Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-04-02
Number 10.
THE OREGON rERRlroRY, -IEr.

THE OREGON TERRITORY, - JEFF
PERSONS OPINIONS - RAIL ROADS AND
MAGNETIC TELEeRAPns HAVE ANNIuI-
LATED TIME.
Since the Wing papers have perceived
that their suggestions in favor OF an inde-
pendent nation in tho Oregon territory
meets with unqualified disfavor among tho
masses, they are now trying to screen
themselves behind the great nume of JEFF
ierson, whose wonderful power over his
countrymen is that grateful homage which
the people render to tho memory Of great
beneiactor.
1t seems, then, That Jefferson, in a pri.
vate conversation in 1918, (lwentysix
years since,) expressed the opinion That
though Oregon should be occupied by our
people and our institutions, il was so far
distant il would be- as well for us and them
that they should form distinct govern
ment. He is said 10 have remarked that
should we embrace the whole Of Oregon
in our coniederacy, "the extent would be
altogether too great for one government"
These may have been his opinions at that
time, but notions Of extent and distance
are entirely modified by radical change ia
intercommunication between the distant
sections of country. Such n change
has taken place. Railways and the loco
motive have completely overturned all OPT.
Mons Of the past, founded on the future.
II is well known that regions which wore
once great way of, are now very near.
Oregon is in 1915 no more distant than
the Missouri territory was in 1878. The
iron horse will perform his journey from
New York 10 the Columbia river in tho
space Of Ten days. While, in 1918, it
would take twice that time to go rs far as
Nebraska. Such is the extraordinary re-
volution which The introduction ofrailways
have exerted upon far-separated countries.
As vast as is the extent Of our country,
they draw our utmost limits together, as il
il wero but one State. II was but O few
years since that Buffalo was as distant from
New York as Wisconsin is now! In truth,
events are hourly proving that so long as
the sieamboa, and the railway march on
ward with our population, our coniederacy
cannot spread too far
But were we still limited 10 common
turnpikes, where the maximum speed Is
about five miles per hour, and which would
have made Oregon, even when I'll tho
country along the route is settled, al least
six weeks journey from the Atlantic States,
il might be another question whether our
confederacy would not then BIO too extend
ed; but the days Of turnpkes have passed
Even steamboats, are outstripped. Tho
iron horses which labor never wearies---
whose muscles never relax from burning
heat or intense cold--never FESTIVE under
the lash, but completely obedient 10 mans
willard almost with the certainty Of the
sun itself, runs his twenty miles per hour,
both night and day, is now the ruling spirit
Of the age. II 10 his untring race which
makes thousands of miles seem as 60 ma
ny hundreds. Distance is thus modified
by improvements since 1918, which then
did not enter even the far.reaching mind
Of Jefferson.
In 1925, the celebrated South Pass Of
the Rocky Mountains was first discover
ed, along which wheeled carriage possed
over the mountains or rather through this
gorge, TO the Columbia river. This dis
covery, unknown in 1918, is Of no orJin-
airy importance, as II is now considered
the feasible route for railway from the
Atlantic to the Pacific The route OF Lew
10 and Clark, over the Rocky Mountains,
was 80 rugged and really terrific, that to
those unacquainted with any other road,
il must have seemed as if nature had plac-
ed an nsurmountabe barrier between the
plains Of Missouri and Oregon.
Still later, and more wonderful. we have
the magnetic telegraph, which, ID the light.
ning-like velocity Of its communication,
passes even all dreams Of The past When
established, as in time il osaurcdly viii Sc,
between New York and the Ororon, dai-
ly, the dwellers on the Hudson VIII 9th.
er around the telegraph stations to bear
the daily business and news Of their breth.
rem, 5000 miles distant, on the shores Of
the Pacific. Who will then say that Orc
gDn is too far distant 10 be included within
the Union Of our confederacy7 That fhese
will be realities in time, who can doubt
who has followed the advance Of The paste
Buffalo is now within eighteen hours jour
ney Of Albany--whereas but ten years
since /. took five times that space.
Science has not yet developed It's full
treasures. As-man seeks her depths, he
finds more and more Of that practical wis
dom which enlarges his power over matter.
As great as the Improvements have
been during the las. twenty-five years,
who can say that we have reached the
limiis2 In this country 30 miles per hour
is the maximum Of railroad speed. In
England i is go. win not these rates be
introduced 10 our coun,ryi Most assur.
cdly they will. lie who thinks otherwise