The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-02-19
THE SAN ANTONIO AND MEN,
CAN BORDER RAILWAY.

The House Committee on Railways
and Canals, to whom was referred the
bin authorizing the Secretary of War
to contract with the San Antonio and
Mexican Border railway, submitted
unanimous report in favor of the goy-
ernment Immediately entering into a
contract for the building of the pro-
posed railway. The bill asks that the
government endorse the bonds of this
company at the rate OF $15, 900 per
mile, bonds to run thirty years, and to
bear four per cent. interest. Ia con-
sideration therefor the government is
at all times to have the preference in
the use of the road and its telegraph
lines, and all money growing out of the
government service, from the time
of its completion, in part or in whole,
shall be hei6 by the Treasury Depart
ment, and the company is besides re-
quIred to pay into the Treasury annu-
ally two per cent on the bonds, to be
used, together with the money for ser
vice, as a sinking fund to meet any IL
ability arising from the endorsement OF
bonds. Besides all this, which is certainly
a most ample security within itself. the
government is to hold first mortgage
on the entire road. Iasof InSo this road
would place San Antonio, the base OF
military supplies for the frontier, and
headquarters for the army of the Rio
Grande, in direct communication with
the Mexican border and its line OF
forts, where four thousand troops are
now employed protecting the frontier
against msrauding Mexicans and H.
dians; and it further calls attention to
the fact that it would pass through q
country which, though now sparsely
settled, is rich in grasses and in. soil
suited to varied agricultural pursuits,
and which would, with railway
traversIng it, provide remuneratlve
homes for vast multitude of people.
Though such could be the future OF
this region, the committee are informed
that thirty per cent. of the herds and
flocks now grazing upon these vast
prsries ere stolen by the border
thieves. The committee further report
that between four and five millions oi
dollars are annually spent in supplying
the troops at the Rio Grande posts
and that the government pays cut, be-
sides doing a vast deal OF hauling will
it's own expensive teams, about 800,
900 on transportation to these posts
Laredo, the objective point of thi
road, is two hun dred and fifty mile
from the mouth of the Rio Grande
and is more accessible from all tn
posts than any other point on the riv
er. The committee urge the building o
the road because of means for quicl
and easy transportation of troops ant
supplies; because it would save to tn
government, each, year, large amour
of money; because oue-half of the sol
diers now kept on the Rio Grand
could be maintained at military head
quarters at San Antonio for quartz
of million dollars less than upon th
border; because speedy railway com
municatiOn with the Rio Grande woul
always place it in the power Of tn
commander of the army to concentrate
upon short notice, troops at any give
point on the Rio Grande, thus doin
away with the ravsges of raiders, an
the producing of a condition of affair
on this side of the river that would at
tract stockraisers and agricuturllst
in large numbers to one of the mos
fertile regions of all the Southwest
The committee, though treating th
enterprise simply in the light of &C
vantsges to the government, especial
in bringing about peace on the border
| refer TO commerc al results arisin
from the completion of road to Lart
do, predicting that its completio
would soon bring about the construC
ton of a railway from there to the cit
of Mexico. Added to this they be
. lieve, as the STATESMAN has so ofte
contended, that commercial rt
relations between the two people woul
bring about friendly intercourse tbl
would result, not only in adding wealt
to the border, but in establishing II
: ciprocity of feeling that would put 9
end to all these disturbing condition.
now continual annoyance and c,
. penss to our people. Military pos
/, would then be converted into custoI
, houses, paying into instead of DRAWN
, out Of the governments treasury mi
lions Of dollars annually. The cor
, mitsee seem to be fully alive to the in
portant questions involved, and 1t
!. | earnestly hoped By the people Of Te'
) As that counter propositions, winch =