Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-09

a recent decision, in the case of the
Union Pacific Railway Company
rs. The United States, has dispelled
whatever doubt may have fingered
upon this subject.
In reference to the eastern extern
sion to the Mississippi river, the bill
provides that, in order to do equal
and exact justice as far as may be to
all sections of the country to be more
Immediately affected by the road, it
shall be the duty of the President of
the United States, within sixty days
after the passage of the act, to APP
point five commissioners, three of
whom shall be the three engineer
officers of the United States Army
highest in rank, and two of whom
shall be -, and all of whom
shall be wholly free from all personal
or corporate interest in any of the
proposed routes between Texas and
the Mississippi river, and in any
railroad company from any point on
or connecting with the Mississippi
river and the Atlantic or Gulf coast.
1t is made the duty of said commits
sioners to examine the various pro-
posed routes between the Mississippi
river and the present constructed
road of the Texas Pacific Railway
Company, and, after considering all
questions of cost, distance and trans
portation, and having in view also
a GOOD and eligible connection with
the Atlantic seabOard, and the pro-
motion OF our foreign as we'll as do
mestic trade and commerce, to report
where, in their judgment, the pro-
posed addition eastward of the line
of the Texas Pacific shall connect
with the present line, and where 1t
shall connect with the Mississippi
river, said connection with the Mis-
sissippi river to be at point ON the
same not farther north than the city
of Memphis, Tenn; and their report,
if approved by the President, shall
be final and conclusive in fixing the
location of the eastern extension 10
the Mississippi river. The eastern
terminus is to be on the eastern
bank of the Mississippi river, and
the river is to be crossed either by a
bridge, or on proper boats. No
guarantee of interest whatever is
given on the eastern extension of
the line 10 the Mississippi, but the
company is required to construct, or
purchase lines already constructed,
at the rate of not less than fifty miles
per annum, after the location of the
line is determined upon, under the
penalty of forfeiture of all right to
the Government guarantee of inter-
est on bonds, for so much of the line
between Fort Worth and San Diego
as may remain unconStructed at the
time of such default. In justice to
all portions of that section of the
country through or near which this
line is TO pass, or which are deeply
interested in connections with the
Atlantic seabOard, your committee
have deemed it best to leave the
point of crossing the Mississippi
river an open question, to be settled
as above indicated, only providing
that said crossing shall not be fixed
farther north than Memphis, Tenn,
making it emphatically Southern
line, and at the same time national
in character.
conclusion, the committee deem
it not inappropriate to advert to the
fact that there is a large measure OF
Justice due to the South and South
west. Three States of the South
Virginia, North Carolina and GeOr-
gia, gave to the United States $780,.
100000 acres of land which now
comprise the great States of Ohio
Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Alabama and Mississippi.
When we compare what the donors
of this imperial domain and theil
Southern sisters have received from
the sale of those lands and from
Government bounty with what has
been so lavishly bestowed on Other
sections of the country, we cannot
bring ourselves to believe that this
inequality will be continued anC
perpetuated by giving TO the North
ern sections of the country two great
highways to the Pacific, and deny
ing to the South the moderate anC
reasonable aid asked in this bill Il
construct line which will give he
people the benefits of Il like cOnnec
ton.
The bill recommended by thu
committee is the same, with some
amendments, as that introduced by
the Hon. y. II. Stephens, of Georgia
In reference to the other bills re
ferred to the committee, providing
for the building of this line, thu
committee deem it sufficient to sa!
that they have given them all du,
consideration, and present this bill
in lieu of all others upon the subject