Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-10
OUR RAILROAD FUTURE.
The Outlines of the Railroad Conquest
OF Our Continent.
A Network of Roads yyhicY, VIII In
cIude Canada and IseEfcO---
Annexation and Pro-
tectOrate.
TChicaoo Tribune.7

[Chicago Tribune
The rapidity with which the railroad en-
terprises in Canada and Mexico are being
pushed to completion suggests some exceed
ingly interesting forecasts with regard to the
effects that may be expected to follow in
trade and trade legislation, in politics and in
political geography, as well as in the per-
sonal habits and prosperity of the people of
the North American continent The Canadian
Pacific, it is now announced, will be done in
two years 1t is already graded for 1000
miles, Gear up to the Rocky mountains. Its
projectors ridicule the rumors of fnan-
cial embarrassment which have lately got
afioat They have, according to their state
Inents, enough money on hand Of their own
and the governments not only to finish the
road, but to equip it. The work on the Mex
lean Central, the Boston enterprise, is pro-
ceeding so much more rapidly than at first
planned that it VIII be finished next spring
instead Of late in the summer. Besides this
road, which runs down from FL Paso, there
is another in active construction from Laredo
southwark which will be done next summer.
These roads run from the north down to the
City of Mexico. There is another transconti-
mental road on IL small scale which is being
pushed through from Tampico de Tamauii-
pas, on the gulf OF Mexico to San Bias, On
the Pacific.
THE FUTURE FORESHADOWED.
The grand outlines of the railroad conquest
of the American continent will be filed in
with the driving of the last spikes of these
enterprises Much in the way Of details will
remain to be inlaid in our mosaic of railroads,
but the main design will be completed. The
control of the enormous system will be the
control of the industry of the American
continent. Where this control is likely
to rest is probably foreshadowed in the
fact that the direction and construction
of these enterprises is now almost en-
tirely in the hands Of Americans. The
lines into Mexico are being pushed by Amer
lean laundering and American brains, and
the great line across CANADA, though sub
sidized by Canadian gifts Of land and track,
is in the hands of syndicate in which Amer
lean influence is predominant. Canada found
its highest inspiration for the generosity with
which it treated the Canadian Pacific On the
idea that thereby it would obtain an indie
pendent line across from ocean to ocean on
Canadian SOL, but it IS already plain that the
Cahsdfan Pacific will be but spur of the
mighty mileage Of the United States.
TIE YANKEE IRRESISTIBLE.
The eonfederating tendencies at work in
the American network ofrailroads cannot be
resisted oy the Mexican and Canadian roads
The same irresistible attractions Of traffic that
make the Grand Trunk of Canada more en-
ergeac in extending its American than any
other connections viii pl'i tie Canadian
Pacific towards American business. Mexican
railroad development must inevitably fall
into tributary relations to the two or three
corporations and pools that have the south
west now entirely in their possession. The
few foreign stockholders these various enter
prises have will drop out one after another
/ whenever there is a furry in the stock
market, for they will not have the abiding
! faith of those on the ground. One of the
least remote consequences of the completion
of the lines into Mexico may be the descent
/ Of the English road between Vera Cruz and
! the City of Mexico into American hands.
Tha5 corporation has had a monopoly which
! it Las improved by the most eXtortionate
f: charges of 10 or II cents a mile for
| Passengers and as much for the freight of d
! hundred pounds as our roads charge for
/ ton The American lines will break up this
| extortion and cut down the profits of the old
road to point that will very likely make its
| present owners glad to sell out at sacrifice
| to their competitor.
AS The RAILROADS MAY SAY.
! One Of the first things the railroad interest
| will want, north as well as south, will be the
modification of the restrictions put on trade
between the United States and its neighbors.
Railroads are for transportation, and that
means trade. The taxes, and inspections,
and regulations about bonding and all that
goes with frontier meddling with trade will
| all cut into the receipts of the railroads, and
those corporations will be certain to use their
influence to have the way made smoother for
their benefit The ratification of the Mexican
reciprocity treaty, which comes up in Wash
ington next winter will be very likely to go
as the railroads say. The half1ozen pools
that will control the railroad business of the
whole continent from Hudson's bay to the
gulf of Tehuantepec will have a scanty re-
spect for the imaginary lines that divide their
political dependencies. They viii effect a
commercial annexation which viii be more
than likely to result in political annexation
If the north and perhaps protectorate in the
south.
THE HEROIC TREATMENT.
a war with Mexico is by no means one OF
the impossible consequences Of the railroad
invasion Of the Cactus Republic. The gov
eminent has incurred very heavy. obligations
to half dozen American corporations fol-
subsidies. The Mexican has never been re-
nowned for his fidelity to financial engage
ments If the Mexican government, in one
of its fits Of reputation, should attempt tc
throw over its American benefciaries, the
powerful men who are interested in thosf
9 subsidized enterprises-men like Gen Grant
and Jay Gould-might find it easy enough tt
arnbroil the two countries in a struggle tht
< disguised object of which would be reached
9 when Mexico was put under Drotectorats
and all its obligations towards American en-
: terprises assumed by the United States, Sc
cured by Mexican revenues and Mexican
property.
INTO A NEW CAREER.
The entrance of American methods o
1 transportation, bringing American capital
energy and enthusiasm into the ancien
stupor of Mexican wealth, viii be certain t.
send that country forward with an l1nn1ens
e bound in new career. The mere rise of tn
: low level of the Mexican prices to the highe
American averages Will be uuickener