The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-24

Spanish traders, leads to the Rocky mountains, and
terminates very nearly with the southern pass oil the
mountains through which is contemplated to carry
il to the Columbia river. The information which
have very often received from hunters and uappers
who have long been in the mountain trade, is, that
the route is pretty direct and generally nearly grad
ual rise, and that a journey thither can DC made
without crossing running water. If my nforma-
ton is true, land, from the sources have obtained
it, verify believe il isl there would be an immense
saving in grading, bridge embankmcnts, &c. The
starting, point TO which alude is at st. Geneveve
Missouri, where ridge of the Ozark mountains
reaches to the Mississippi river--being about 1fO
miles above the mouth of the Ohio and about 90 below
st. Louis; terminus from whence we have water
communication TO all the world all The year. In adj
dtion to this, the route the whole distance to
the mountain is on mild parallel of latitude, on
which the snow or ice will never obstruct the ope
rations on the road. To begin at Chicago, the route
Tor 900 miles or more, (the way he proposes
would be for months in the winter liable to be
very much INSTRUCTED by snow; and when arrived
at Chicago there are at least four months IN every
year. and in many six, that all nature there would
be held in The firm embrace of the ice and
snow, and no natural communication with any
other part of the Union. Adopting the beginning
which | have indicated, you would so directly
through the great iron, lead, and copper region OF
Missouri, passing near the celebrated iron wonder
the iron mountain and then would arrive at the
Mississippi river at point below all distractions oil
either ice or low water; from whence communica-
ton can at all times and seasons, be had with all
the world, as channels of communication by steam
are already established; while it will be very few
years before the great Baltimore railroad will reach the
Ohio and perhaps ST. Louis, by one branch, and
that another will be extended from Harper's Ferry
to Nashville, Tennessee, and from that to the mouth
Of the Ohio; which route will be tapped several
tmes--twice from Richmond, at Rockingham,
near Fncastle, Virginia; and another from North
Carolina, near Knoxville; and also at Nashville,
from South Carolina. And then, the late conven-
ton at Memphis will so frame public opinion, that
railroad from Charleston to that place will be the
result. All these things, however some may be now
disposed to think them chimercal, twenty years will
see completed, to afford not only steam power
TO transport all East India freight that may arrive
on the bank ofthe Father Of Rivers the Rocky
mountains, but to all parts Of the world. These
railroads have suggested will inevitably be built
in the time mention, which will carry to all the
principal points Of our Atlantic coast, nearly in
direct line, the teas, silks, and other East India
goods, designed not only for the American market,
but all Europe, at the rate of 80 miles every hour
BY thus beginning the great railroad, you short
en- its length, and place its benefits within the equal
reach Of all parts of the Union; and by this, ma
king it, indeed, great national work.
Why cannot the several States fthey will soon be
thirty in number) and the national government
make joint stock OF Its expense and make 1t
among and for themselves? Let the United States
the States the other two-thrds three-fourths and
let the United States pledge the proceeds Of the sales
of the public lands within siriy miles each side of the
road for its whole distance, for repayment of its own
advancements, as well as those of the States; and
when il is made, let the proceeds Of the road be ap
piled 10 the same purposes the States taking pro-
portions Of the cost upon themselves, in proportion
to their population, and having the same share in
the control and management Of the road.
In haste have put down the above suggestions,
because, being a western man, Of course feel in
tercsed in all that Immediately concerns the West.
The proposition skecbed above will be decidedly
more beneficial TO the Atlantic States and Cities than
it possibly be TO any of those in the West. To
the nalon, however, the advantages Of such road
cannot now be yet properly estimated. propose you
put these remarks in your paper to invite discussion
the subject that is all that is wanted TO insure its
construction in some way other. Let it be COM
pleted, and our Atlantic cities would become the
centre of the whole commerce Of the world; and,
with the railroad accession which this road would
insure, as have suggested, the wheat, pork, beef
and potatoes Of interior agricultursts would at
once be brought within ten or twelve days of a
European market
A WESTERN MAN.
Is@We publish the above communication, as we
have done others the same subject without moot
ing at this time the question about the power Of the
federal government TO engage in such an enterprise.