The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-10-26
Pacific Railroads without
SRbsidya
Chicago Tribune, Oct. 18th.


Tom. Scott viii ask Congress to
600 to $l75, 0O0, OO0, according to the dit
ernt plans submitted for the construc-
ton OF the so-ealled Southern Pacific
railroad. His sectional appeal is on
the ground that the South is entitled
to antindepeHdent connection with the
Pacific coast ;but the south will gain no
particular advantage from the scheme,
unless the pro posed connections and
branches be likewise subsidized, which
will carry the subsidy up to the high
est figures named, and we believe the
schemers have dropped off the branch
es in the fear that they ale asking
mere than any body of men will even
consent to give them. The quasi ma
tisnal appeal is based on the ground
that the Pacific is now a virtual mono
poly, and that Jay Gould uses the In
ION Pacific to fleece the public. 1t
may be mentioned Incidentally that
the guarantee against monopoly would
not be very strong with Jay Gould in
control of one road and Tom Scott in
control Of the other; 10th understand
the uses of combination too well to
permit their interests to suffer from
competition. Our present purpose,
however, is to show that. in addition
to the manifold reasons of q political,
financial and patriotic character
why Congress should not listen to
Tom Scott, the granting of the sub
sidy will be q reck less waste of
government money, be cause there
will be at least one independent PaCi-
fic road constructed without govern
ment aid before Tom Scott can build
his proposed Southern Pacific with
government aid.
We have previously directed atten-
ton to the progress made by the
Southern California road in pushing
its road southwest from Los Angeles.
This road has already passed Fort
Yuma, and is on its way through
Southern Arizona or Tuscon; it is be-
ing built by private enterprise, with
"Chinese cheap" labor, in the most ap-
proved fashion and with the economy
Indicative of a legitimate undertaking.
We have also referred above to the
proposition of certain Boston capt.
taIists who have obtained control of the
A. T. g. S. F. railroad, to extend their
line to the south and west to connect
| with the Southern California extern
ton. The latter scheme has recently
become something more tangible than
q proposition. It has been fully de-
termined upon, and the money, pluck,
| and ability have been secured to go
ahead with it, asking for no govern
| ment subsidy or political support.
This road has two eastern termini-
| at Atchison and Kansas City-where
abundent eastern connections are
| furnished, and runs thence through
Kansas and the eastern part of Colo
RADIO, following the line of the Arkan-
sas river to Pueblo, and thence south
practically to Santa Fe. The plan for
| extension contemplates two connec-
tions with the Pacific the one north
west to connect with the Utah South
ern, and 80 with the Central Pacific at
Ogden; the other southwest from
Santa Fe to connect with the Southern
California at some point in Eastern
Arizona or Western New Mexico. AS
| an earnest of the good faith of this
enterprise, nothing more convincing
could be mentioned that the projec-
| tors have been able to secure the SER
vices of Mr.. w. B. Strong. the effici-
ent General Superintendent of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail-
road, TO take charge of the new Paci-
fic road. MIR. Strong would not con-
sent to sever his connection with the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, whose
| directors have been making strenuous
efforts to retain him, if he were no
thoroughly convinced that the projec
is backed by the requisite means t.
carry it out; and his experience an(
! executive ability will further assur,
its success by the economy an(
thOroughness of the construction un
der his supervision.
The certainty that these new con
| rxTifk Ea
| vided out of private means should b.
reason enough to induce every homes
man in Congress to oppose ever
scheme for subsIdizing Tom Stott'
Southern Pacific road. Under no cir
cumstances is it the business OF tn
government to advance money or LOAF
its credit to private enterprises, blu
least of all when it is certain that tn
purposes in view will be attained with
out government intervention. In
stead OF popular blessing it woul'
be a public hardship if government
should promote extravaganza ant
wastefulness in the construction OF
new Pacific railroad by lending it
credit, and thus defeat the honest ant
economical construction of such
road by private capital. In one case
not only would public money b
wasted and stolen. but the publi
would be obliged to pay rates ate
the construction that would yiel(
dividends on an inflated and ficticiou
investment; in the other case, M
public money would be wasted o.
stolen, but the road would be so eco
nomicaily constructed that 1t woult
only be required to earn an interest OIL
fair and legitimate capital honestl!
l
arrangements have actually been com
pleted for a new and independent rail
road connection with the Pacific b!
/ E,risrn ts. .ait. ,lista shn.,IA b., dI,a II