Mr. HOWARD. In answer to the Senator's inquiry, I beg to say that so far as I am in formed by the company known as the eastern division, which is the Kansas branch, prOperly s calcing, it is their intention to form a Junetion with the main stem. It is their purpose to do so. I am not aware that they ever contemplated any departure from that principle, and do not think they ever have entertained such an intention. By the act of 1862 all these eastern branches of the main stem were required to unite with the main stem on the 100th degree of longitude. such was the elfect of the act of 1862 incorporating the Union Pacific Railroad Company. But by the act of 1864, amending the original charter of the company, it is provided that any of these branches may unite with the main stem at; point west of the 100th meridian, if they shall see fit to do so. In this connection I will call the Senator’s attention to the 9th section of the act of 1864. He will find it in the 2nd proviso contained in that section: “And provided farther, That any company authorized by this act to construct its road and telegraph linerfrom theMissouri river to theinitial point store SHK '“’ That is the 100th degree of longi tude“may construct its road and tele apli line so as to connectwith the Union Pacific radioed" that isthe main stem“ut any point westwardly of such initial point. in casesuch company shall deem such westward connection more practicableor desirable: and in aid of the construction ofso muchofits road and telegraph line as shall beadepurlure from the route licrcinbe fore irovided for its read, such company shall be cutited to all the benefitsand be subject to all the conditions andrestrictions of this act: Provided further. however.That the bonds of the U.S shall not be issued to such a.companyfor ugreater amount than is lltTulnbtrllirt! provided, if the same had united with the Union Pacific railroad mi the 100th degreeof longitude; nor shall such companybe entitled to recc'iycany greateramount of a.tomato sectionsof public lands than are also herein provided.” It will be seen from that that the privilege of making the junction at a point west of the 100th degree of longitude has been secured to all these companies for some 2 years past. Now, in regard to the Pacific rail 4 way, eastern division, it was required by the statute that that branch, known as the Kansas branch, should locate its route within a given period of time, which period has cla sod, and the object of the 1st section of this bill is simply to extend to that branch the right of locatin its route until the 1st of December next; lint the 1st section requires positively, in express terms, that the eastern division shall torm a junction with the main stem of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at some point not more than 50 miles west of the meridian of Denver. They are not, therefore, at liberty to extend their route to a point further west than 50 miles west of Denver without forming a junction with the main stem. Whether they will form a junction at that point, or east of that point, is not perfectly certain. It depends upon their interests, of course, at what point the y will form the junction; but they are required positively, by law, to form the junction, so that the eastern division may 0 crate at all times as a feeder to the main trun, the Union Pacific railroad proper. The 1st section, as amended, contains further language guarding against any uiisconstruction of existing statutes upon the subject. It declaresThat said company shall be entitled to only the same amount‘of the bonds of the U.S. to aid in the construction of their line of railroad and telegraphas the would have beenentitled to it they had connectedt cir said line with the Union Pacific railroad on the 100th degree of longitude. as now required by law. 1 So it gives to the eastern division, in reference to subsidies, precisely the same right. that it always has possessed, and no further rivhtnothin more. They will not be entitled to a dollar y way of subsidy for any part of their route west of the 100th degree of long gitude. The committee have been extremely careful so to word the bill as to save to the Government and the public that right. This explanation, I trust, will be satisfactory to my friendfrom Iowa, and ought, I respect fully submit, be satisfactory to the Senfrom Indiana.