The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-05
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.


reasons" and very excellent reasons they
are. for the immediate construction Of II rail
road through the great Southwest. from the
waters Of the Mississippi to the Pacific coast
The Texas Pacific. already extended 500 miles
into the State Of Texas. is, In the opinion OF
the Republican, tho road most likely to re-
ceive and most deserving Of public aid. Tho
"seven reasons urged by the Republican in
favor Of the completion Of this work under
government auspices are rs follows
Firsf-It In as thoroughly national as ANY
work that can be thought Of
The government itself must have greater
facilities for communication with the country
this road penctrntos. As military and
postal road it is an absolute necessity. There
Is between Fort Worth, Texas. and the west
ern boundary Of Arizona an empire
Of immense productive capacity, and
to redeem it from the savages
and make Of what il now a barren
waste region Of opulence and production is
certainly national work A road on the
thirty-second parallel alone can secure these
results
tSecoud-lf such a road Is needed by the
government to furnish transportation for
perform its duty IN opening to settlement and
civilization lal &c tracts OF rich but unpeopied
territory, the people Of the West and South
demand it as their only means Of comnunica-
ton with the Pacific coast, while to the army
Of immigrants II is the only agency by which
the Southwest can be transformed from q
waste wilderness into n hahitation for civil
lied men.
Even If tho country to be traversed by this
road argues the Republirnu, were n barren,
irreclaimahlc desert, still 1t would be ncccs
sary as All additional channel Of communities
ton between the Atlantic and Pacific. But It
ie. instead Of a desert, d country Of unegualed
resources. For grain. cotton and stock rails
ing the country between Fort Worth and Ell
raso is equal to any in America. New Mex
leo and Arizona arc rich in mineral deposits.
hWd-As n means Of border protection.
settling the Indian question and stimulating
trade with Mexico, the Importance Of such q
railroad cannot be overestimated.
More than ten millions annually are now
expended IN border protection, transporting
mails, troops, supplies and taking care of the
Indians Of this country. Most of this would
DO saved to the government by the construc-
ton Of this road.
t0ulfh-The construction OF this railroad
would provo the true and radical cure for the
money and labor famine Of the present time
An immense work like this would give en-
ployment TO large numbers Of men. now idle
II would stimulate industry III the ear shops
and iron Mines besides furnishing work &c
unsltlled men. It would also open up the
chance to millions to find homes IN the rich
country along the route of the road.
EiHh-But one of the strongest and most
| mai n ~ II nf
Texas Pacific Railway is the fact that IL would
compete with the present line for trans CONT
mental traffic, and thus save the people Of the
country eight OF ten millions II year now
levied upon their trade and travel by exorbi-
| tant charges.
siuh-Thc popular sentiment Of the coun'
| try demands the completion of this railway
During the last three years there have been
| remarkable manifestations of public favor to
| words this measure. These expressions have
been spontaneous, earnest and in many cases
| repeated again and again. The Legislatures
of fourteen sovereign States, embracing some
Of the largest and richest In the American
| Union, have spoken most emphaticalty on this
| subject In resolutions OF request orinstructiOl
to the Senators and Representatives in Con
gress
Serenth-ADother reason why tho Texas Pa
| citic charter should be granted by Congress il
that the company ask FOR no real subsidy
| They simply ask for a government guarantee
of the interest on their construction bonds
| limited to the exact amount required to built
| the road. and they secure this guarantee b,
Il first lien on their property, by the transpor
| tatiOn of troops, mails. stores and telegraph
| service; by the proceeds of the sale OF $4,000,
900 acres of land already granted; by the nc
earnings Of the completed road, and finally, b,
O. deposit with the Secretary of the Treasury O
$4,000 per mile in the company's bonds, to b.
sold at ;,uy time to meet any possible della,
or default In paying interest While the gov
eminent Is thus four or five times secures
against the possibility Of loss In the matter o
| the guarantee, it would save several million
q year in the cost OF transportation and borde
protection.
These arc all very excellent reasons for tn
construction of the Texas Pacific road, Abou
the only serious opposition to it comes iron
the few millonaires who constitute the pres
ent Pacific road syndicate. and who, by thei
extortions and abuse of their franchises hay
made the road under their control mos
odous burden. Yet, for all this the road cal
not be dispensed with. Its cXtortions mus
be borne until competing road, with great
superior advantages is constructed. roa
on the thirty-second parallel will run throug
all the year around. without danger of sno
pockades. All along its route it will dra'
sustcnancc and support, for it will pas
through rich valleys and luxuriant prairie
and not through alkali deserts and mountai
lands of eternal snow. We look very hope
fully to the favorable action Of Congress Q
this measure early In the next session.
MARRIED.