Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-05-26
THE PACIFIC RAILWAYS AND THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME
 THEY WERE BUILT
Eleven States Could Not Reach the East Except by Water Now all Have
 Railroad Com
 munication.
Special Correspondence.
munication.

Special Correspondence.
 WAsu,NGroN, May 24-tn opening the discussion upon Pacific Rail- ways, We sh0uld take into considera- ton the condition of the country at the time they were chartered. The broad eXpanse of country lying be- tween the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean was Tt that time known as the Great American Desert The fertile states now cm- bfaeing the Bakotas Nebraska, Kansas,and Colorado on the east; the mountain Statrs, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada; aud the coast States. Washington, Oregon, and California, Were without means of transporta- tion 10 the markets of the world, ex- cepting what nlight be transported around Cape Horn by sea. For the purpose of opening up this vast and ferti' area, it became the slogan of all political parties to encourage the building of q Pacific Railway, and when ;he bill was presented in Cong ress, it was not party measure.
 The Government granted for 20 miles on each side uf the proposed track, alternate section of land 10 the railway, and in addition thereto, gave them S30 ,000 per mile, which was secured by a second mortgage on the track and franchise of the road. The manner in which these railroad bonds were issued, was that when len miles of the road WIS built, and the iron laid then $500 GOO in bonds was issued tO the Corpora tion, and this issue of $30,000 was made q lien Upon the roadbed and franchises ef he ten miles then and there completed. There are no bonds In eXistaHCc, or ever were, which had a mortgage securing them upon the entire road. but each bond is secured by it's identicalten miles of tbe track closing the mortgages to enforce the pay nprlt If these bonds that dis tmet al q separatesuit must be made upon thch mortgage for each ten miles Of the r0ad Ordinarily in giving mortgages for the cOnstruc- tiOu If q Inilwny or any other pur- pose the mortgage reads so as to cover the entire object mortgaged, and W lien default h made in part il means default If he whole. and the mnrtgagee can euforce the pay mpnt of part as N eil as the whole.
 The law granting the franchises to the corporations which the Pacific itailroads was granted to two Com Itanies frst. the Union Pacific Company which was to commence its operations at OmalIa, and build west; and the otEcr. the Central Pacific onpuny, which was tn com III nee on the Pacific coast and build eIst to the point of junction; this WAS to terminate tiie respective
 lileage uf zach line. This arrange ment made qui'e contest in the construction of he roads. se much thlt the contractors were forced, at different times. to work both night and day. in order thai one company conld gel the advantage in mileage of he ot her Il is within bc memory oi many ui u> when tine junction was finally made at Ogden, Utah. and the last spike. which was q gold one, was driven, celebrating the completion of he great central artery of irafie. Il Was hailed With ijy and 2 gn'inesS by the entire peo- pie of the Uiitcd States. and there cHn be no donbt bai that # has been one of the most efficient. means of eivilizihg that portion of our Union. l enabled the Government 10 transport it's troops in order to destroy he Indians. and the wild bands oi white men infesting those