The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-31
HOW RAILWAYS ARE PLANKING US

1t will be seen by the following extract
from the Railroad Gazette, what the build
ers are doing in the way of constructing
roads in Mexico. The reader will observe
that just one, and that called "a branch to
Laredo" is spoken Of as leading toward
Texas. They all 60 to Ell Paso, or west of
that The natural course of Mexican COM
mence is across Texas, and certainly not over
the territories west Of us. We trust in view
of the scramble now going on at the capital
of the cactus republic, for concessions and
right f-wsy, our railway men. are not absent
The direct route from the east, center and
west center CT the United States, to the city
of Mexico, is through Texas, with the city
OF Dallas as its gateway. We have relied
upon the International and the Sunset Of
fcers to push their lines to the Rio Grande
and trust that they will be there in time to get
share of concessions now being peddled out
by the Mexican congress. Says the Gazette:
"Mexican railroad projects abound nova
days. Those most talked about are the ones
which the Boston capitalists connected with
the Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa Fe company
have under way or in contemplation. 1t
might be supposed, indeed, that they were
the only active parties there, aside from those
engaged in the Tehuantepec road. But there
are several competitors for concessions"
over the same ground. The Boston men
have begun a line from Guaymas, on the
gulf of California, northward to the Arizona
line, and also one from the city of Mexico
northwestward some $50 miles to Leon. The
latter is the route of the old Mexican Cen
trail company, and it has several large cities
on its line, is over pretty easy ground, and in
other country than Mexico would have
magnificent traffic from the beginning An
English company claims the concession for
this road still, and congress refused to make
new arrangement, but authorized the pres
ldent TO take such guarantees as IN saw
proper and grant his permission to go on and
build subject to the government supervision.
The Boston people deposited $4,000 as a
of good faith and responsibility
and have begun the line to Leon, hoping and
expecting to get concessions from later con
gress for extensions further north. Besides
the English competitor it appears the South
ern Pacific railroad company, a California
corporation, is also negotiating with the
Mexican government for the speedy |
completion of q section of roads connecting
that capital with FL Paso Gel Nor,e, to
Zether with a branch from the proper
point to the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass or
Laredo, and another branch from the most
suitable point on the main line TO the Pacific,
1t or near San Bias. This would make neqrly
TWO thousand miles of roads in Mexico. The
line to Ell Paso would connect there with
of lines from Colorado, from
northern Texas, and also from California
The line to the Rio Grande at Laredo would
1--WE direct route to New Orleans and points
forth and east, while the line TO the Pacific
would be made serviceable for connection
With San Francisco by water-the all rail
inc being provided by the FL Paso Trunk
oad The Southern Pacific, as every one
concerned here knows, is corporation quite
'ble to carry through such magnificent
programme, as it consists, for the most part,
If the same persons who own ard control
hree thousand miles of railroad on the Pa.
itic side of the continent, besides steamer
ines, etc, lftbis arrangement is concluded
will evidently be grand stride forward for
lexico, and cannot but develop her mining
nd agricultural resources, whether 1t is i'm.
nediately profitable to the company under
aking it or not.