The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-12-04
MEETING OF GULF COAST
CITIZENS.
Resolutions Endorsing Eads' Ship
Railway Project.

At = meeting Of the citizens OF
the Gulf Coast, held at the Court
heuse, in Scranton, at II m, on
Wednesday, December 2, 1885, to
consider the proposed Ship Railway
across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
as projected by Capt. JAS. B. Eads,
the following proceedings were had
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. j. NJ. Pelham, and on motion
Mr.. NJ. N. Evans WAS called TO the
chair aud Mr.. E. Bloomfield was
made secretary.
The Chair stated the object oil
the meeting, and by motion was au-
thOrized TO appoint a committee OF
five to draft suitable resolutions
expressive of the sense of the meet
ing with reference to the purpose
for which it had been called. Com
mittee /: Messrs. John POitevent,
E. F. Griffin, j. NJ. Pelham, r. Seal
and w. Denny. On motion the
meeting then adjourned until 9
pm. pending the report of the com.
mittee.
The meeting reassembled pursu-
ant to adjournment, and the com
mittee on resolutions reported as
follows
Mr.. Chairman We, your com.
mittee on behalf of the citizens OF
the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, beg
leave to report the following in en-
dorsement OF the Tehuantepec Ship
Railway
WHEREAS, The growing demands of the
worlds commerce render it imperativcly
necessary that II nearer an more eeonomi-
cal route by sea shall be opened between
the Alta tic and Pacific Oceans than the
long and dangerous one around Cape
Horn and
WHEREAS, The markets of India China,
Japan aud the Islands of the Pacific arc
prac tIcally closed to the markets of the
| United States by the American Isthmus,
while the SueE Canal has opened those
markets to the people of Europe and
WHEREAS, The shortest and most desir-
able of all the Isthmus routes is across the
Isthmus Of ~Tebnantepec, in Mexico, which
saves 1000 miles in distance over the Pan
anna route and 10000 miles over the Cape
Horn route in reaching the markets of the
North Pacific ; and
WHEREAS, In our opinion, IA ship rail-
way can be speedily and economically
built at ~Tehuantepcc that will promptly,
safely aud eheaply transport loaded YES
sells from ocean to ocean aud
WHEREAS, Under the proposition made
by Capt. Jas. b. Eads to the United States
government, it is only asked to guaran-
tee that two-thirds of the net revenue shall
amount to s2,5OO,000 for fifteen years
Mexico having guaranteed the other third
which guarantee will not. take effect
until after the railway has been complet-
ed and demonstrated to be success, and
the United States will be reimbursed for
amounts, if any, adj vanced under this
guarantee from the receipts OF the railway
whenever they shall be in excess of what
is required to earn the amount above stat
ed, thus making the money advanced not
a bonus, but a reimbursable loan, aud any
possible misunderstanding as to what net
revenue is avoided by fixing it at 80 per
cent. Of the gross receipts, and the United
States has a representative in the Board
of Directors of the Ship Railway Compa-
ny and the Ship Railway, in cOnsidera-
ton of this guarantee, offers to carry the
coastwise of the United States,
for 25 per cent. less tolls than Is char ged
the of all other nations, except
ing Mexico, during a period of thirty
years.
Resolved, That it is important to the
Gulf Coast and the United States at large
that the Isthmus barrier be removed, in
order that our Pacific possessions shall be
brought nearer to the Gulf and Atlantic
seaboards.
Resolred, That in order to accomplish
these great objects it Is necessary that the
proposed work shall receive the support
and assistance of the United States Gov
eminent, and we most earnestly commend
the Ship Railway project TO the favorable
consideration of the present administra-
| ton and of Congress, believing, if wise
and proper aid be given it, its successful
completion will be a certainty, and that
every commercial interest of our country
will derive untold benefits therefrom.
ResOlred, That our Senators and Repre-
sentatives ia Congress are respectfully
urged to give their earnest consideration
to the Ship Railway enterprise, and to as
sist in securing all proper aid and encour-
agement from the National Legislature for
this important undertaking, the success
full accomplishment of which will rebound
so largely to the benefit of this section
this State, the United States, and the
whole world.
Resolred, That the secretary of this meet
ing be instructed to forward certified
copies Of this preamble aud resolutions
TO the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and to each Senator aud Representative
in Congress from this aud adjacent States.
ResOlred. That the Representatives and
Senator from the Gulf Coast of MississiD-