The Hickman courier., 1878-05-03

Therefore, If San Francisco would be the point 10
which all business would converge-the focus OF
inland and oceanic communication on the Pacific
shores-the Southern Pacific branch offers ts this
imagined Central and Southern Combination the
earnings OF Al least iSUo miles of road against 500
on the central Facihc. Which branch, then, will
this supposed combination most naturally employ?
lmpeed by its own interests, its own Investments
aud connections, what section of the country will it
seek to deyelop2 Is il not apparent that whatever
may have been its previous purposes, by virtue Of
the proposed extension Of its line IL is at once
converted into essentially a Southern road? II Is
no reply % this TO say that owning the Western
ends Of the Middle and Southern routes It viii
blockade both until its exacious are complied with
for the bill we recommend expressly reserves and
cOEfers upon Congress far greater powers OF con-
troll over the southern Pacific than are contained IN
the Dhi reported Dy the majority, and 20 IohB 40
the people 50 disposed they can protect ihem-
selves by the same methods ~bich must bo resorted
70 IN order 10 secure performance Of their 0blga-
tons by the Texas and Pacific company, and with
no greater powers Of resistance the part oi the
one than the other except that the restrictions in
the organic law Of the Southern Pacific are me
stringent and explicit. Again, for what Dlsl-
ness will this supposed competition arise? Inc
States. Do these States expect that the central
and Union Pacific ever viii compete Nlth
Southern road for the commerce Of the soutnefn
States Tire Middle and Southern uHe s hlss W ~
deed compete for business in the latitude o. NeN
York and Philadelphia. but the Pennsy lvah5S Oen-
tral Railroad and It's 600 miles II ttuuA go
ern connections does not run through me 'Ouln
Atlantic, the Gulf and Southwestern states Any
more than does tie Union Pacinc anu 10 - sA4y
extensions via Chicago 20 New York. ls uot tnls
monster {speakihg after the manner OF the major
ity) the more dangerous rate- because WnHe the
nearer to them it Is yet not of them ard y they
enlarge It's power. they not the sureE "
it, victims and to pour forever their tribute into
the lap Of Middle Atlantic States? VIII not the
Southern business, If 1t has fair chance, go over
the Southern route, matter who builds u or who
runs ity Can that business ever be forced north
erly to Omaha? Coming from the occident how
transportation climb the Sierras via that city to
be distributed in Georgia and Florida and sonth
CaroihA When there is communication tsionB tne
thirty-secOud parallel How, then, can theIe 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 Pacl1o py which
the former to build and Own EssteTly, and the
Litter 70 build and own Westerly, meeting at ths
Rio Grande. Is there, then, either sense or SINGER
ity in this praise competition and denuncation Of
cOmbination-all for the public good2
The truth is that u subsidy Is II more conse-
quence than the railroad to those Who ask for II,
while to those who viii have to par for both, the
railroad is the principal thing.
WILL ma sourrrraS PActFfo ooEPkrx BUILD
we submit that it will work great .,rong to the
Southern Pacific Railroad corporation to the great
South and Southwest, and to the whole country 10
reject this bill and to enact the bill recommended
by the ority Of the committee IN the interest Of
the Texas and Pacific company, or to reject this
bill under any circumstances. This measure does
not antagonize, nor did the southern Pacific Rail-
road antagonzs before US any railroad project,
branch, connection East OF the Rio Grands>
II simply asks u puma bUJ nlles OF railroad hdI
way from the Colorado to Fort Worth the present
Westerly terminus Of the Texas and Pacific COM
pany, and ninety additional milesin California, TO
complete the san Diego Couuection without any
public aid and subject to all reasonable restrictions
in the public interest. True, desires the land
grant but we do not recommend 4 because we be-
heve that this corporation viii buld the road with
should the representatives oftbat norton Of the
country chiefly to be benefited, not by the subsidy
but by the road, defeat this measure il ia difficult
for rs to see how they can reasonably expect the
YFH Hfnr urH 10 aranr aaws.- Huw
payer aud embarass our policy WITH the most dan
scrous precedent, which would exhaust the Treas
nry with hundreds Of subsidies throughout the IN
limited future of the nation.
It would seem impossible for any man to justify
himself to his constituency ard to his country at
large in course which depletes the Treasury when
ali that IA desired Il attainabs without expense TO
the people.
VIEWS OF MEssRs. LUTTREII. AND BLAIR.
Both the act and its amendnents required
condition precedent that the Esrk should be prose-
outed simultaneously from theEastern and Western
terInini BY the act OF 1872 tire were required to
be completed not less than So miles on the main
line in Texas and not less thalIlO miles in Cafor-
MIA by May 2, 1878 whereas, fact, less than 200
riles of TIE main line have ban coupIeted Wester.
ly from the Marshall termnuin Texas, and not one
mile or even foot, from San Diego Easterly. I
There has been marked fsilre on the part Of the
company to comply with Ii terms which the /
lands and franchises were grEted. This contingency
OF failure vas, by the cautiOof Congress, foreseen
and provided for in both Az, by q proviso that /
- Upon failure 70 20 com-ete II, Congress may /
adopt such measures as it ny deem necessary and
proper TO secure its speedy snpletion-"
In this attitude Of affsis it represents that IL /
would be great hardship be compelled to wait /
indefinitely upon disabledompany for q connect |
ing road from the East snasks Of US the privilege
OF continuing ITS road Bastard through the Terri
tories to the Rio Grande I'D much farther as I
might be necessary to meethe Texas roads within 4
six years. Such Is the dere for an outlet to the /
East which shall admit participation in through
overland traffic that it ofs that II its request be
granted to construct Into san Diego HArbor in
addition to It's present oc termini, ana 10 prorate
on through business withIl Eastern connections
to san Francisco or otheroints, and to allow Con-
greas 70 impose the ratesad iares on the nhe De
tween its Eastern aud Ntern termini at Pacihc /
pOrss, although asking Maid Of the United states
which II is not its ADVANCE Tor Congress 10 grant
This Is rather than is within the power Of
the other company TO or. No good and satisfac-
tory reason Is found " this proposition should
not be promptly and chefuly accepted
FROM A BUsINss STANDPOINT.
Two propositions areefore US looking to that
retain its land grant rom the United States
amounting 10 Is, 600 OgOcres to obtain two years.
rsnt Of the ere ana 6 az sseal ana , fa F
endorsement upon S3s, rs OoO OF the company's
bonds, pledging It to the eayment Of i've per cent.
The other, the soutben Pacific, asks only
sanction to continue its rus1 eastward across the
territories withlh 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 guardians OF
the public interest can we ADOPT Which Of these
two candidates, as practical business men, ought
we to intrust with this undertaking2 We should
select the proposition most favorable TO the good of
the people. It would seem that by the charter the
grant Of land along the thirty second parallel line
in the territories was made double that Of the !
pioneer line by the foHy-hrst parallel, as If in lieu
Of future AID in money or credit.
We're administering our own private business
could We for moment hesitate between these Of
fers, zone Of which, besides being an undeserved
favor, involves grave responsibilities, dangerous
precedent and great risks, while the other avoids
all commitments, all doubtful policy, and insures
all its proered benefrs within the same time with
out the risk Of dollar Of the peoples money or
credit? We conceive we not here as the al
moners Of the bOuutyof the government to its cit-
rens or corporations but guardians OF the public
welfare and trustees Of its property and credit or
the nation sworn to obey the constitution and pro-
tect the best interests OF the people, and in this view
We cannot concur in the report Of the majority,
which proposes to giant subsidy or guaranty OF
S3S75OOOO of the peoples money or credit to cor
tloratiOu