Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-02-15


We understand that . magnificent project 10
soon 10 be submitted to the attention Of Con.
gress by Mr.. hitney, distinguished merchant
of this city The Washington correspondent Of
the Philadelphia Ledger furnishes the following
statement in regard to the subject: eg1
The enterprise contemplates the construction
Of railroad from the western shore Of Lake
Michigan, in direct line through 10 the Col.
umbia River, covering distance Of some 2i00
miles, which shall be the polrt Of deharkaticn
for China. U4 s8s5sss.
i. The cost Of the road, when completef, Is esti,
mated at fifty millions Of dollars, and twenty,
five years would be required 10 perfect the
scheme. Eight days would be about the travel
ling time from New York city 10 the terminus
ployed, some twenty-five more ,wonld convey
one 10 Amboy, in China; 81. that BY this short
cut, journey across the globe might be accom-.
plished within the narrow limits Of . single
month. As8
BY the establishment OF this meaas Of eonnn-
CSnsss. s sss.. ss .nsslsd % command TIE
with South America, Mexico, India and other
parts. sstN
Aud in addition to the vast results that~ould
necessarily ensue from such work, by the
force Of circumstances, we should sscrre the
transportation Of the English trade, on account
of the great shortening Of time. The shortest
voyage on record bslween England and China
was made in eighty five days, md the basssSes
average nearly four months. Adopting ths pre-
misses Iaii down, a cargo might be shipped from
China via the United States, and landed at the
Liverpool docks within fifty days.
The long discussed project ,ofthe English
Government, for constructing railroad across
the Is,hmus of Saez will IN all probability b.
abandoned, inasmuch As II wou not shorten the
istance 9f the overland route 10 China, and on.
dylessen the time Of communication some twen-
lty-two hours, whics would notrec ompense the
heavy outlay that would bs necessary. Eng
land has then no means Of euutailng the route,
to China, bat through Russia, which. from The
nature Of TIE climate and soil, would Al leass ~
questionable enterprise, were there not tAs
insupcrable difficulty Of obtaining the assent Of
Russia, and the jealousy or the increase OF Brit.
ish power and dominion. Ntccssity wo0ld tAas
compel England to follow in our track, ~ be-
ing the most expeditions and eertaia, asa to EN-
ploy our railroads and vessels ios transporting
her commerce; % else she would " driven fssn
the richest and most uaiimi,sd maskst sf tAs
world. .e 4. 49,
An the co-opersiol and assistance that Mr..
Whitney asks of the Government, u grant or
sixty miles wade or the pablic land, from ons
terminus Of the Contemplated road to the other,
for which, .iuil consideration would hs given
in carryiAg the mails and ,ranspSi,ing anuuni-
ton, ores, soldiers, and all public matters, free
OF co st
S,ch 10 . general sNd imperfect outline of tAis
Vas. and comprehensive scheme. So far ss the
destiny Of our county 10 concerned and the per.
petnity CT free Institutes Is 70 be regsrded the
Accomp ishment Of such work would DO more
to elevate the first and 10 rivet The other. thsa
the united efforts Of our whole people frra CEN
tury to come. II wou!d not cny give q The
command, but place W 6ve hundred years Ia u.
vance Of the civilized world, With the various
resources Of science, genius, energy and intel
lect that would be evoked under it, operation
i With the arms 1f bold and eiltfrrsizlDg pro.
pie like ours, stretching from ocean 10 ocean,
and weeks journey from one shore % the
other, with sufficient Navy 10 the Atlantic pnd
Pacific, and tie gree, mar ,sts of TIE wevl4 "a
vising u to enter, with the facility of procuring
} Information from India asd Chins sixty days Ia
advance Or al that psrt Of Europa. wbssh con-
petes with our trade and manufactures, what -
ton on The face 81 The earth hss the pcwer q
! resist our onward marehs Ard Who u ihsss
rash enough to prssc iibs ths boundasiss y Ass-
.esn power o - nsesars ~ Isa1te ~ -
ssstisy. ~ saVi