Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-06-24
r A DAD TO ECON.
To the People Of the United States.

s,ruct railroad from Lake Mich GIN to the
Pacific Ocean, action thereon Except
report by the Committee on Roads and
Canals, recommending its importance to the
serious consideration Of the next Congress
and TO the People, having been prevented
by the hurry of business and shortness Of
time, induces me to come before you with a
declaration and explanation of the plan by
which | propose through you to carry into
effect this great work In the first place it
is my desire TO call your attention particularly
TO the Memorial here annexed, and also TO
the Report from the Committee on Roads
and Canals, you will! there see that ask 70;
GO miles wide Of land from the Lake to the
Pacific Ocean. You will also see explained
some of the great results TO be produced
from this work. You Will see that it will
change the whole world, and you will see
that each one and all Of you have the power
without cost or price, 10 do more than all
mankind before you have done. The lands
which ask are yours all | ask is yours and
yours TO give. | ask il not for myself, but
| ask it for you, that you may by your
simple assent do that which shall be handed
down 10 the remoest period of time, as the
greatest, and most magnificent work Of all
ages and Of all time. A work which will
bring the vast world together as one nation,
one family work which shall allow US TO
traverse the vast globe in 80 days; work that
must civilize and christianze all mankind !:
work which must place us in the centre of
The vast world Europe on the one side,
and Asia and Africa on the other, compelling
| III Europe TO pass through us to Asia and
Africa 4; irnuen ing all mankind, bringing
under our glourious and happy influence of
| freedom and independence. ask it for
! you, for your children, and for the world.
lsk it that our destiny as nation may be
accomplished For myself, tender my
efforts and all my life, and ask to be made
your instrument in the hands Of Providence
for this great, this mighty work. And where
is the man who will not raise his full voice
and ely aloud. ii shall be done.
| ask you, through your representatives in
Congress. 10 grant TO me 60 miles wide of
the public domain from Lake Michigan TO
the Pacific Ocean, the proceeds and avails
of which to be applied exclusively TO the
building and completing the said road; after
which all the surplus land belong TO me as
reward for the work. And in order fully
to attain such object would have commiss-
toner's appointed, as our Judges now are,
whose duty it shall be to dispose of such
lands with my consent, they holding the
avai.s thereof, subject only to the building
of the said road, responsible and bound to
I report to euch Congress, they not having
power to dispose of the lands without my
consent, thus being check upon each
other.
Having friends who have offered means
which think adequate TO the commence
ment of the work, and believing that It's
commencement will draw to it so much en-
terprse that it cannot fail of success, gives
me full confidence From Lake Michigan,
were purpose commencing the road, 10 The
Missouri river, distance of about 60 miles
making about 20 millions of acres through
which, learn from good authority, that a
road can be built with great facility. | also
learn that the land is all good, and would
be likely to settle quite as fast as the, road
can be built : that The road will !acilrdrc the
sale and settlement cannot be doubted.
estimate that The road will cost about
$4,000 per mile for It's complete construc-
OCO, GOO, the % millions of acres a, 81 IA
, the government price would amount 10 S3l :
leaving surplus of 100000, or equal
to build 900 miles beyond the Missouri
river. From all accounts of those who have
passed over the country, the lands for some
distance beyond the mountains are very
=, poor, not producing enough to sustain ami
: mails, generally covered with n wild sage
! and nothing else, therefore but little could
be realized from them. The lands from the
Lake TO the Missouri providing for 1850
will leave $50 miles TO provide for out oil
the poor lands from The Missouri TO beyond
the mountains, and what good lands there
may be betwscu the mountains and the
oCaan.
The estimated cos, of the road is 500.
100000, and not producing any returns til
its full completion, would require Is ,000,-
900 more TO keepit IN repair and operation
learn from Capt. Fremont (who has
passed the mountains to the Pacific twice
and whose report is 10 be published by orde
of Congress) that to build a railroad through
T. to the Pacific is not only feasible, but offer:
more favorable route than any we have
known or read Of on any part of the globe
that the route from the Missouri 10 The
, Ocean can be built on grade of abou
} seven feet TO the mile, so that i: woulc
o seem that nature has given it 10 US for TIL:
: very purpose
Considering the poor quality of the land.
from the Missouri onward for long distance
and considering the magnitude of the en-
terprise, do not consider that have asked
too much. The value of the lands from tho
lake 10 the Missouri and their undoubted in
: crease of value from the building of the
road through them, their avails, all of which
10 be applied TO its continuance, | consider
sufficient guarantee TO The government
that the road will be completed.
1t is my intention 10 pass over, examine
and partially survey or 500 miles of the
route this summer, SO as 10 be prepared for
the next Congress.
The reasons for commencing from Lake
Michigan are many and obvious. First, as
the road is to be built from the lands IT is
necessary to commence at point nearest 10