Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-09
REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEES
ON THE TEXAS PACIFIC
RAILROAD,
Submitted TO the House of Repre-
semtaEives by the Hon. John


semtatives by the Hon. John
r. House, Chairman.
The Committee on the Pacif
Railroad, to whom were referred II
r. bills Nos. 1919, 1864, 2031, 211s
and 2573, having had the same un
der consideration, beg leave here
with to report back a substitute
therefor.
The object of the bill which ac
companies this report is to secure
the cheap and speedy completion o.
a main trunk-line of railway on OF
near the sd parallel of north lati-
tude, from the eastern bank of the
Mississippi river to San Diego, on
| the Pacific coast. However desira.
| BILE it may be to the impoverished
sections of the country more imme-
diately interested in this transcon-
tinental line to have the branches
constructed, which various friends
Of the measure have hitherto advo-
Gated, the committee have thought it
more in harmony with the nation
al character of this great enterprise
to make no appeal to the Govern
ment for aid to such branches, be-
lieVing that the wants and demands
of trade, commerce and travel will
secure the ecOnstructiOnOfall branches
which may be found necessary to
supply those wants and answer to
those demands. They therefore pre-
sent a bill which asks the friendly
assistance of the Government in
the building of only main trunk
line, unincumbered with any
branches whatever; and it is with
confidence submitted that no appli-
cation has ever been made to the
Government for assistance to any
public enterprise more just and reaa-
sonable in its provisions than that
contained in the bill presented by
the committee. A fair and candid
scrutiny of its provisions is respect
fully and earnestly invoked.
The bill, in its main features,
emitting details, is as follows, viz
A POSTAL AND MILITARY ROUTE.
1t provides that the road shall be
maintained and operated as an open
highway and as postal and mill
tary route, at fair and reasonable
rates for Government service, to be
adjusted by the Secretary of War
and Postmaster General or Secretary
of the Interior, in conjunction with
the proper officers of the road.
COMBINATIONS WITH OTHER LINES.
It prohibits the company from en-
tering into any combination, con-
tract or arrangement with any
through transcOntinental line for
the transportation of freight or pas
sengers, under penalty of forfeiting
its charter; and Commissioners of
the Government are fully authorized
to inspect the books of this and all
connecting companies, with a view
to ascertain or discover any infringe
ment of this provision of the law,
and for this purpose are also author
lied to examine parties under oath.
CHARGES FOR FREIGHT AND PAS
SENGERS.
1t provides that rates for through
freight and passengers on the main
trunk-line and all connecting lines
shall be fair and reasonable, and
Congress is empowered to regulate
those rates and to exercise supervis-
ion and control over the manage
ment of the road. 1t was thought
proper that this power should be
given over road which the Gov
ernment, by its aid and credit, as
sists in building, that its own inter-
est and that of the public might be
protected against the rapacity which
corporations uncontrolled and with
out responsibility to anyone have
shown themselves too prone to exer-
else towards the travelling public
and those who ship freight over
their lines.
DISCRIMINATION.
1t further provides that all lines
of railway now cOnnectingOr which
may hereafter connect with this
road shall be put on an equality as
to all consigned through-business,
and no unjust discrimination in
charges shall be made by or against
either, and that this road and all
lines shall be operated
under such regulations and restric-
tiOnS as to form one continuous line
for freight and passengers. Rene
dies by immediate action in the
United States District or Circuit
Courts, on the part of any person
aggrieved, are provided.
OF INTEREST ON
BONDS.
It authorizes the company to exc
cute and deposit with the Secretary
of the Treasury cOnstructiOn-bOnds
at the rate of $4,000 per mile for
l $50 miles, and at the rate of $35,-
600 per mile for 250 miles through
the mountainous portion of the
route, said bonds to mature in fifty
years and to bear 5 per cent. interest.
The Government is to guarantee the
of the interest on these
bonds, but such guarantee is in no
event to extend beyond the period |
of the maturity of the bonds. |
Whenever ten consecutive miles of
road are completed, examined and
by a commission appoint |
ed by the President, who shall ascer-
tain the actual cost of the same, the
of the Treasury is author
lied to issue to the company their
bonds to the extent only of the cost |
of construction and equipment of
such section, not to exceed per mile |
the amount named in the act.
To indemnify and save harmless
the Government for this guarantee,
the following securities are provided: |
FOR THE GUARANTEE. |
1st. A first lien is given upon all |
the franchises and property on the |
line to be constructed, as security |
for the guarantee of the interest and |
to provide a sinking fund for the |
ultimate payment of the bonds.
I'd. AS a further security the Gov |
retains in its hands all that |
the company may earn for the trans
portatiOn of Government troops, |
stores and supplies and for mail and
telegraphic service.
3D.. The entire net-earnings of the |
road, if the same should be neces- |
sary, are to be paid on the guaran-
teed interest, and to provide for the |
sinking fund.
4th. All the lands hitherto granted |
to the company by the Government |
are to be reconveyed to the Govern
ment, the Government being thus
to throw the same open
at once to settlement, and to sell the
same under its own regulations at
the price established by law for
lands in railroad reser-
vations, One-half the proceeds of the
On 10 Of Caid lands fo ha anfQra6 tn