Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-06-25

ask you, through your representatives III Con-
gress, to grant 10 me 6U miles wide of public do.
main from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. !.
the proceeds aud avaiIs of which to be applied
exclusively TO the building and completing the said
raod after which all the surplus land belong TO
me as aireward for the works And in order fully
10 attain such object would have commissioners
appointed as our judges now are, whose duty it
shall be to dispose of such lands with my consent,
they holding the avas thereof, suhjec, only to
the building ofthe said road. responsible aud bound
to report to each Congress, they not having pow
er to dispose of the lands without my consent,
thus being check upon each Other.
Having friends who have offered me means
which think adequate to The commencement of
the work, and believing that its commencement
will draw to ii much enterprise that it cannot
fail of success, gives me full confidence. From
Lake Michigan, where | propose commencing
the road. to the Missouri river, distance OF about
$50 miles making about 25 millions of acres =
through which. learn from good authority, that
road can be built with great facility. also lean
that The land is all good. and be likely to settle
quite as fast the road can be built: that the
road will facilitate the sale and settlement cannot
be doubted
estimate that the road will COS, about $50 900
per mile tor its complete construction: thus 1of
$50 miles would cost $4,000, 900, the % millions
of acres at ST IA. The government price would
amount to $3l000,000 leaving a surplus of 49,
900. equal TO build 900 beyond the Missouri
River. From all accounts of those who have
paesed over the country, the lands for some DIS
ancs,bey0nd The mountains are poor, not produ'
cling enough TO sustain animals, generally cover
ed with wild sage aud nothing else, therefore
but little could be realized from them. The lands
fom the Lake to the Missouri providing for 1850
will leave $50 miles to provide for out Of the poor
lands from the Missouri to beyond the mountaInss
and whats good lands there may be between the
mountains and the Ocean.
The estimated cost of the road is $50, 000OOO.
and not producing any returns ill its full compe-
ton. would require lh-nA0- 900 To keen if in re: z
PAIR and operation.
learn from Captain Fremont {who has pas
sed the mountains to the Pacific twice, and whose
reports is TO be published by order of Congress)
that to build railroad through to the Pacific y.
cean is not only feasible blu, offers more favor
able route than any we have known or read of on
any part of the gIobe-that the route from the
Missouri to the Ocean can be built on grade OF
about seven feet TO the mile, so that it would seem
that nature has given it to for This very purpose
Considering the poor quality of lands from the
Missouri onward for long distance. and consld-
erug the magnitude of the enterprise. do not
consider that have asked for too much. The
value ofthe lands from the Lake to the Missouri
and their undoubted increase of value from the
building of the road through them. their avaIs, all
of which to be applied to its continuance. con-
slider sufficient guarantee 10 the government
that the road will be completed. siH 5#
1t ismy intention to pass over, examine and par
TALLY survey or 500 miles ofthe route this sum-
mer, 50 as to be prepared for the next Congress.
The reasons for commencing from Lake Mich
igan are many and obvious. First, as the road IS
to be built from the lands it is necessary to COM
mence at a point nearest to where they are unap4
propriated, and where there is sufficient timber for
It's construction. Secondly, the great necessity
for cheap and easy water communication from
he important Atlantic cities, transport settlers,
aborers, and materials to the road. 9a
These reasons for commencing from the Lake
must be evident to all as showing the only prac'
ical route, affordng the only practical means to
this great work; but it must and will
orce the opening and completing all the veins OF
communication from the Atlantic cities to it,when
We shall have direct line of railroads. rivers and
canals from each and all the Atlantic cities from
Name to New Orleans, to the Pacific Ocean,
which whole can be traversed IN eight days.
Look at cur vast country, from Maine to Oregon,
distance of more than 5000 miles. and from the
whole coas. of The Atlantic and the Gulf of Mex.
% to the Great Lakes, all brought together as
me family and at any point in the short space Of
light days, or from the grand center but four days
o all the extreme points of the whole country,
he whole continent, it must harmonize a'togeth-
n. All the sectional jealousies, differences and
interests must subside each state and section left
0 manage its own domestic internal affairs 10
IS own way. as was intended when our COM
act was formed. The scale will be so g:and aM
interests so diversified. that no one shall predomi.
ate. The agricultural, the heart and life of all.
y its extended influence, must harmonze all,
ghlle it never can require Legislative aid. or the
objection of any other interest to its own.
England could make her depot in Montreal or
ONE pointin Upper Canada, use the Lakes then
ne Railroads to the Pacific, then her own vessels
gain: thus for small toll they would enjoy the
reat advantages flhe road.
The great saving oftime $50 all imporiantio the
,erchant,) of Ear greater consideration than any
cost of fNight, would force commerce
trough this chaa -e1 ~ s,sr