The New York herald., 1845-11-09

We have received printed letter from the Hon
9. A. Douglass TO A. Whitney, Esq, OF this city,
dated Quincy, Illinois, Oct. 10Th, 1885, relating To
the project OF Mr.. Whitney Tor railroad through
Oregon to, the Pacific Ocean
This Is a curious and very interesting document
containing good deal of sound sense and ph,loso-
ply. We have no doubt the time will come when
some plan will be adopted for a continuous line Of
railroads from the Atlantic TO the Pacific Ocean
The plan OF MIR. Whitney. and the substitute OF
Mr.. Douglass, are now both before the public and
others will, no doubt, be submitted to the next
Congress- for their consideration aud action
We have made the following abstract OF the letter
Tor the benefit OF our readers Mr. Douglass after
referring to the proposed line of railroad through
Upper Canada to Detroit where it will with the
Central Railroad of Michigan, the peninsula
in the direction of Chicago, and the steps recently
taken to ensure the completion of the New York AMI
Erie Railroad which will strike the Lake point near
the Pennsylvana line and connect with the Boston
foriand line at New York these roads may also be
continued to Chicago and thence to the Mississippi
The first objection therefore, to Mr.. Whitney's plan
natural and direct one from Chicago 10 the south
Pass of the Rocky Mountains.
MIR. Douglass next passes to the means proposed by
Mr. Whitney for carrying into effect his views, and men
uons-lst, his demand for grant OF land, sixty miles
Wlue ana stretching from Lake Michigan to the Pacific
Ocean. This grant would amount to one hundred
and fortyfo thousand square miles acres
The cost Of the road is estimated at $50 100000 to which
$5o00 600 is added for repairs making total expendi
ture Of S65,O00,OO0. TO meet this sum- Mr.. Whitney
asks for 92 600 of land which ono dollar and
twenty five cents would make $ll5 900 600 De-
Quoting from this sum Says MIR. Dougass the S65 O0O
600, which You estimate as the aggregate cost of
structon and repairs, and you have the snug little sum
$50 200 900, your individual profits to Compensate
you for your time and trouble in experimenting the
work He is therefore, of opinion that the sch eme is
too magnihcenthe trust too greatthe grant of lands
too extensive and the the rights and interests
of the people, states territories and government too
monsrous to be confded to any citizen matter how
virtuous, enlightened and patriotic" Besides MIR
Douglass thinks the plan is not feasible it would he
difficult to obtain this immense grant OF land from Con
gress and secondly the of the States
and territories through which it would extend to the
establishment OF such tremendous engine of power
within Their limits But passing over these obstacles, he
does not think Mr. Whitney would be able construct
the road Besides it is proposed to withhold the lands
granted from sale settlement for the present-to raise
the money to complete the work the pledge of the
lands and as tn, work progresses, make sales the
line of that part which shall have been completed pay
the interest previous loans and obtain con
tnuing operations. The effect of this would be to post
pone the pcoplng of the countryto exclude all inhabi
tans and mprov within thirty miles of the route
on either side and to keep the whole line savage will
derness until the road should have been constructed
Mr. Douglass proposes, therefore, substitute for Mr.
Whitneys the Oregon territory be established
extending from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific.
That the territory OF Nebraska be established, extend
ing from the western borders Of Iowa and Missouri
Oregon That the route Of the proposed railroad be
the Ohio to the Pacific That Congress grant to each
OF the Territories, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oregon
reasonable distance on each side of the line the road
and also to the States through which the route
grants public lands All grants to be made the
press condition. that the proceeds be applied to the
sruction of the road; and Also the further condition.
ton, that the United States mails troops supplies and
munitions of war; snail be forever transported said
road free ofcharge These the principal features of
the proposition of Mr. Douglass He adds The line of
the road being located the of eigrant would
TO low its course from the desire to settle in its vicinity
and avail themselves of the advantages of the appreo
ton of the land in value and the facilities it would pre-
sent for markets All the lands would be taken
up and improved and thus would soon have CONT
line of settlements from the Mississippi to the Pa
cfc whose interests and would alike call for
the construction of the road.