A Low Estimate of Congressional Brains and Public Interest.
The alarm evidently felt and certainly shown that the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific were apt to be commonly considered and treated as being one concern, and not as distinct and separate things—incestuous and eager lovers instead of alien rivals and natural foes—conspirators rather than competitors—would be simply amusing were it less offensive and more in accordant vibration with the pulsations of common sense amongst a people not wholly fools. That it was thought possible to foster the idea and expand it into a belief, that Stanford, Huntington, the Crockers and Hopkins—Janus faced—looking northerly along monopoly lines, were the implacable enemies of the Crockers, Stanford, Hopkins and Huntington gazing along monopoly lines southerly; and that the interests of the government and the good of the people required the tender coddling of that nursling until it became strong enough to sit up and take nourishment in the shape of meaty millions of dollars, involves a sarcastic comment upon measured law makers and estimated victims. Yet the improbable becomes at times the possible and the actual.
Mark the plaintive wailing in the letters:
"On account of this legislation I think it important that the S. P. should be disconnected from the Central as much as it well can be." (No. 416. N. Y., Dec. 10, 1874.)
"Governor S. said some good things to the Chronicle interviewer; but I think it unfortunate that he should so closely connect the C. P. with the S. P., as that is the only weapon our enemies have to fight us with in Congress." (No. 590. N.Y., May 28, 1875.)
"If it was known that the C. P. does not control the S. P., I think we could beat (Scott) all the time." (No. 157. N. Y., April 27, 1876.)
"Stanford, Tom Scott and many others have been trying for so long to convince the country that the Central Pacific is building the S. P. that I am not able now to convince Congress that it is not true." (No. 24. N. Y., Dec. 25, 1876.)
"I have little or no fears of his (Scott) doing anything at the extra session, but if he can convince Congress that the S. P. is controlled by the C. P. * * * * I believe he can pass his bill to build on the direct line between Ft. Yuma and San Diego, and I think I know enough of Washington to know how he to can do it." (No. 268. N. Y., March 20, 1877.)
"His (Scott) strength all lies in one thing: The S. P. of Cal. is controlled by the C. P. and U. P.; and will be used only to help those great monopolies." (No. 276. N. Y., April 3, 1877.)
"What you say about our stopping at Ft. Yuma is well, and would be almost conclusive if the S. P. was not owned and controlled by the C. P.; but when we tell Congress we are willing to build this road, the answer is always the same: Of course you are to protect the Central, but what the country wants is a competing road." (No. 307. N. Y., May 17, 1877.)
"The fact is, he has nearly convinced the country that the C. P. is building the S. P. to prevent competition; and I find it very hard to It make them believe anything else." (No. 425. N. Y., Feb. 25, 1878.)