The Osceola times., 1878-04-27

Therefore. N San Francisco would be the point 10
which all businesa would eonNerge-,hs iTus n,s a.
inland aud ceramic communication on the fsctnc
shores--the Southern Pacific branch Offers to this
Imagined Central and southern combinations the
earning. Of at least lso) mics Of road against sn
this supposed com ipaiion most naturally employ!
Impeied by its interests, ts own investments,
and connections, what section OF the country VIII ~
seeh to deyelopf IL IL not apparent that whatever
may have been its previous purposes, ny virtue OF
the proposed extension OF It's line, II is at once
converted into essentially Southern roadI II ~
no reply to this to say that owning the Western
ends OF the Middle and Southern routes 1t VAL
blockade both until its exactions are computed Win.
for the bill recounlend expressly reserves ana
eorfers gten Congress far greater powers OF con-
tro, over the southern Pacific than are contained In
the bill reported by ,he majority, and 30 long a.
the people are disposed they can protect them.
selves by the same methods which must be resorted
10 IN order 10 secure performance Of their obliga-
tons by the Texas and Pacific company and with
no greater powers Of resistance on the part OF the
one than the other except that the restricions In
the organic law OF the southern Pacific are the
more stringent and explicit. Again, for what busa-
will this supposed composition ariseI Inc
Southern road should be built 10 benefit the SOUTH
ern States Do these States expect that the Central
snd Union Pacific can or ever will compete with
Southern road for the commerce OF the southern
states /? The Middle and southern line might in-
deed compete for business In the latitude OF New
York and philadelphta, but the fennsylvAnia Cen-
trAl Railroad aud It's 500 miles Of trunk and west
ern connections does not run through ,ne oousn
Atlantic, the Gulf aud Southwestern states any
more than does the Union Pacific aud Its sasterly
extensions via Chicago 10 New York. ls not thi-
monster (speakins alter the manner OF the mAlor-
ity) the more dangerous rather because while the
nearer to them, IL n yet not OF them and II they
enlarge its power. nre they not the surer to become
Its victims and to pour forever their tribute Int
ths lap Of Middle Atlantic States7 VIII not the
southern business, II IL has fair chance, go over
the southern route, no matter who builds II or who
runs III Can that business ever be forced north
erly to Omaha? Coming from the occdent how
transportation climb the Sierras via that city to
be distributed in Georgia and Florida and South
Carolina when there is communication along the
thirty-second parallel? How, then, can there ever
be any competition by the Union and Central Paci-
hc for the business OF these Southern States?
II Is also worthy Of notice that in the last Con-
gress the Texas and Pacific company entered into
an arrangement with the southern Pscinc by which
the former was to build and own Easterly, and the
latter to build and own Westerly, meeting at the
ty In this praise of competition and denuncaton Of
com bnation--all for the public good?
The truth is that subsidy is OF more conse-
quence than the railroad TO those who ask for 1t,
while TO those who will have to Jay for both, the
railroad is the principal thing.
WILL THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY BUILD
THE RoADf
We submit that 1t will work great wrong to the
Southern Pacific Railroad corporation, to the great
South and Southwest, and TO the whole country to
reject this bill and to enact the bill recommended
by the majority Of the committee in the interest OF
the Texas and Pacific company, or to reject this
not antagonize, nor did the Southern Pacific Rail-
road antagonize before MS any railroad project,
branch, or connection East Of the Rio arandeI
1t simply asks To build 60O miles Of railroad half
way from the Colorado to Fort Worth the present
Westerly terminus Of the Texas and Pacific COM
pany, and ninety additional miles In California, to
public aid and subject to all reasonable restrictions
In the public interest. True, 1t desires the land
grant but we do not recommend II, because We be-
leye that this corporation will build the road with
out.
should the representatives Of that portion Of the
country chiefly to be benefited, not by the subsidy
but by the road, defeat this measure, it is dihcuit
for us 10 see how they can reasonably expect the
rest of the country to consent to burden the tax
payer and embarass our policy with the most dan
gerous precedent, which would exhaust the Treas
ury with hundreds of subsidies throughout the un-
limited future OF the nation.
II would seem impossible for any man to JUSTIFY
himself to his constituency and TO his country at
large In course which depletes the Treasury when
all that is desired Is attansbe without expense to
the Pc ople.
VIEWS OF MEssRs. LUTrRELL AND BLAIR.
Both the act and Its amendments required as
condition precedent that the work should be prose-
termni By the act OF 1872 there were required to
be completed not less than 800 miles on the main
line in Texas and not less than Ito miles in Calfor-
mia by May 2, 1915 whereas, in fact less than 200
ly from the Marshall terminus In Texas aud not one
mile or even foot, from San Diego EAsterly.
There has been marked failure on the part Of the
company to comply with the terms on which the
lands and franchises granted This contingency
of failure was, by the caution OF Congress- oreseen
and provided for In both Acts, by proviso that
upon failure to 80 complete 1t. Congress- may
adopt such measures as it may deem necessary and
proper to secure its speedy completion"
In this attitude Of affairs it represents that 10
would be great hardship to be compelled to wait
indefinitely upon disabled company for Q connect
ing road from the East and asks Of the privilege
of continuing It's road Eastward through the Terri
tories to the Rio Grande and much farther as
might be necessary to meet the Texas roads within
six years. Such is the desire for an outlet to the
East which shall admit II TO participation In through
overland trac that it offers that If It's request be
granted TO construct line to San Diego Harbor in
addition to it's present ocean termin and to prorae
on through business with all Eastern connections
to San Francisco other points, and to allow Con-
grees to impose the rates and fares the line be-
tween it's Eastern and Western termin at Pacific
ports, although asking no aid OF the United States
which it is not its advantage for Congress to grant.
This IL rather more than 1t is within the power OF
the other company to offer. No good and satisfac-
tory reason is found why this proposition should
not bepromptly and cheerfully accepted.
FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
Two propositions are before us looking to that
end. One of them, the Texas and Pacific, seeks to
retain its land grant from the United States,
amounting TO ls,OOO,0CO acres, TO obtain two years.
additional time, and a special and extraordinary
endorsement upon t3s, 10000 Of the companys
bonds pledging it TO the payment OF Ave per cent.
gold interest for fifty years.
The other, the Southern Pacific, asks only our
sanction TO continue its road eastward across the
territories within the same time, but without any
other or further assistance than the contiguous
grant of lands now at the disposal of Congress-
Which of these two propositions as guardians Of
the public interest can we adopt? Which OF these
two candidates, as practical business men, ought
we TO intrust with this undertaking. We should
select the proposition most favorable to the good of
the people. II would seem that by the charter the
grant Of land along the thirty. second parallel line
In the territories made double that OF the
pioneer line by the fortyhrst parallel, as If in lieu
of future a.d in money or credit.
We're we administering our own private business
could we for moment hesitate bet ween these Of
fers, .one of which, Decides being an undeeervei
favor, involves grave responsibi ibilites, dangerous
precedent and great risks while the other avoids
all commitments, all doubtful policy, and insurcs
all it's profered benefits within the time with
ont the risk Of dollar OF the peoples money
credit? We conceive we not here the al
monsrs Of the bounty Of the government to its eit
1ens corporations, but guardians Of the public
welfare and trustees of its property and credit Of
the nation sworn to obey the constitution and pro-
tect the best interests of the people, and in hs view
we cannot concur in the report Of the majority,
which proposes to grant a subsidy or guaranty Of
f3s, 100000 of the peoples money credit to
poration.