The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-04 00:00:00

TELEGRAPH TO THE PACIFIC.

A memorial was recently presented to the United
States Senate, asking for a grant of 1,000,000 acres
of land, to be located along the line of a telegraph which
the memorialists propose to build between St. Louis and
San Francisco, by the way of the Salt Lake City. We have
seen the plan and estimates of the above project, and are
acquainted with the individuals who aro engaged in the
enterprise, as well as with their means, and feel convinced
that not only is the plan pertcctly feasible, and the best
that could bo devised, but also that the projectors have
the adequate funds, and aro the wily men to put it
through.
The projectors contemplate the construction of a subter-
ranean line, with testing tubes every five, and working
stations every one hundred miles throughout the route.
The distance from St. Louis to San Francisco by the
way of Salt Lake City, being about 2,400 miles, there
will eonsequently be twenty-four of these stations on
the route, each settled by several families, furnish-
ing • nucleus for so many towns at no distant
day, and serving, front the first day of their occupation, as
halting places for the innumerable caravans of emigrants
that are constantly traversing the great prairies of the West
between St. Louts and the shores of the Pacific '1 he ad-
vantages of the undertaking, even from this point of view,
san hardly be over-estimated. But it will also open to the
market an almost unlimited amount of land along the line
of the proposed grant, which is now lying waste, and trod-
den only by the foot of the Indian in pursuit of game, or
the hoof of the buffalo, and thus be the means of adding a
large sum to the revenues of the country. The memorial-
ist. propose to give to the government in return for the
grant the right for ever to transmit, free of charge, over
their line, all official despatches and communicatioes, with
a preferenee over ell others ; and they stipulate, in addi-
tion, that if they or their assigns shall, at any time after
the line is opened, cease to operate it for the space of six
months, said line, with all its appurtenances, shall be for-
feited to the government.

The projectors of this vast enterprise ask for no money,
but simply for a grant of land—land which at present is
worth nothing, and probably will not he for a century to
come, except through the agency of this, or of some similar
undertaking. And this boon is asked for on conditions and
stipulations that make it not only safe to grant it, but, in
view of all the accruing immediate and prospective advan-
tages, absolutely a profitable investment for government.
Among thus advantages, that of having at all times, but
especially in ems of war, • channel of instantaneous com-
munication betweon the Atlantic seaboard and the shores
of the Pacific, is too obvious to need an argument, and its
importance is too great to be measured by the value of a
few agree of worthless land. To the merchant and business
man—to every one who has business or friends in California
or Oregon, its importance will be equally obvious.
The mode of construction of the proposed line will give
to it a permanence, a comparative exemption from inter-
ruption, aed an efficiency, at all times and in all weathers,
that eau be attained in no other way. The men who are
ready to build it, and risk their money on its suttees, are
no theorists, but practical men, who are already engaged
in the telegraphic businesa, and thoroughly acquainted
with its operation., as well as its pecuniary affairs ; and
having counted the cost carefully and closely, they are
willing to risk their own fortunes and reputations on the
resell.

It is hoped that Congress will look favourably on the
petitions of the memortdivrs, Messrs. 11. 0. Alden and
lames Eddy, and if consistent with their duty, grant the
prayer of their memorial.
' A telegraph to San Francisco, and that in the briefest
possible period, is greatly to be desired ; but if government
aid is ti) be given, we hope it will be afforded in civil) in-
stead of land. Let Congress vote whatever money may be
necessary, securing a euzetantial and cheap telegraph; but
let them avoid grants of land and land monopolies of all
shades.—New Turk Tribune.

ROYAL MATERNITY CllAßlTY.—Yesterday the
annual general meeting of the governors of this charity was
held at the London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the
committee's report and the financial statement of the audi-
tors, and for the election of its governing officers; Mr S.C.
Norris in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting
having been read and confirmed, the Secretary brought
forward the report, which stated that during the past
year the accoucheurs and midwives of the charity had
attended to 2,378 deliveries, attended by few casualties;
that the area of the districts had been modified, and Dr. S.
Griffith, of St. Thomas's llosp;tal had been appointed phy-
sician to that south of the Thames, and that seven ac-
couclaeur surgeons had retired from the charity. The in-
come for the year wee 1,4561. 16e. 7d., and the expenditure
was 1,1321. 13s. Bd., leaviug in hand a balaneeof 3041.0c10d.
This report was received and adopted. Three surgeons
were elected aecoucheurs of the charity without salary ; the
committeo and other officers were then elected, and the
proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair-
MBA.