Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-19
Ths sou.heln Paslas aAlIroaa.

on thesebluHs from the fertile brain and
pen of the late lamented gallant soldier
andpatriot, General Gaines, ofthe United
States army. In 1910 the writer was IN
Cincinnati, o, In the papers OF the
day it was announced that General
Gaines was to deliver that evening a lee.
ture on our national dsfences, which
would be concluded by bis lady on the
honors of war. Prompted by the desire
to see the eminent speakers and to hear
their views, the writer attended, and was
fully impressed by the clear, logical
reasoning of both the speakers, and had
the plans Of General Gaines been needed
and acted on many Of our Indian wars
and massaeres would have been avertsd
and many valuable lives saved. He
then and there recommended the build
ing Of a railroad through Texas to some
point on the Rio Grande, making Mem.
phis the starting point. Some ten years
later the project was renewed by one Of
u most active and eminent citizens,
the late DR.. Jeptha Fowlks, who OBJ
tanned a charter for the Memphis and FL
Paso railroad, and commenced opera
tons, making headquarters at Marshall,
Texas. In an unfortunate hour be con-
nected General John G. Fremont, the
Pathfinder" with him, since which the
hold we had on the enterprise has been
gradually leaving our grasp and going
into the hands of cliqses aud rings for
their own selfish purposes aad greed
without any regard to the public welfare.
Now, Mr.. Editor, is it not time
for the people of this city to take
some step to assist our just claims
to recognition as the fathers Of
the enterprise, aud assert our claim
as to the bsst and only point IN the Mis-.
river which converges to not
only the Southern belt but also to all
Eastern and Northern portions Of our
vast country / see By news from Wash
that the subcommittee Of the
senate committee on railroads, to whom
referred the Texas Pacific bill, has
reported that measure favorably to the
FULL committee, and it will probably be
presented 10 the senate OF an early day
for consideration. Now, who are oppos.
ing its passage and why? Huntingdon,
Of the Central aud Union Pacific, and
Jay Gould, the great ring master OF New
York, are ready with 100000 900 to de-
feat the passage Of aDy bill granting any
kind of aid TO any thing hat would help
the Southern States. Wby2 Because
are o reapirg from ten to twelve
millions Of dollars annually in dividends
their roads, while at the same
they decline and refuse to REIN.
burse the government the interest paid
for them. The New York and Chicago
journals oppose the Measure at their
dictatior, partly because they see the
construction Of this national highway
Andindeed would cause the deasc-
lion of alarge portion Of the business Of
transportation from its present course
TO the disadvantage Of those cities.
Trade and travel will seek the shortest
and cheapest routes, other things being
equal and as this road will be built for
less than ene-third what was stolen,
squandered and spent on the Central and
Union, and when completed will be sew.
eral hundred miles shorter than the rival
route, in the nature Of things it will
be the favorite highway of transcou-
tinentAl commerce. This is a sufi-
explanation of the unfair course
taken By the press Of these cities.
But is it just cause for refusing aid to an
enterprise of so vast moment to the
whels country? We have too much con-
fdeuce in The good sense and practical
shrewdness Of the American people to
believe for q moment that they will take
so narroW.minded a view of this ques-
ton. II can be shown 10 the satihfsc.
ton Of congress and the people that the
road is deserving Of aid because of the
great service it will perform in develop.
ing a rich section, in opening up homes
to Thousands Of industrious settlers, in
providing new markets for our various
manufactures and productions, and in
furnishing a shorter, cheaper and more
available highway across the continent,
without imperiling in any way the gov
eminent credit which is asked to aid the
undertaking. We hold that this bill
should become a law. All that is sought
is a guarantee hat the interest on $685..
100000 Of bonds at five per cent. for
fifty years will be paid. To ave the
government harmless against loss ample
security is offered in the voluntary sur.
render Of the land grant Of 10, 900, 600
acres Of land given to the road By con.
gress, and liens upon the road, its prop.
erty, franchises and earnings. We trust
the bill will be discussed in a manly way,
and disposed Of on its merits, and we
feel confident that il it is the road will
soon be built, and q new field will be
opened to the surplus capital and labor
Of the country. NJ.
A Hartford hotel clerk has bad hi,
hearing considerably affected BY the
lightning striking the wire Of a telephone
at which he was listening. Perhaps biz
mothartn1 n.y v,n.t A.. "