Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-27

1t was not, however, the intention to
anticipate the argument of the Senator,
nor have we done SO. This, the reader
will discover as he pursues the able paper,
for the mere outline Of the purpose of the
proposition cannot detract from the lucid
and deeply interesting lines of thought,
proof and argument pursued, and the bust
ness-like and logical conclusions reached.
So far as the portion Of the Senator's
speech printed to-day goes, it will be found
to be Interestingly historical, and simply
and forcibly logical and clear in statement
and conclusion. He rapidly sketches the
planning of the way for Pacific railroad,
dating back to the earliest explorations
and surveys; the action taken in the mat
ter by the United States Government the
estimates made of the cost of construction
over various routes; the arising of the
great political necessity for the road, sup
Elemental to its long confessed commercial
desirability, and finally the resolution to
construct that engaged the courage and
energies of some of the foremost merchant
pioneers of California. He gives the
amount of aid extended, the actual cost Of
roads-which was less than anticipated by
to all our readers, that while all the cir
cumstances were adverse and the condi-
ton the most discouraging, the Pacific
road from California was constructed seven
years before the expiration of the limita-
lions in the agreement with the Govern
ment and he makes clear also the reason
for this haste and the outlay it necessarily
involved
The result of this great achievement is
then sketched The Government need
was met and satisfied; the military and
postal necessities answered; an empire of
territory opened up to settlement; the
growth of great State marvelously slim
ulated, and every expectation and hope of
the people and their Government gratifed,
and far more, for the results exceeded the
forecasts of the most ardent imagination
and the most vivid fancy.
Senator Stewart suggests that the Cen
trail Pacific road is unable to pay the
Government the great accumulation that
now represents its debt to the Government,
and that if it is forced to payment, there
must result high freights on local traffic
for half a century or more, for not only
will no new feeders and developers be
built, but the people will be taxed of neces-
sity to maintain the local rates the road
must realize, since it cannot control the
through traffic now divided with Compel
ing and Government-fostering lines-and
this, Notwithstanding the construction of
the original road has added hundreds of
millions of value to national wealth, and
led to the construction of fully 10000
miles of other roads directly, and as much
more indirectly.
The Senator is impressed with the wis
dom, since the Government has so i'm
measurably benefited by the building of
the road, of authorizing the devotion of
the debt due to it by the road, to such en-
terprises as will restore, at least in part,
their earning capacity, and at the same
time lower rates of carriage and upbuild
the country, and thus add new revenues
and strength to the nation, and open new
fields for settlement and the stimulating
hand of industry.
Shortly after reaching this point in the
speech of the Senator, we divide the paper,
that the remainder may be separately pub
lished and considered. In the meantime
we invite for it, thoughtful reading, since
it is of such character that every citizen
interested In the upbuilding and full de-
velopment of the coast must be drawn to
its consideration, for next in Importance to
the building of the roads themselves the
Senator's proposition for their utilization
stands.