Year: 1860

GREELY ON THE RAILROAD.


Horace Greely, in late number of the Trib-
une, presents some very practical views in re-
gard to the construction of railroad connect
ing the navigable waters Of the Mississippi and
the Pacific. He speaks Of the advantages and
disadvantages of the three routes-the north
ern, central and southern-but expresses no de-
clded preference for either. He thinks the
question of the route should be left entirely
with the company undertaking to build it. In
relation to the ways and means for constr uct-
ing the road he says:


But supposing the cost of Pacific Railroad
to be $3.50, 900, or even 500, ,00O, 900, how
is so large an amount to be proeuredf


We answer--not wholly by individual sub
scription or voluntarily associated enterprise.
The amount is too vast the enterprise too for
midable the returns too remote and uncertain.
In the present depression of railroad property
and interests, an attempt to raise such a sum
for any such purpose would be madness. One
railroad to the Pacific would probably pay !;
but what assurance could an association of pri-
vate citizens have that, having devoted their
means aud energies to the construction of such
road, it would not be rivalcd and value half
destroyed by a similar work on some other
routel No Hundred Millions can be obtained
for such an undertaking without assurance of
Government aid.


But neither will il answer to commit the Gov
ernment unqualifedly to the construction Of
such work. It's cost, in the hands of Federal
functionaries, would be incaleulahle it would
be an infinite source OF jobbng and partisan
corruption it would never be finished and its
net revenues would amount to nothing. And
then the question of location-the conflict of
rival intesests--would alone suffice TO prevent
the construction of the work by the Federal
Government


But let that Government simply resolve that
the Pacific Road shall be buit-let Congress
enact that sealed proposals for its construction
shall be invited, aud that whichever responsible
company or corporation shall offer an adequate
security for that construction. 10 be completed
within ten years, on the lowest terms, shall
have public aid, provided the amount required
do not exceed Fifty Millions Of Dollars, aud the
work will be done, certainly for Fifty Millions
bonus, probably for much less. The Govern
ment on its part should concedc to the compa-
ny mile in width, according to the section
lines, of the Public Lands on either side of the
road as built, with the right to take timber,
stone and earth from any public lands without
charge and should require it, said company
that it carry daily through mail each way at
the price paid other roads for conveying the
mails on nrSt class routes ana snOuld more
over stpuate for the conveyance at all times
OF soldiers, arms, munitions, provisions, &c.
for public service, at the lowest rates, with a
right to the exclusive possession and use Of the
road whenever a National exigency shall seem
to require it. The Government should leave
the choice of route entirely to the company, on
stipulating that that it shall connect the navi-
gable waters of the Mississippi with those Of the
Pacific Ocean, and that il shall be constructed
wholly through our own territory. Payment of
the National bonus to be made, say one-tweu-
tieth so soon as one-tenth of the road shall
have been finished and approved and at this
rate until one-third Of the road shall have been
built, when the remainder Of one-fourth of the
bonus shall be paid when half the road shall
have been built, the payment Of bonus shall be
increased to one-third when the work is three
fourths done what remains of five eighths of
the bonus shall be paid and when the work is
done and accepted all that remains unpaid of
the bonus shall be handed over to those who
will have so nobly earned it.


by adopting this plan, the rivalries Of routes
will be made to work for instead of working
against the construction Of the road. Strenu-
Gus efforts will be made by the friends of each
to put themselves in position to bid low enough
to secure the location and the lowest rate at
which the work can safely be undertaken will
unquestionably be bid. The road will be the
property of the company constructing il, sub
ject only to the rights Of use stipulated and
paid for by the Government.