Year: 1874

In yesterdays issue of THE HERALD
we published an article from that val
liable journal, the Jefferson Daily Dem
ocrat, on the subject of the Texas and
Pacific railroad, and the project to be
presented to the Federal Congress for
its encouragement.


This is a subject to which we have
given much thought, and in which we
are assured Of the great interest that
should be manifested in its behalf by
the entire country, North, South, East
and West. OF all the projects that
have engaged the attention of those
who feel an interest in promoting the
commercial wants of the entire coun-
try, of fostering and encouraging the
hitherto depressed and languishing in
terests of the Southern States, and of
promoting the feelings of sympathy
and common brotherhood that should
exist and bind together every section
of our country, we know of no question
so likely TO meet all these ends as the
one giving national aid and encourage
ment to this truly great work.


ls The first question presenting itself
for consideration is the propriety of
extending this aid, and the next is, can
it be done in manner that will an
swer the object in view, without em-
barrassment to the financial interests
of the government; in other words, can
Congress extend encouragement to the
work without incurring liabilities that
will require increased burdens in the
way of taxation, or drain upon other
resources? If these two propositions
can besucccssfully answered in the af-
nrmative, then it becomes the duty of
all classes of the people in every Sec
tion of our widely extended territory to
promote the project and act in concert
in securing its success, duty devolving
alike upon the agricultural, manufac-
turing, commercial and laboring in
terests, and calling upon the represen-
tatives in Congress of these several
classes to sustain and prom ote it.


In answer to the first proposition, it
is only necessary to call attention to
the fact of the shortness and direct
ness of this line, connecting the ports
of the Gulf and Atlantic waters and the
great centers of trade on the Missis-
sippi with the Pacific; the cheapness
of construction and economy of keep
ing in repair this line, and its exemp-
ton from interruption on account of
the severity of seasons. 1t is Inot de-
MED that the present and growing
wants of commerce between the At
lantic and Pacific coasts, and the de-
mands of European travel and COM
merce across the continent, require
other than the present means of trans
portation. This overland travel and
commerce is now only i'm its infancy;
its present wants cannot adequately be
responded to by the California Central
and Union Pacific line; it is rapidly
increasing; there is want of competi-
ton and actual necessity for other
means of transportation. Independent
of these pressing considerations, the
wants of the general government, in
transporting the mails, in supplying a
long line of military posts, and in
affording the most effectual means OF
successfully defending the most widely
extended and exposed part of the
American frontier from Indian depra-
tions, as well as developing the i'm.
mense resources of Texas, New Mexico
Arizona and Southern California, and
bringing at once into actual develop
ment the wealth of these sections in
agricultural, mineral and meat pro
ductions, without bringing to view
other considerations of equal impor
tance, all go to show the propriety o
the measure.


Such being a correct view OF the pro
priety as well as necessity of this
project, the inquiry arises, can thu
Federal government extend furthel
aid than the donation of lands already
given, to bring this to an early com
pletion? If it can be done without
embarrassment TO the finances-with
out creating new burdens or drawing
further upon the resources of the gov
ernment-we think wisdom and tru'
statezmanship require iaat it shouil
be done.


BY extraordinary energy, and unds