Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-01-25
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
From the Phil. Ledger.
WAsHiNeToN, Jan. Is, 1874,

WOTk, Dy lar tue most slupenuOus ana ETanOest
of ancient or modern times. is soon to be sub
mitted to the attention of Congress and the coun-
try, by Mr.. Whitney distinguished merchant
of New York, who, from very high order of in
telligence and experience, and the investigation
that he has bestowed upon the subject, deserves
to have his opinions nd representations treated
with more than ordinary Difference.
The enterprise contemplates the construction
of a railroad from the western shore of Lake
Michigan, in a direct line through TO the Colum-
bia River, covering distance of some 90 miles,
which shall be the point of debarkation for China.
The cost of the road. when completed, is esti-
mated at fifty millions of dollars, and twenty.
| five years would be required to perfect the
scheme. Eight days would be about the travel
! ling time from New York city to the terminus
OF the road, and if steam facilities were employ
ed, some twenty-five more would convey one to
Annoy, in China; so that by this short cut,
journey across the globe might be accomplished
within the narrow limits of single month.
By the establishment of this means of COM
municaton, we should be enabled to command
the Chinese market, and to extend our commerce
with South America Mexico, India and other
parts.
And In addition to the vast results that would
necessarily ensue from such work, by the force
of circumstances, we should secure the transpor-
tation Of the English trade on account of the
great shortening time. The shortest voyage
on record between England and China made
in eighty.fve days, and the passages average
-, nearly four months Adopting the premises laid
down, cargo might be shipped from China via
, the United States, and launched at the Liverpool
docks within fifty days.
The long discussed project of the English Co
vernment, for constructing railroad across the
Isthmus of Suez, will in all probability be "a
bandoned inasmuch as it would not shorten the
distance of the overland route TO China and only
lessen the time of commune alton some twenty.
two hours which would not recompense the
heavy outlay that would be necessary. England
y has then no means ofcurtailing the route 70 Chi
ma, but through Russia, which, from the nature
of the climate and soil, would at least be a ques.
tionable enterprise, were there not the insupera
Bile difficulty of obtaining the assent of Russia,
. and the jealousy of the increase of British power
and dominion. Necessity would thus compe
England to follow in our track, as being the mosi
expeditions and certain, and to employ our rail.
roads and vessels for transporting her commerce;
. or else she would be driven from the richest and
most unlimited market the world.
All the corporation and assistance that Mr..
Whitney asks of the Government, is grant of
sixty miles wide Of the public land, from ter.
minus of the contemplated road 10 the other, for
which full consideration would be given, r
carrying the mails and transr sporting ammunition
l. stores soldiers, and all public matters, free o
J. cost
n Such is a general and imperfect outline Of thi'
le vast and comprehensive scheme, which have
n hastily submitted, that the views of others NOR
Il competent TO the task may be elected. SO ia
as the destiny of our country is concerned and thu
to perpctuaton Of free institutions is to be regard
O. ed, the accomplishment of such a work would dc
E. more to elevate the first and 10 rlvet the other
so than the united efforts of our whole people for
" century to come 1t would not only give MS tn,
O. command but place five hundred years in al
r. vance of the civilized world, with the various re
10 sources of science, genius, energy ard intellect
c. that would be evoked under It's operation. witt
. the arms of bold and enterprising people like
ours stretching from ocean to ocean, and week
ir Journey from one shore to the other, with suf'
ch fcient Navy in the Atlantic and Pacific, and the
of great markets of the world inviting to enter
en- with the facility of procuring information from
-e India and China sixty days III advance OF all that
rs part of Europe which competes with our trade
ce and manufactur what nation the face of the
H. earth has the power 10 resist our onward march
ry And who is there rash enough TO prescribe The
lie boundaries of American power or TO measure th'
ch length of her destiny!
,ut This narrow compass forbids me from speak
nd ing at large upon this magnificent idea, an
he commit il 10 your aber pen and TO that of tn
I'd. whole press in the hope that there will be bu
ow one voice in urging Congress TO grant Mr. VII
The ncy all the hel that he needs for putting his q
di rious plan INFO execution. Let our governmei
for once manifest something of the public splr'
'' of other countries, and by single act of gene
en- roslty TO noble individual enterprise, erect 10
W. itself a name that will endure for ages, and a
tho the same time national work, which will con
=, mand the admiration and respect OF all Chrster
's- dom, NiAroR,
on,
WASHINGTON, January, 20, lSi5.
The most interesting and sought after docC
1t. mcnt the times, al this critical stage of IN
,rv annexation question, reached here this morr
10. ing, and don't know how | can as well EN-
~" ploy portion OF my letter than by submttln