Year: 1874

If we can't have a railway, we can talk and write about one, and possibly strengthen our hopes or awaken new ones. In the States people generally expect a man from Arizona to tell them just when the railroad across our Territory will be completed. and people here look to those abroad for light on the subject. Col. T. A. Scott is supposed to know most about the enterprise, and he has lately been sound Ing Congress for aid if not information, and decided that it was best not to present any measure for assistance at present. The company has decided to build and equip, this year, ninety miles of road on the eastern end. It is not certain that any Of the road will be put in operation from San Diego eastward this year, although the company's charter requires that cer- tain amount shall be annually built from that place.

 President Scott believes the next session of Congress willcomply with his request to guarantee the payment of interest on the company's bonds and thereby enable him to procure money and push the work with rapidity. The next session will be com posed of the same members as the one just closed. but it will meet after an elec- tion for Congressmen in all the States save California. Members defeated in the eiec- ton for the next Congress will take their seats in the ensuing short session willing to vote for almost anything, having before been careful to not vote assistance to rail- ways and, notwithstanding, the people re- fused them reelection. Then many mem- bers who are reelected will favor Scott's moderate demands because they are just and safe to the government, and also be- cause another congressional election will not occur until November 1876; and by that time the insane opposition to proper aid to great public enterprises, will have spent its force; and very likely it will then be as popular to reasonably promote the construction of needed railways as it is now unpopular. The press of the nation has aroused demagogic war upon rail- ways generally, so that just now Congress- men will not vote aid nor will capitalists invest their cash in such enterprises. It is a matter of fact that with but rare excep- tions, men who have furnished the money to build and equip nearly all the roads of the west and northwest. have never re- ceived a dollar in return. In reply to this, 1t will not do to say that the earnings have mostly been squandered or embedded by the managers, for they have been mainly expended in the construction of branch lines demanded by the press and people, and depots and other improvements nec- essary to an enlarged business. Heavy capitalists are willing to invest with view to profits, many years ahead, but not with view of permitting others to so reg ulate their business as to destroy all hope of present or future gains upon their in- vestments. The people are beginning to realize this, and in year or two, we may expect healthy public sentiment both regarding inst aid to construct railways and the management of them after con- structiOn. We have reason to believe Col. Scott is strong in the belief that his com pany will build the Texas and Pacific, and that our people have more to hope from him than from any other railway builder.

 Since the above was put in type, our Washington dispatches were received, which shows that some unexpectedly fa- vOrable legislation has just passed Con- gresS in behalf of our railway. The read Or is referred to the dispatches for particu- lars.