The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-05-31
SENATOR JONAS RAILROAD


We are indebted to Senator Jonas OF
Louisiana for copy of his "Bill to pro-
vide for the speedy completion of Line
of railroad and telegraph between the
ports on the Lower Mississippi River,
the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean,
along or near the southwestern frontier
of the United States, and to aid in the
construction of the same, and for other
purposes: which was read twice and re-
and referred to the Committee on Rail
roads.
1t is accompanied by map showing
the railroads embraced in the provisions
of the bill, and their connections.
The bill authorizes the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company to construct its road
from the western boundary of Arizona to
a point on the Rio Grande not more than
sixty miles north of FL Paso, thence down
said river to a point at or near Ell Paso,
with the right of way through the public
lands.
The other roads embraced in the Bill
are:
1. New Orleans Pacific, from New Or.
leans to Shreveport, La.
2. The North Louisiana and Texas,
from Vicksburg, Miss, to Shreveport, La.
:. The Memphis and Great Southern,
from Memphis, Tenn, to Jefferson, Texas.
T.. The International and Great North
ern, from a point on the northeastern
boundary of Texas to San Antonio, Texas,
via Austin.
s. The Galveston, Harrisburg, and San
Antonio, from point near Houston, Texas,
to San Antonio, with an extension..to be
known as the Mexican Pacific Extension,
from San Antonio via Fort Clark, to the
point at or near Ell Paso before mentioned,
with bran h DETECTING from the extern
sion at point within one hundred miles
of San Antonio, to point on the Rio
Grande not farther north than Eagle Pass,
nor farther south than Laredo.
No grant is made to the Southern Pa
cifc except the right of way through the
public lands to the extent oftwo hundred
feet on each side of the track, with
grounds thereon for depots, side-tracks,
&c. The other roads are to be aided as
follows:
On the completion and equipment of
each section of ten consecutive miles, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall deliver to
the company making it $4,000 in lawful
money for each mile so constructed and
equipped. The companies shall commence
work within twelve months, and shall
construct fifty miles year. The money
advanced, shall be repaid to the Govern
eminent with interest at four per cent per
annum, in transportation of mails, troops,
&c, over the roads SO constructed, the
Government to have at all times prefer
ence in service. The account of each COM
pany shall be stated at the end of twenty
years, and if balance remains due the
Government, interest shall be computed
on it at 4 per cent per annum, and the
amount shall be paid in forty semi
payments, the Government having prior
lien on the earnings of such road. The
aforementioned of these roads shall re-
ceive advances on not more than 33S
miles; the second on no more than @
miles; the third on no more than 335 miles;
the fourth on no more than S. miles; the
fifth for it's Mexican and Pacific Exten-
sion on not tnore that GOO miles, and for
its southwest branch to the Rio Grande
on not more than $50 miles. This limits
the amount to be advanced to $ISo5o,ooo
The roads are to be of uniform gauge
-four feet eight and half inches. None
of the roads aided shall discriminate in its
charges against freights and passengers
passing over the others. Other roads in
corporated by the United States, or by
any State, shall have the right to connect
with these roads. At the end of five years,
if either of the two roads designed to meet
at or near Ell Paso shall have failed 70
reach that point, then the other road NAV
be extended east or west, as the case NAV
be, till it meets the other road The consent
of Texas is required, if the Southern Pa
cific is extended eastward and that road
shall be entitled to the $4,000 per mile
advance on SO much as it constructs east
OF Ell Paso to meet the other road.
z
THE GRANGE IN MAINE.
Bro. d. H. Thing, Master of the Maine
State Grange, writes as follows to the