The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-05-27
Tehuantepec Ship Railway.

VIII the country be benefited by
the Tehuantepec Ship Railway?
What will its costs be to the Gov
ernment? Will the benefits of the
road be an adequate return for its
cost? these are the real questions
for Congress to determine before
final action on the Tehuantepec bill.
Whether the scheme is or is not
practical is not now in issue. 1t is
not at all necessary that Congress
should pass upon the question. Its
projectors insist that it is practical
Bile. They offer an irresistible ar
ray of proofs that loaded ships of
great tonnage have been lifted from
the water and docked without in
jury, and they offer scientific testi-
mony of the very best value that
such ships after being docked, can
be transported by rail with safety.
Any one who has been
At SEA in HEAVY WEATHER
has realized that there is nothing in
the jar or motion of the train NOV
ing at 10 or Is miles an hour to
compare with the strain of vessel
which at sea in a storm, lifts its
head on one wave and strikes with
tremendous thump on the breast of
another, or of a loaded vessel that,
under the force of great winds, lays
for hours with one gunwale under
water, as is frequently the case.
But even if the practicability of
the Eads' scheme was less succepti-
bic or proof, it ought not to interfere
in any way with The proposed ac-
ton of congress. If the ship rail-
way is not practicable, nothing
should be paid. The pending bill
makes ample provisions for this.
NO SUBSIDY IS ASKED.
All that the projectors desire is
that interest to a limited extent
be guaranteed on the bonds issued,
but this guarantee is not sought un-
til the entire practicability of the
road is demonstrated not by the
opinions of scientists, but by the
surest and most infallible of tests
the building of a part of the road
and the transporting of a loaded
vessel over it. If the projectors fail
TO do this successfully the Govern
ment is to give them nothing and
guarantee them nothing. They
take all the risk If they fail the
loss is all theirs, and only in the
event of complete and demonstra-
ted success is the Government
asked
TO GUARANTEE ANYTHING.
For these reasons, as the govern
ment risks nothing, and promises
nothing in the event of failure, Con-
gress wastes time in the arguments
on the practicability of the scheme.
If the road succeeds will its bene-
fits to the country correspond to
the amount the Government will
be called upou as a guarantee? this
is the real question, and all discuss
sion should be confined to it. Ger
tainly if the road can be built and
operated, transporting ships of 6 900
or even 1000 tons with cargoes
from ocean to ocean, its advantages
to the commerce of the world will
be incalculable; and if as proposed,
vessels of this Government are
free, and the ships of
OF THE UNITED
STATES
are carried for one half the rates
to the merchants of all 9TH
er nations, except Mexico, it will
give to American merchants an
of costs which cannot
fail to enlarge their carrying if it does
not quite revolutionize freightage
from Australia and Western Asia.
Considering how little this Govern
ment is asked to guarantee, that
it's guarantee only occurs in the
event of success, and the great pos
sible advantages that may follow, it
may seenf that Congress will miss
an opportunity to foster our com
and enrich the whole com
try if it permits this project
pire for want of needed encor
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