The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-05-24
OREGON RAILROAD.

OREGON IA LhUaDs
We earnestly call the attention OF
the public generally, add the press par
,iculory, 10 this great project 1t rs
prac,lcabIe; and If successfully prose-
cuted it will prove 10 be The srea'
les, work Of the age. We hope TO-
see, no, only our readers, but The whole
country, inspired with the interest
which shall secure the speedy compile
lion of this magnificent design. Inc
proyerb .sy. that where there 'sa will:
there is a way: and Of this case we ADD
,hs,. since there iss way, there ought
TO be viii. ~
Mr.. A. Whitney, gentleman wei,
acquainted with The Great Vest and
slsn with the trade of the Pac;hc lndl-
M Oceans, is The founder OF this great
project. He is one OF those whom The
million deride as visiouaries, because,
with their limited vision, they cannot
see those distant objects which sueh VS.
ionsries distinctly discern through the
telescope o! powerful, tar-seelng ln'e''
lsct Columbus was one of these Wis.
;onaries. He was derided for seeing a
continent three thousand miles ell, by
s.isal mar, Of his dsy. who
Congress, asking for giant of land
from Lake Michigan 10 The Missouri
river, a distance Of $50 miles, and from
that point TO the Pacific Ocean, l75C
niles,l nile vide on the whole distance,
thus containing about 80 millions OF
acres; The proceeds Of this land being
the fund Cor building the railroad. He
proposed The appointment Of commiss.
toner's by The Federal Government,wil
power to dispose Of such lands with his
consent, and 10 apply the proceeds OF
them 10 The road; the commissioners be-
ing unable 10 sell The land without his
consent, and he 10 apply the proceeds
withou, their consent, the two thus mu.
tnalIy controlling each other for The ben
eff, OF The pry CT. He estimates The
cos, OF lhs road q, $4,000 for each
mile, or about $50, 900 900 for the
whole. OF this amount, the lands be.
tween Lake Michigan and the Missouri,
rs millions Of acres, at The governmental
price ol 81 ,25, will supply about s3l,.
600, 600; and lhissum would build 1850
miles Of The road, leaving $50 miles Of
it 10 be built from the lands between the
hissolri aud the Pacific Ocean.
This distance, al The same rate, would
cost $4,000, 600, and these lands, about
s7,0o0,eo0 acres, a, the same prices,
would supply 1884 millions. But no
small portion Of The land between the
two points last mentioned are worth less
and another portion, though worth some
thing, are Gar inferior 10 the lands be.
iween Lake Michigan and The Missouri.
We must add that as the road proceeds
much Of The adjoining land will com.
mand moreIhan The governmental price.
Then we mus, consider lha, some por.
tlons Of the road will cost more than
$50, 900 tor The mile. Bot with all ad
diiions and deductions, we may estimate
thai from this grant The projectors may
build The road, and have surplus oil
S5,0oo,O00 for their pecuniary reward. |
probable combination IN their favor, the,
could no, expect greater surplus than
$4,000 600; and should they receive
100000 600, il would be as a grain Of
sand in compal ison with the benefits
conferred upon the country, aud through
ii upon The world, by their bold, com.
prehensive, Iarsigh'ed project
Tins memorial was referred, in the |
House, 10 The committee on Roads end |
Canals, who hough their chairman, Mr. |,
Robert Dale Owen, of lndlsnna, report.
ed that the project was worthy OF The
most serious attention, but that, as sufi.
cient time was not Then allowed for due
examination Of it, they could not recon.
mend sny immediate, specific action.
The Committee added that, while they
should not advise oyer-haSy action upon {
H. yet as The road should be construct.