The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-01-09

Edifors Of fhs Clarion
me Texas and Pacific Railway bill ano
the Mississippi Levee bill are creating more
interest In Congress than any other mat'si'
thus far introduced.
One bill has been introdacea p Nl'
F4onse. OF Tennessee, providing for tne sew
eraI branches; another has been Introduce
bv Mr.. A. H. Stephens simply for the MAJ"
trunk TO be built from Fort Worth IexaS'
to san Diego, ON the Pacific Coast, on tue
32nd parallel line, and to be extended irow
re nresent terminus, east Marsbali), to me
eastern bank OF the Mississippi river. sala
river to be crossed by boats or bridge rs
NAV be deemed most expedient. The point
where IL shall touch the Mississippi river
shall be determined by Commission OF
Engineers and persons WHOLLY disiueeres-
ted. 70 be appointed by the President AS
various localities are interested la the ter
mtnus Of the road on the Mississippi
river. It was deemed best to reconcile them
bv leaving the eastern terminus TO be Chus
determined. The chief contest viii be ne
tween Memphis and Vicks5urg. Should It
touch at either Of these places there Is no
doubt that a branch will be Immediately
built to accommodate parties interested at
both points.
The Stephens bill really has NO subsidy In
It. 1t simply provides for security on the part
Of the Government for the interest on the
bonds OF the road at rate of per cent? or
in the aggregate, at the outside, OF about
81, 900 600 per annuni.
Considering the Government account for
transportation Of troops, supplies and mail
service, and munitions OF war for the Forts,
that will go to the credit of this Interest &C
count, amounting fully to one million, two
hundred thousand dollars, there will be but
a small balance left to be adjusted. Then
consider, IL you please, the amount now paid
by the Government for the purposes above
MENTIONED. (being over two milllons,) and
then the protection of the Western border
By speedy relief, IL necessary, to protect life
and property OF our citizens. The Govern
ment is really the beneficiary, in point OF
dollars and cents, rather than the road.
Again. What Is the security offered TO
the u. s. Government for this indorsem ent
for the payment of her INTEREST," Mark
you, there is no security for the principal.
1t is the entire road-bed, rolling stock, of
a road over 1900 mil 5 long, andd in addition
thereto, about 20 millions acres of land
granted by the United States, through New.
Mexico, California, Arizona, aud on the
Eastern terminus, besides over 100000 of
acres granted by the State Of Texas. How
is this for security?
Then consider the fact, that tho alternate
sections OF land, CATER the survey by the
road) belong to the Government are at
least quintupled In value, indeed, tenfOld
increased, to say nothing of the adjacent
country thus opened up which Is now In
accessible.
Who then is the beneficiary, the Texas |
and Pacific Road or the Government
With all the bills before Congress for this |
road, the Mississippi levees and all other |
purposes, still the South will not have re-
ceived over one~Ipurth OF the amount of
public favors and grants, that the North |
has already secured and enjoyed. Statistics
If not too long, could be adduced.
The 32d parallel is the natural route to
the Pacific Coast, and is free from obstruc-
tions of ice and snow, and by at least 400
miles nearer to the junction Of the two
oceans.
Then it touches a countless multitude Of
network of Southern roads, touching on
Southern Atlantic ports.
With the Enthusiastically a success, the
leyees, and a thirty-second par
allel road, from SanDiego, we shall have an
inland sea, from Memphis TO the ocean,
where vessels will land, discharge and re-
load with products from the Pacific coast,
saving thousands of miles of sea travel, and ]
still greater reduction in the time.
In short we may sum up the argument In
his manner:
1. 1t is a grand National project, devoid
Il party or sectional prejudice. v
2. 1t is a competing road with the Union 81
'aciic, thereby regulating and cheaPening
ates. nj
g. One road is insufficient for the demands
f travel and freight from coast to coast.
4. 1t is free from distractions of ice and
now
5. 1t is due to the South to tap our South
m ports, as the Union Pacific touches the r
-orth and West. d,
6. 1t opens an immense territory OF great q
lineral and agricultural wealth, now
'arcely penetrable, which lies hundreds Of ~
lies from the Union and Pacific Road. In
On each of these propositions pages might m
: written. Id