Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-05-01
vIAws OF MEssRs. LurrRHLL 4 nLArA.

NAoWoo VI ANIL
Both the act and It's amendments required - .
condition precedent that the work should be prose.
cuted simultaneously from the eastern and western
termini. BY the act OF 1879 there we're required to
be completed not less than 500 miles ON the main
line in Texas and not less than Ito miles In Cali.
fornia by May 2, 1878, wheress, In fact, less than
100 miles OF the msin line have been completed
westerly from the Marshall termiaus in Texss, and
eriy. There hes been . marked failure on the part
Of the &C mpany to comply with the terms on which
the lands and franchises we're granted. This con-
tingsncy Of failure was. ~ ne caution Of congress.
vise that
."Ubon failure TO 70 complete it. congress may
adopt such measures ~ II may deem necessary and
proper to secure its speedy completion"
In this attitude of afsirs II represents that It
would be q great hardship TO be compelled to wait
indefinitely upon . disabled company for = con.
Meeting road from the east, and asks of us the
privilege of continuing It, read eastward through
the territories to the Rio 6rsnde and - musn
farther as might be necessary to meet the Texas
ROADS within six years Such Ia the desire for IN
outlet to tue east, which shall admit It to particle
patton In through overland trafhc that 1t offers that
II its r. quest be granted to construct q line to San
Diego harbor In addition to Its present ocean
ttrmini. and to prorate on through business with
all eastern connections to San Francisco or other
points, and to allow congress- to impose the rates
and fares OF the line between IR eastern and
western termini at Pacific ports. although asking
10 aid Of the United States which 1t 10 not its
advantage for congress TO &C It. This 10 rather
more tnAn II IL NUnln the \ , Her q Tue Otnef com.
pany to ohsr. No 90 I ., 4 satisfactory reason ia
found why this proposi tion should not be promptly
and cheerfully accepted.
PROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
Two propositions Gre before Gs looking to that
end. Que 81 tht m. the Texas and Pacific. seeks to
retain its land grant from the United Htutes,
amounting to Is .OO1.O 0 n -cs, to obtai0 two years.
additional time, aud . special and extrao. dinay
grant Of the credit Of the nation IN the form Of an
endorsement upon $8, 75D.0uO Of the comp any d
bonds. pledgtrg 1t to the payment Of ave per cent.
gold interest 70. fifty years.
The other, the southern Pacific, asks only our
sanction to continue its road edward scross the
territories within the same time, but without any
other or further assistance than the contiguous
grant Of lands now ~ the dispoesl Of congress.
Which Of these two propositions - guardians Of
the public interest can we adopt? Which Of these
two candidste,, - practical business men, ought
We to intrust with this undertaking? We should
the PEOPLE. 1t would seem that BY the charter the
grant OF land along thu tnirty-s coud parallel line
in the the territories was made eouble that of the
pioneer line by tle forty-hrst parallel, - II In lieu
Of future aid in money or credit.
Were we administering our own private tusiuees
could We for . moment hesitate between thsee Of
fers, one Of VIII CHI. besides being on undeserved
favor, iavtlves grave responsibilities, dsngerouS
precedent and great riskS, while the other avoids
all commitments, all doubtful policy, and iusures
all its p~toffered benefits within inc eame time with.
out ths risk OF . dollar If the pecpl, q money OF
credit? We conceive We are not Ii. re - the a.
mone,s of The bounty Of The government to its citi
zens or corporations, but as guard ns Of the public
welfare and trustees Of its property and credit Of
the Dsti.n. sworn to obey the constitution aud pro
tect the beat inter, SITS Of the people. and In this view
we cannot concur In the report of ihs m. jority
which proposes to grant . subsidy VI guaranty I
$4,000 U of the peoples money or cIeui; 70 . or
p~oration.