The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
EASTERN TERMINUS OF THE TEXAS
AND PACIFIC RAILWAY.

II this road is to be built by government
aid, the eastern terminus should be Shreve-
port. Then, let private enterprise construct
lines from New Orleans, vicksburg, Memphis
and such other points as may desire to con
meet with 1t.
so far as the Texas and Pacific Railway In
itself Is concerned, 1t should not be permitted
to exercise any influence for or against the
commercial or rival cities on the Mississippi
and the Gulf.
1t being constructed by government aid the
road should be open and free alike to all who
may desire to connect and transact business
with 1t.
We think its projectors could not object to
having a condition precedent to granting aid
that the Texas and Pacific railway or its
officers shall not own, lease, control or operate
or serve as officers or directors In any other
railway connecting with the Texas and Pacific
at any point In Louisiana or Texas, and that
the said Texas and Pacific railway shall not
place any one line connecting with 1t on more
favorable terms than another In the transpor-
tation Of freights and passengers to and from
said connecting lines.
It being what Is claimed for ia great pub
lie work that should receive the fostering care
of a government and aid from national
treasury, in which the whole people OF the
country have a common interest-then all sec
tions of the country desiring to use 1t should
be placed. as far as may be practicable, upon
an equal footing.
By the present railway system st. Louis
already connects by two routes with the
Texas and Pacific Memphis is in connection
with it by reason OF its Memphis and Little
Rock Railway; and the Louisville and Nash,
vile Railroad running FROM the Mississippi
to the Ohio river, places all parts OF en-
lucky, Indiana, Ohio and the Atlantic sea
board In the North. in connection with it, the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, connect
ing at Chattanooga with the railway system
Of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, the Caro-
lnas and Virginia, places every State on tht
| Atlantic seaboard south Of the Potomac river
In connection with it, and to-day the only
two States south that are not in connection
with the Texas and Pacific are Mississippi ant
Louisiana.
With the line of railway running from
Vicksburg to Monroe extended to Shreveport
If the New Orleans and Pacific line were
built to Shreveport and Marshall and tht
eastern terminus OF the Texas and Pacific
fixed at Shreveport, every State south Of tn
Ohio and Potomac would be In direct connec
| ton with the Texas Pacific road.
This work being, as it were, national un
dertaking, should be made TO promote al
much as possible the interests Of all sections
OF the country, and the road should not b
permitted to extend it's line east OF Shreve
port, SO that 1t could exercise no influence
detrimental to any particular section
Of the Southern States; but by terminating
It at Shreveport and letting the line
from the east and the northeast Of the Missis
s;ppi, be constructed to an intersection
with the Texas and Pacific by pri
vate enterprise New Orleans, Bator
Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, Mem
pills. Columbus and liro will ali occup
fair and equal ground competition for tn
trade and traffic of Tex Ind the West.
We think it safe t. that with energ
and activity on the part her people Ne'
Orleans will be able to command, owing t
her position a fair and liberal share OF tn
traffic originating along the line Of the Texa
and Pacific road, as with the completion OF tn
New Orleans Pacific Railroad to Shreveport
and Marshall, she will be the nearest port I
tide water on the Atlantic coast.