National Republican., 1888-01-06


the Pacific ocean was separated from the
main body Of the nation by what were then
considered impossible deserts and unsur-
mountable mountain ranges, and there was
great danger that at some future day this
great territory, with It's immense but unde-
veloped wealth, would be swept away and
torn from the union Of states, forming a
Pacific confederacy or republic, barring
the progress Of the nation.
This danger became all the more apparent
when the war OF the rebellion commenced,
and when one Of the most distinguished
merchants OF the great central city OF ST..
Louis, speaking in its chamber OF com
merce TO large crowd, said
We must not hasten too much. We do not
know where our fortunes will be cast. There
may be an eastern confederacy, southern
eonfcderacy, central confederacy, and con-
federacy Of the Pacific coast.
This was the deliberate expression OF a
business man, and, OF course, those who
make statesmanshlp and politics study had
the same Ideas In their mind.
In 1869 Congress passed an act incorpora.
ting "a company to build line from the
Missouri river at two different points
toward the Pacific ocean; at the same time
1t offered aid In land and money to cor
poration existing under the law OF the
state Of California, to build eastward to
meet the line which had been chartered by
Congress. Gentlemen of the highes,
financial standing In the United States were
the corporators OF this company, aud, with
all the advantages offered by the United
states, they were utterly unable for tw,
years to raise the money sufficient to CON
mence the building of the road from tn,
Missouri river. Additional facilities an
aid were Offered In 1864, and the compluie
ital SITS were loathe to invest their moaey
to build the line of road 1900 miles lon
across desolate country, which mad beer
known since its first discovery as q treeles
desert, to penetrate two OF the creates
mountain ranges OF the EARTH aud wlthou
one solitary dollars worth OF local trani
to make these roads profitable.
The prospect Of this great railway becom
ing paying investment was very small 10
decd. For over 900 miles upon the line o
the road It passed but one solitary settle
ment Of human beings; the remainder OF ia,
route was traversed by wild Indians anc
bullaloes, passed through aud over tht
great treeless plain, then considered utterly
valueless, which extended from the VALLEY
OF the Mississippi to the mountains of the
Pacific coast; and besides, 1t had to cross
the great central mountain range and the
Coast range.
The bills under which these roads were
constructed were In the nature of contract
between the sovereign which made the
grants and the parties which accepted them.
The time for the completion Of the road.
was 1876, and yet, because the government
desired 1t, these roads were completed seven
years In advance Of the contract. In 1869
the last spike was driven near Ogden and
train Of cars could start from the city OF
New York and land In the city OF San Fran
cisco, the most wonderful achievement iD
railway building that the world had then or
has since seen. II must be taken into con-
that at the time of the building
Of these roads wages and materials were
higher than they are to-day
Much of the iron that was laid down when
thn-n 49, -,---- vvsv fess than $50, the
average being $l05. So that the cost Of tn
roads, as reported by the companies, canno
be considered extravagant.
That building these roads was necessity
Tor tie country no one denies, and that
whtn Congress made the loans by which
'hey were built, ani without which the,
could not be built, there was no expecta.
Ion Of ever receiving one dollar for the
money back is easy provable from the pub.
ic records OF the country. During the de.
'ate on the subject of granting charter
nd giving the aid senators and repre-.
entatives in Congress expressed their yIeYJ
6 follows: ,-.,
Senator Wilson, OF, of,assactusetts, said:
! give no grn}fns vote in giving away
'iher moleSf muds. / would sink one hun.
ID millions OF dollars 10 build the road, aud |
1t most cheerfuliy, and think had done
at thing for my county If could bring |, |
out. What are seyenty five or a hundred
lions in railroad across the central re
MS of this continent, which will connect
people of the Pacific and Atlantic and |
Id them together ] vote for the bill with |
expectation that all we get ont OF the road
nd think that Is great deal-wlll be the
VI carrying and the carrying of munitions
war and such things as the government
eds, and vote for it cheerfully with that
w.
senator Clark, OF New Hampshire, sald
hlild II ne n nniiIioaI ,,ooo,,tt,, - TIA - |
lntry together and hold 1t together, and
not care whether 1t is to pay or not.
senator Ten Eyck, of New Jersey, said
he great object of the Pacific railway bill
% have a national means of communica.
II across the continent. That is the induce
mt which the old states have In doing wha
y believe will be for the benefit of the com
n country TO the prejudice of the treasury, so
speak yet the general returns will be bene-
al in the long run.
enator McDougal, of California, said:
was not intended that there should be a
ment Of foreclosure and a sale OF this ROAD
failure to pay. We wish 1t to be dis.
city understood that the bill Is not framed
Ii the intention to have foreclosure.
Zen Wade said:
IT, your money will not be lost In a pe
iary point OF view 1t will be gain to this
ernment TO make these facilities for settling ,
wilderness. 1t viii strengthen us ina
Itary point OF view, II viii strengthen the
or, which is more than ALL
Ir. Kelley said;
anthere be any question that our country !
bear such an augmentation OF its annul +,
enditure, or viii II harm II posterity, being .
scd by this work, should perrhance have
ay the principal OF the credit invested? &
Ir, WHITE, Of Indiana, said 9
NV sir, contend that although thl, bin q
rides for the repayment Of the money ad. =
ctd by the gOverumen', it is not expected ;,
cent Of the money will ever be repnId. !.
ndeTtake to say that not ceGt of these u
lrces Will be ever repaid, nor 10 | thing II
rabe that they shou!d bereplld. The rlad 81
be the highway Of the nation and we a
II to take care tha. the rates provided b
l IA mo