Arizona citizen., 1878-06-07
The Railroad Bridge Controversy.

Inc Nashlngton Sunday Herald of
 the 18th ultimo says:
 Something Of sensation was ere.
 ated in the Senate Military Committee
 room on Friday, when the advocate of
 the Southern Pacific and Texas Pacific ] Railroad Companies met to discuss the
 bill referred to that committee to au-
 thorize the bridge at the Fort Yuma
 crossing of the Colorado river. The Texas-Pac claims the exclusive right
 to bridge the river, and, although they
 have no railroad within 1900 miles of
 that point, objects to the crossing by
 the other company as an infringement Of its privileges. Mr. Storrs, on behalf of the Southern Pacific, argued that under its State charter it had perfect right 10 come to the middle of the stream, and, under the same Congress sional charter as the Texas-P Pacific, had the right to connect with il |" at or near the Colorado river" which meant on either bank. A military reserYa- tion being on one side, and the traffic of Arizona concentrated on the other, there was no choice but to bridge the stream and put the depot where il would accommodate the public and the military department.
 Mir. c. P Huntington followed, re- viewing the positions of ex-Governor Brown by statements that, although re quired to build not less than hundred miles year at the Texas end of their road, that company had abandoned its work in Texas to go out to California and grade a few pieces of road in the way of the Southern Pacifc-not for the purpose of building an overland road, but to prevent any other com pany from building it. One obstacle after another had been thrown in front of real live road by this bankrupt. concern, for fear road might be built by somebody else. He went on to say that he could account for the present. opposition to the bridge on no other theory than that the Texas Pacific was afraid, if the Southern-P Pacific got chance to cross and use il, their road might be extended across Arizona, which would by so much diminish the chances of obtaining the subsidy of. $27,000 nile from Congress. In re- l ply to a question by Senator Plumb as to what the intention of the company was if Congress granted the right of way across the Territories, he said that he had no doubt that in five years the Southern-Pacific track would be at the Rio Grande, and that he had been as- sured by responsible parties that a road across Texas would be there to meet it in less than twelve months afterward. The desire of tie Southern Pacific Company was 10 get direct outlet to the Gulf and Lower Mississippi, in or der 10 utilize the 725 miles of road al ready built in California, which is to be benefited by the acquisition of through traffic. The object of Gov ernor Brown, on the other hand, ap. peared 10 be to prevent one from being built unless he and his associates could have the shaping of it, so as to minis ter to the falling fortunes of the Texas Pacific railroad, and to get nearly forty millions of their promises indorsed by the United States Government to do it with. The hearing will be resumed on Tuesday, on which day, also, it is promised ;he Texas-Pacific subsidy bill will be brought up by Senator Mat thews for consideration in the Senate