The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-01-23
INC Texns Paclac.

Mississippi particularly:
1t would furnish the only means o.
travel and transportation between tn,
lower Mississippi and the Pacific coast
IT the rates were ever so cheap on the pres
ent line il could not be used TO any extent
by ten millions of people living below the
/ 37th parallel.
| 1t would revive the industries aEd
vitalize the railway system of the South
by passing a tide of the worlI's COM
merce through that country to its Atlantic
ports.
| 1t would relieve the financial pres
sure by putting large amounts of idle
capital into active circulation. The country
suffers not so much from the lack oil
money as from the fact that this money,
| by hundreds of millions, Is not in circnla-
| ton.
1t would largely increase not only
| the aggregate wealth but the social
happiness and moral power of the ma
| ton by transforming a waste wilderness
into the habitations Of men possessing all
the com forts and conveniences of civilized
life.
1t would save the people of the United
States eight or ten millions year in the
cost of transportation between the Missis-
sippi and the Pacific.
1t would save the Government not less
than ten millions year in the two items of
transportation and border protection.
1t would redeem the country from vassal-
age the crushing monopoly of the Central
Pacific, which now seeks for Government
aid to enable it to double and perpetu-
ate this power by building a line east
from Southern California to the Missis-
sippi, thus destroying all chance of COM
petative line. and Increasing a burden
already too grievous to be borne.
The friends of the Texas Pacific seem
to have combined in favor of the bill in
troduced by Hon. A. H. Stephens, which
though agreeing in the main, differs
somewhat from that brought forward by
Mr.. Lamar in the House near the close of
the last Congress. The main differences
are the cutting off of all branches, and
providing for a trunk line only, from the
present western terminus of the Texas
and Pacific railroad, at Fort Worth,
Texas, to San Diego, on the Pacific
Ocean, and reducing the maximum
of bonds, the interest of which
is to be guaranteed by the General Gov
from seventy millions to thirty
eight millions, and the cost per mile
from thirtyfive thousand to twenty thous-
and dollars, or less, if the actual cost of
should be less.
The bill further provides that the
Texas & Pacific Railway shall be ex-
tended from Shreveport, Louisiana, Gts
present eastern terminus to the Missis-
'issippi river, at such point as shall be
decided upon by five commissioners, to
De appointed by the President, two of
whom shall be United States engineers,
md none OF whom shall have any in
crest, local Or personal, which would
bias their judgments for or against any
particular point, and that the depot Of
aid terminus shall be maintained on the
astern bank of the Mississippi river.
The securities to be furnished by the
ompany for the guarantee Of interest on
he bouds of the latter, are considered
nipple to secure the Government against
oss. They are as follows:
First.-A first mortgage lien on all
he property of the company, of every
description.
Second.-The retention by the Gov {
rnment of all dues for the transporta-
on of mails, and of troops and their
upplies, and for telegraph service.
Third.-The proceeds of the sales OF 6
ne company's lands, granted by the
United States, and the State of Texas
fter deducting the cost of such sales, to
e turned into the United States Treas
ry.
Fourth. Government to retain 9
/ its possession the bonds of the compa- s
y to the amount of $1,000 per mile, to
8 sold to meet any possible default of l
lie company to meet the interest on its
Onds.
The bill also contains stringent pro-
sions against combinations, and gives t
very connecting road equal advantages j
! to through business. In other words, n
quires the trunk road to pro-rate with Fl
connecting roads for such business. ii
cannot be said that this scheme is in n
e interest of st. Louis and its East b
n railroad connections, as it cnts off a
ltirely the st. Louis connections, as e.
I'll as that of Memphis and New Or a
ans, and compels those cities to build W
meeting lines at their own expense, Il
ID leaves merely a Trunk line, from III
e Mississippi to the Pacific, which will fc
most certainly have Vicksburg for its n
terminus, since there can be b
question as to that being. in the lam W
age of the bill, ''the most practicable b
int, in view of distance, cost of transpor- W
hon, routes, and of foreign as we'll as b
mestic trade aud commerce. OF
In this event, it will be seen that the fo
cksburg and Meridian Railroad pene- ~
ting the heart of our State from west !.
east. will constitute an. essential link :"
the great trans-cOntineptal thorough Ia
e. vi
Tue Southern States which. as we have =
1wn. hold the balance Of power in this IN
yer business are coming to see that its he