Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-11-07


SENATOR MORTON, of Indiana, died
at 5:35 p NJ, on the 1st inst. He was
aged 81 years. He was great man,
in the civil service, against the slave
system of the South. He WAS a
powerful champion of Freedom.
CoLoRED PEOPLE had a day at the
Permanent Exhibition last week.
Texas Pacific Railroad, as Viewed
by a City Journalist.
WHAT THE LINE Is TO BE, AND WHAT IT
WANTS FROM THE COUNTRY.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad bill
now before Congress, and soon to be
acted upon, receives much deserved
attention. 1t is important in its con
ditions and contemplation: in its re-
lation to the business of the country
and the policy of the country toward
specific interests of great moment
1t is not strange that it should have
violent opponents, representing rival
interests as well as a strong opposi-
ton to all government subsidies, nor
that it should enlist its ardent friends
from those who think it a correct
function of the government to aid
national industry and commerce, to
help the settlement of productive re-
gions now waste, and grant to other
sections the singular assistance it has
conferred upon one But between
the charges of one and the denials of
the other, the point itself is falling
out of sight.
The bill provides for the construc-
ton of a railway from the Mississip-
pi to San Diego on the Pacific by
private capital. There are now 444
miles of the main trunk completed
from Shreveport in northern Louisi-
ana to Fort Worth, with two branches.
The road is connected with the east
by another from Shreveport to Vicks-
burg. that is almost finished: and by
the Little Rock route to Memphis
and Cairo The bill provides for the
construction of the road from Fort
Worth to Ell Paso, Fort Yuma and
San Diego ON the Pacific 400 miles !;
passing through northern Texas,
lower New Mexico, Arizona and Cali
fornia, and connecting at various
points with projected and partly COM
pleted roads descending from Wy
oming, along the right flank OF the
rich argentiferous Sierra through ali
OF Colorado and New Mexico: de
scending through Sonora to Quay
mas: extending along the Pinaleno
range to Prescott in Arizona. and
thence into Utah: and skirting the
Pacific through all of California south
of San Francisco. This great region,
now sparsely populated, contains
much excellent land for cultivation
and grazing, some that is wooded
and an incalculable amount that is
valuable for gold, silver, copper and
other products The climate is un-
surpassed Settlement has increased
rapidly without any conveniences for
travel The port sought is good,
and the only one that is good between
San Francisco and Acapulco; and if
provided with railway facilities would
aid our commerce with the Isthmus
and west coast Of South America.
The road is desired by the southern
States for the same reasons which led
to the construction of the Union Pa
cific, and by the new States and Ter
ritories as necessity for their de
velopment.
The demand made of the govern
ment in the bill is that it shall guar
antee the payment of interest on five
per cent gold interest-bearing bonds,
issued up to the rate of $4,000 per
mile, but not exceeding S50,000,000
between Sln Diego and Fort Worth.
1t is provided that the bonds shall be
deposited with the Treasurer of the
United States, endorsed with the
guarantee, and delivered by him at
IN average of $4,000 per mile, not
exceeding ~, 100000 per annurn. as
the sections are completed, on sworn
statements of cost. The security for
payment is first mortgage on the
whole road and all its possessions,
and on the 100000 acres granted
the road by Congress, lying in Arizo-
Ia. New Mexico and California mort
cages on lands gained by the road
from Texas grants, and the retention
of S7.000,000 until the road is fin
ished There is no subsidy asked.
The proposal is guarantee of the
payment of interest upon a limited
sum, in return for unquest;onable
securities. This guarantee will en-
able the bonds to be sold and the
road 10 be built at once. The earn
ings of the completed portion of the
road last year amounted to $4,000 per
mile; and when constructed through
the rich mineral. metal, pastoral and
agricultural country named. with
northern and southern branches and
Pacific commerce at San Diego, there
can he 40 donbt that these earnings
viii be steadily increased and go on
increasing with the increasing popu-
lation and wealth Of the vast terri
tory opened
The grant Of goverament endorse
ment asked is opposed, It ia oppos-
led by those strict -constrnctionists
Sta So rs no other single act could