Arizona citizen., 1878-04-12
Congregational Railway LegIsla-
 tton.

It is of the utmost importance to Arizona, that Congress should enact some legislation which will either en- able the Texas Pacific Company to build its road thrc ugh this Territory without much further delay, or that will permit the Southern Pacific of California 10 build over the same route; the former confesses. its inability to build without government assistance, and the latter declares it can and will build without government help if permission is given, and it has proven its ability, and no one can cer- talnly deny the sincerity of its ex-
 ressed purposes to do so in advance
 any legal privilege therefor. Pub iIc expectation of aid to the Texas Pacific, IS apparently declining. On the other hand, there is strong hope that Congress will not prevent the construction of the road by withhold ing the mere privilege 60 build Private advices from Washington says that the Southern Pacific will be authorized to extend it's road from Yuma to the Rio Grande. Just what legislation Is expected in this behalf is not stated i; but there is at least one bill pending to authorize the Secretary of the h. terior to restore all railroad and other grants of land 10 the public domain, which have been forfeited or are for. feitable for noncompliance with the terms of the laws making the grants. The Act of March 3, 1871, incorporat- ing the Texas Pacific, and granting public lands in aid of its construction, required (by Sec. ID that the build ing of the road should be commenced simultaneously at San Diego, and at or near Marshall, Texas, "and so "prOsecute the same as to have at least " fifty consecutive miles of railroad " from each of said points complete, "and in running order within two years afler the passage of this act :" and 1t was also required to SO con- hhue the construction as to complete the entire roaa in ten years. Over seven of the ten years have passed, and not mile of road has been built at the San Diego end, yet the act de mands that not less than fifty miles should have been built, and in run ming order from that city over five years ago.
 The Act reserved the right to Con gress, in case of failure to {" so com plete it." to adopt such measures as it may deem necessary and proper to secure its speedy completion s All Congress has now to do in the premises, is to pass the pending bill restoring the Texas-Pacific land grant to the public domain, and thereby en- able the Southern Pacific to avail it. self of the right of way, authorized | by the act of Congress approved March 3, 1875, granting the railroads the T gh. of way through the public lands of the United States, and certain other necessary privileges.
 In these dull times, Congress is not { likely to commit itself to the liability to pay interest on nearly forty million dollars of bonds to aid a feeble com pany, any more than it is likely to refuse to an able and willing company, the privilege to build il without aid, and these by wonderfully help the Il manufacturing, and labor interests of the nation. We believe our readers may rest assured that the Southern Pacific will ere long be extended far eastward from Yuma.