Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-21
THE TEXAS AND SOUTHERN PA.
CIFIC.
Rapidly Approaching a Junction,
with Only a Twenty Mile Gap
The Dream OF Southern Statesmen
Almost Fulfllled.

A dispatch to the Galveston NeaoS from
Cariso Pass, near the terminus of the Texas
and Pacific Railway, says:
"The track of the Texas and Pacific Rail-
way reached Cariso Pass, ,974 feet above
the sea-on last Tuesday. One hundred
and seventy track layers and forty-five
teams are pushing the work rapidly In con-
nection with the Southern Pacific Railway
at point about Mount Blsnco, twenty
seven miles west of the pass. The track of
the Texas and Pacific Railway is now five
miles west of the pass. The Southern Pacific
is pushing east from FL Paso, and the two
tracks will join in twenty days or less.
General Dodge and his engineers have re-
turned from the Southern Pacific terminus,
where they met to locate, in connection
with engineers OF that road, the point of
junction. The near approach of the tracks
is inspiring the forces of bOSh roads with
new energy. Captain Hoxie, who gave a
vigorous impetus to the Texas and Pacific
Railway, when he took charge of that road
In May last, and whose guiding hand and
prompt unwavering Judgment are seen in
all the vast amount of details attending so
great an enterprise, has hnished his tour of
the State and returned to his headquarters
at st. Louis During the trip over the road
just ended, he left everything shaped for
putting the track in order for the busi-
ness OF the line from San francisco to
Galveston and New Orleans. It is pre-
sqmed that he has already outlined his
schedule for the passenger and freight
trains. The fact that one may stand at the
terminus OF the Texas and Pacific nI,ailwav
and easily see the point Mount Blancol
Where tnSo great transcontinental railways
meet, suggests more thought than can be
transmitted by wire. Briefly, the Southern
Railway project across the continent, that
was pet scheme of Jefferson Davis when
he was in the national Cabinet, is virtually
a fixed fact to-day, and the intelligent view
OF the benefits to commerce proceeding from
this route embrace many more reasons why
this highway is a necessity than ever enter
ed the minds OF Davis and others thinking
as he did, who in their widest dreams could
not foresee the marvellous and rapid devel-
opment of the Southwest.
"The material for the construction of the
Texas and Pacific Railway to the point of
junction is all on hand or on the way to the
front. Shipments of iron and other mate
rfals have been Systematically pushed west
ward, with view to the extension OF the
road to FL Paso, so miles further west than
the point of junction just agreed on By
Gould and Huntington. This surplus ma
terial will be gradually concentrated at
Fort Worth. for use in building the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway south to connect with
the International and Great Northern Rail-
way, at or near Taylor, and the Fort Worth
and Denver Railroad north from
Fort Worth. Summit, the name
of the station on Cariso Pass, is $50
miles west of Dallas, and is the highest
poiut on the Texas and Pacific Railway. The
cold weather, preceded by excessive
drought, has deadened what vegetation there
is on the pass, so that the scene is weird
and forbidding. Huge mountains with
sharp peaks rise ON every side. Six miles
south Of the pass is Bass Canon, famed for
being the bloody spot where so many travel
ers to and from FL Paso have met their
death at the hands Of the bandits that in
tested these Western wilds. The railway in
this instance is indeed an agent of civiliza-
tion and an eradicator of crime, barring, OF
course, the temptation it offers to train rob
bers. Reports from the Southern Pacific
terminus indicate efforts responsive to the
spirit shown by the other road.n