THE NEW BILL. 271 
immediately be of infinite service to the Government, by 
settling the Indian question, by adding to the taxable wealth 
of the nation, and by increasing to an enormous extent the 
yield of precious metals. 
_ The Bill returned this spring to Congress from the Senate 
Committee proposes, by its comprehensiveness, to dispose 
y of the Pacific Railroad question. Its opponents call it 
“ Pacific Omnibus Bill,” others stigmatise it as ‘the great 
road job.” It seems, however, to an unprejudiced 
} relation to the development of its vast territories, and forms 
another convincing proof of the wonderful success obtained 
y railroad extension as a means of colonization. 
No less than seven railway companies are recommended for 
ubsidy in the Bill, representing a combined length of rail- 
road exceeding 4,570 miles. 
Computed Miles.* 
66 > 
The Northern Pacific Railroad 1,770 
The Atlantic and Pacific . : 640 
The Little Rock and Fort Smith . 160 
The Kansas Pacific -. «+ > 400 
The United States’ Southern Pacific 650 
The Southern Pacific of Californi . : . oe 
The Oregon Branch of the Contral a ee 
_ These, however, only represent different sections of the 
| three great routes which have been described. The Atlantic 
"and Pacific, and the Little Rock and Fort Smith are to form 
| a continuous line, uniting the railways of the Southern States 
with the trunk line of the 35th parallel, and to meet the 
{ Kansas Pacific at a point east of the Rio Grande in New 
| Mexico, where both are to unite their forees in building the 
| United States’ Southern Pacific. 
| Again, the Southern Pacific of California is to construct 
* These distances are exclusive of any sections of line already built. 
