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

OREGON RAILROAD.

We earnestly call the attention oil
the public generally, and The press par
,icuarly, to this great project. 1t Is
practicable; and If successfully prose-
cuted it will prove 10 be The gres.
test work Of the age. We hope 10
see, not only our readers, but The whole
country, Inspired with the interest
which shall secure the speedy compile
lion Of this magnificent design. The
proverb ,sys tina, where there is will.
there is way: and Of this case we add
that, since there is way, there ought
10 be will.
Mr. A. Whitney, a gentleman well
acquainted with the Great Nesl,' and
also with the iIade Of the Pacific Indl-
en- Oceans. is The founder of this grea
project. He is one of those whom the
million deride as visionsries, because,
with their limited vision, they cannot
see those distant objects which such Wis
ionaries distinctly discern through the
telescope OF powerful, far-seelng ineI-
lect. Columbus was one OF these vis'
iooaries He was derided for seeing a.
continent three thousand miles oil, by
the wise practical men Of his day, who
could see no further Westward Than ,he
shores of Portugal. A. the last session,
MIR. Whitney presented memorial 10
Congress, asking for grant OF land
from Like Mlchigap 10 The Missouri
river, distance OF $50 miles, and from
ahat point to The Pacific Ocean, 1850
miles,l mile wide on the whole distance,
thus containing about 90 millions o
acres; the proceeds OF this land being
the fund ser buiding the railroad. ii,
proposed the appointment Of commi0s
toner's by the Federal Government,wili
power to dispose of such lands with hi
consent, and 10 apply the proceeds o
them 10 the road; the commissioners be
ing unable TO sell The land without hi
consent, and he to apply the proceed
wilhou, their consent, The Two thus mu
tnaly controlling each other for the ben
eff, OF the proI-ct. He estimates III
cost OF the road st $4,000 for eac
mile, or about $50, 900 for tn
whole. OF this amount, the lands be
tween Lake Michigan and the Missouri
rs millions OF acres, at the governmen,s
price OF 1875, will supply about S3l,
600, 900; and ihssum would build l55
miles OF the road, leaving $50 miles c
il 10 be built from the lands between tn
Missouri aud the Pacific Ocean.
This distance, al The same rate, woul
cost $l7, 900, 600, and these lands, abot
$1,000, 600 acres, at the same price
would supply ss3a millions. But r
small portion OF The land between It
Two points last mentioned are worth le
sud another portion, though worth SOM
thng, are fer inferior 10 the lands b
tween Lake Michigan and the Missouri
We must add that as the road procee
much OF The adjoining land will COT
mand more than the governmental prize
Then we must consider that some pc
$40, 900 Ior the mile. But with all a
dllions and deductions, we may esiims
thai from this grant the projectors m
build The road, and have a surplus
S5,00o,00o for their pecuniary Iewar
probable combination IN their favor,,h
could not expect greater surplus III
$4,000 900; and should they recei
$4,000, 900, it would be as grain
sand in compaiis ison with the benei
conferred upon the country, aud ihrou
il upon The world, by their bold, CO
prsbensve, fsrsighled project,
This memorial was referred, in
House, TO The committee on Roads 9
Canals, who though their chairman. \
Robert Dale Owen, of Indianos, rept
ed that HE project was worthy OF
most serious attention, but that, as 5,
eleut time was not then allowed for
examination OF il, they could not rec,
mend sny immediate, specific act
The Committee added thai, while /
should mol advise over-hasly action u
~ yer as the road should be constr