The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-18
SENATOR JONAS BILL.

Senator Jonas has introduced bill looking
To the construction Of Southern Pacific Rail-
road having real Southern connections, which
the DEMOCRAT can cordially approve In the
interests of true Southern Pacific road we
have been compelled to oppose both the Tom
Scott and the Huntington schemes. The one
was designed to branch off In Texas to st.
Louis, and the other to extend from Ill PasO
through Kansas, In connection with the
Atehison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail-
road. to Chicago. OF course the sue
cess of either of these lines would
practically destroy all Southern con-
nections, and shut off New Orleans. Vicks-
burg Memphis and the Southern Atlantic
seaboard cities as completely as they areby the
present Northern system of railroads across
the continent. Alone, OF all the journals of New
Orleans, the DEMOCRAT has earnestly COM
bated both these schemes 1t has done 80 In
the interests Of this and other Southern ports,
and has subjected itself TO much hostile criti-
cism from papers welded to either the Scott
or the Huntington line. 1t cared nothing for
this, but has persevered in its course with the
best results Neither Of the schemes 1t OPP
posed has received the sanction Of Congress,
and there ID little probability Of majority
being secured to give either the sanction OF
law and the aid of the government.
The bill presented by Senator Jonas exactly
m Gets the views urged by the DEMOCRAT. 1t
provides for true Southern road to the
Pacific, and makes terminal points Of no less
than three cities On the lower Mississippi
New Orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis 1t
will afford them equal facilities for compet-
ing for the traffic of San Francisco and Cali
fornia to those now enjoyed by st. Louis and
Chicago. It gives New Orleans an opportu-
nifty to occupy the position which her COM
mercial situation entities her to that OF
being the true terminal point Of a Southern
transcontinental system Of railway. This Is
all the DEMOCRAT has contended for and all
New Orleans has reasonable claim to. The
commercial classes and our local roads reach
ing Texasward must do the rest.
In brief, Senator Jonas bill proposes that
the government shall issue loan not to ex-
coed $4,000 per mile for every section Of ten
miles hereafter constructed and equipped,
provided work be commenced within twelve
months, and that not less than fifty miles be
completed each year thereafter, to each of the
following roads, to wit: To the New Or
leans Pacific Railway Company, the North
Louisiana and Texas Company. the Memphis
and Great Southwestern Company, the Inter-
national and Great Northern Company, the
Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Com
pany. The bill also grants strip OF the
public lands 400 feet wide through the public
lands from the Colorado river to the Rio
q do for dol f,f IN fbo
Pacific Railroad Company OF California, and
requires that road to be completed within
five years, otherwise the Galveston and San
Antonio Company Is to have the right to
cross the Rio Grande and construct the I'M
COMPLETED portion, and similarly in case the
Texas Company fails to complete its road
within five years to the Rio Grande, the Cali
fornia Company shall be authorized to cross
the river and supply its deficiency
| The object Of this bill Is, as Is seen by the
routes named, to provide continuous railroad
communication from New Orleans, Vicksburg
and Memphis to the Rio Grande, there to
meet the Southern Pacific Railroad to Cali.
fornia at Ell Paso. At that point the New Or.
leans line would be brought into competition
with all other points East. The result would
| then depend upon the energy and ability with
| which that line was operated. This is all the
DEMOCRAT desires, and it is more than will.
ling that the other points named should have
whatever advantages they may be able to Sc.
cure from the position in which they are
placed by Senator Jonas bill. we only ash
for fair play, something entirely out of the
question If Tom SCOTS bill should pass.
1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Jonas will yigor
ously press his bill It is so manifestIy FREE
from ali suspicion of iobbery and SO fair to al
the competing points On the Mississippi rive1
that nothing can defeat II excent a. uttar die