, and in adj
dition to the land grant in Arizona and New
Mexico, perhaps guaranty OF the interest on
$40, 900 per mile would be sufficient to secure
the construction of the road across those
territories. Under such an arrangement the
government would be responsible for
the interest or about $4,000
per mile for 1000 miles. That
would make the interest account less
than 81, OO0, 900 annually. We may make a
mistake in supposing that the road can be
built so cheaply, but we should be glad to see
congress make such an offer OF course some
towns off the main line would rather defeat
the bill than have it pass without subsidy for
connections, but all such minor selfish oppo-
sitions should be overriden. The main line
should be presented to congress in the most
| favorable light, and when once secured, more
| can be demanded.