The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-12 00:00:00

THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC LINE.

The United States Senate Committee has reported on
the practicability of this great project, from the Pacific
Coast to the borders of the Great Lakes. Discussing it
under twelve different heads, the Committee say :
" The proposition is a startling one, and of vast import-
ance to our country, and to the world: a deliberate con-
sideration of which naturally resolves itself into several
points, seeming in the opinion of the Committee, to claim
attention in the following order:-1. The power of Con-
gress over the entire subject in all its bearings. 2. The
practicability of the proposed work. 3. The adequacy
of the means proposed for its accomplishment, and the
expediency of applying such means to its object. 4.
The effect of its construction in bringing into demand
the public lands in any part of the country. 5. Its effects
in extending and promoting the interests of agriculture.
6. Its effect in the support and as a ,means of enlarging
and diversifying the manufactures of the country. 7.
Its effect in the development of the mineral resources of
the country. 8. Its effect as one of the great arteries of
intercourse in extending the internal trade and commerce
of the whole country. 9. Its effect in extending our
commerce with China and other countries of Asia, the
eastern archipelago, and other islands of the Pacific, and
with the counties on the western coast of North and
South America. 10. Its consequences in fostering the
whale and other fisheries in the Pacific, the bays and
rivers thereof ; in extending and protecting the mercan-
tile marine in those seas; and thus forming the most 'ex-
tensive nursery of seamen, and strengthening the mari-
time power of the United states. 11. Its use as a great
highway of nations, serving for purposes of travel and
transportation at rates of charge and transient duties, to
be regulated by ourselves, being in all respects subject to
our power and control, encouraging constant intercourse,
and imparting to the citizens of other countries the libe-
ral principles of our own Government. 12. And lastly,
the effect that would be produced in a moral, political,
and military point of view to the American Union by the
, construction of a railroad across the continent to the
shores of the Pacific."

All these points are argued in favour of the project,
and of the feasibility, practicability, and vast importance
I of the work to America as a nation, and to the whole
world. The report exhibits the statistics of the entire
commerce, and the tonnage employed therein with Asia,
China, &c., which would pass over the road, an aggre-
. gate of imports and exports now annually of nearly
250,000,000 dolls., employing 2,197 ships of 898,583 tons,
and 50,000 men. The Committee estimate that the rail-
road would save the use of one-half the above tonnage,
a saving in capital of 30,493,613 dolls., and a yearly
saving of interest and expenses of 18,766,736, which
would force this vast commerce over the proposed road.
It also appears that with this road, and with steamers
from England hither, and from Oregon to China, the
voyage from England to Chang-hae, in China, the mouth
of the river Yang-tse-keang, which crosses the great
canal to Pekin, where all the commerce of that vast em-
pire [of 500,000,000 of souls] centres, can be performed
in 31 days, and
,thus it appears that this great work
would, at the rate of 30 miles per hour for railroad,
bring our vast country together at the centre in
two days and the entire world in a little
more than 25 days. The calculations are founded on
fact, without experiment or speculation, and on the
known performances of railroads and steamers. The
report shows an intimate knowledge of the position of
China, of Japan, and all Asia, its proximity to America,
its geographical and commercial position, advantages,
and resources, all sloping to America, and all the great
rivers, particularly of China, emptying into the ocean
directly opposite Oregon, and but little more distant
than London from New York. The most tranquil ocean,
with fair winds either way across.
The report says:—" The Committee are of opinion
that, no matter in what aspect this great subject is
viewed, it commends itself to favour. Its influence upon
Oregon itself, upon the commerce of the Pacific, our
trade with China, India, and the distant and rich islands
of the sea, and upon our export trade—the product of
that vast calcareous: basin of the Mississipi of 1,200,000
square miles, to be carried on this road to and through
that ocean, from which we are now cut off by an expanse
of sea, by the capes equal to half the circumference of
the globe—cannot be estimated. The Committee believe
that the present is an auspicious moment at which to
commence this work ; and upon the announcement of
the fact, that the project has received the favourable no-
tice of Congress, the energies of our people will be roused
to new life. It is not a party measure, but one on which
the politician of every hue and creed can cordially unite;
one which will strengthen the bonds of our union, allay
sectional jealousies, and arouse a proud national feeling.
We have within ourselves all the materials and all the
means necessary for its accomplishment, and it rests with
Congress to say whether or not these materials and
these means shall be employed ; whether the enterprise
is one of sufficient importance to justify setting apart
one-tenth of the public lands now valueless, to its accom-
plishment. The Committee will not anticipate, but can-
not doubt the decision. When it is considered the
United States claims to own more than 1,000,000,000
acres of unsettled lands, the amount proposed to be ap-
priated, for the road is not one-tenth of the whole quan-
tity ; the nine-tenths to be enhanced in value by the
road to an amount certainly equal to the value of the
quantity proposed to be appropriated. In fact, the great
residuum will derive nearly all its value from the road,
for, situated as they are, without the road they will not
sell for a century to come, if ever. The question of the
policy of making it is far different from what it would
be if the lands through which it passed were individual
property. They are the property of the nation, and if
their value be enhanced by any artificial channels of
trade, the advantages accrues to the nation—to the Go-
vernment first, and then to every citizen. Its effects,
however, upon the property of individuals, and on the
western States particularly, will be vastly beneficial.
The lands within them would be enhanced at least
25 cents. an acre, which, applied to the whole mass of
acres within them, would amount to more millions than
the road will cost. Besides this, it will give to these
States the same advantages, by means of the trans-
Pacific trade, which will flow this channel, that
the trans-Atlantic trade gives to the Eastern
portion of our union. It is this which makes the poor
lands of the Atlantic slope sell for fifty dollars or more
per acre, inferior as they are in every respect to those of
the western states. The means proposed to be devoted
to it are vast it is true, but the Committee think not in
disproportion to the grand and magnificent object to be
accomplished by their proper application. In view, then,
or all the premises and of all the anticipated results to
flow from the undertaking, if accomplished, the Commit-
tee cannot refrain from recommending it to the attentive
consideration of the national Legislature, and of the
country at large. By the aid of a small portion of the
public lands the Committee believe the United States can
possess a channel of speedy and safe communication,
through which will pour in a continued, rich, and fertilis-
ing stream, a large portion of the commerce of the orien •
tal world."—Thus it will be seen that this vast and mag-
nificent project, laughed at by many as visionary mad-
ness, has received the sanction of a Committee of the
United States.