The record-union., 1896-02-26


But the people and the National Gov
ernment wanted the road built and when
the few courageous souls that resolved
to undertake it completed the work, the
whole nation exclaimed well DONE"
and was lavish with praise of their
courage. Yet, when the Central Pacific
was completed the assets of its build
ers did not amount to enough to pay
the debts created by the construction by
several millions of dollars.
When completed then came the task
OF fighting the elements. Some forty
miles of the mountain section had to be
rooted in and snow galleries erected,
and much Of the section literally in-
closed in a massive building at enor-
nous cost. From 1873 to date the cost
of repairing these snowsheds. it is
shown, amounted alone to about two
and half millions of dollars.
Profiting by the experience gained in
building the road, its projectors went
on and constructed other roads It was
not only wise to do so to furnish feeders
and develop the country, but it was in
the people. Wherever a road was built
| land appreciated enormously; indeed,
Mr.. Huntington thinks that the rise in
values wherever land was good for any
thing at all, was not less than 100 per
cent. 1t is easily conceivable that the
men who engaged in such construction
would by judicious investment avail of
these advances in values, and as they
legitimately could, and thus reap some
of the benefits flowing from their own
achievements.
1t is fair challenge which cannot be
taken up by anyone to declare that
ever since the line was completed, in
deed from a time considerably earlier,
the road has fulfilled all its require
ments; it has had no trouble with the
Government or the savage tribes along
its line; it has been, in fact, a peace
maker among the Indians, and enabled
the continent to be traversed easily,
and swiftly in few days, where before
it was a long and wearisome journey
of months, full of dangers and priva-
t;ons, and subject to the interruptions
by Indian wars
That the road has been kept in good
physical condition is patent, it has been
well equipped, constantly bettered
along its whole line from year to year,
and capacitated to do double the bust
ness that is done on all transcontinental
lines. But the tonnage has been small
and the rates low, and hence, for this
reason, for one thing, the company has
not been able to pay the Government
what it owes. for by reason of the build
ing of other lines tonnage has been di-
vided and rates cut.
In the meantime, it may here be inter
jected the company has done all service
demanded by the Government, trans
ported mails, and troops. and supplies,
paid into the United States Treasury
large sums to the credit of the sinking
fund, and enabled the Government to
establish economies that were impossi-
BILE prior to construction of the line.
But passing the historical phase of
the matter, we come to the present
question of the funding of the debt of
the road, and to consider what wisdom
and good business suggestion advises
in that behalf That issue and the
propositions before the committee will
be considered in succeeding articles. In
all the foregoing accuracy prevails
There is no statement made that is not
easily susceptible of documentary proof,
and there are thousands of men living
who were witnesses to the facts and
events referred to.
Moreover it will be noticed that by
reason of the necessity for brevity. a
vast amount of detail has been COM
passed by a very few words. For the
bare recitaIs of fact and conclusions of
judgment involved relate back to de-
tails of the most interesting character,
rich with incident and statistics en-
phasizing the truth.
Indeed thousands Of Californians are
aware of the fact that Mr. Huntington
might have gone great deal further in
bis statement, have greatly intensified
his recital, and have claimed justly a
great deal more than he did, and still
have been far within the bounds Of
truth. Thus. instead of barest reference
to the refusal of capital in California to
aid the builders, there might be retold
the shameful story of rebuff, reproach,
sarcasm and contumely with which the
pioneer transcontinental railway con-
structors met. There might we'll be
elaboration upon the urgency of the
Government at the time, reference to
the condition of civil war then prevail
ing, to the non-expectancy by the Gov
ernment of repayment within the period
of the debt: to expressions made in Con-
gress, indeed, that if the Government
never was repaid for the aid given, it
would be still infinitely the gamer by
promoting the building of the roads.
A PATHETIC TALE AND A MON