Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-29

considerable part Of the contry bordering upol
The proposed route must Of course be unsuitable
for settlement and cultivation. But for about
700 miles from the eastern terminus the lands
are said to be of good quality, and would re-
adly sell at 81 ,25 per acre, if the road were
made. Estimating the quantity of land on this
part of the route at $500, 900 acres the sum
produced would be $33, 100000 Calculating
that in the 1888 meiles, from the South Pass of
the Mountains to the mouth Of the Columbia,
900 miles Of that distance would be found Of
sufficient value, in consequence of the road,
to command the same price there would be SO,
400, 600 acres, producing $4S, 600, 900, miles
of the route, containing more than 100000 of
acres, thrown out of the calculation as worthless
The cost of the road is estimated by Co.. Albert
of the Typographical Engineers, at $4,000,
O0O Surprising this estimate to be correct
there remains a surplus of about $29 600 600
for application to repairs, and to keep the parts
in operation until the whole should be completed.
The means proposed therefore, would appear
to be fully adequate to the accomplishment of
the work This is the conclusion at which the
Committee, after careful examination arrive.
The next consideration which presents itself,
is the expediency of applying The means to such
work. This consideration is one which opens
a large field for remark, involving the whole ad.
vantages of the project in political, commercial
and national point Of view. We have neither
tmc nor space now to 60 into these points at
length but will satisfy ourselves with stating
single fact bearing upon them, and with refer
ring merely to some Of the arguments called in
by the committee. By the construction of this
road, the most distant extremes ofour vast coun-
try would be brought together at the grand
centre in the short space of tor days, allow
ing US not only to transport passengers, but all
descriptions Of merchandise and produce, from
the grand centre OF New Orleans, Savannah
Charleston, Richmond and Norfolk, Washington
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston
and to the Prciic in the same tme-four days
and from the Pacific to any of the above cities
in less than eight days, and to China in twenty
days: SO that we can bring our vast country to-
gether in four days, and the extremes of the
globe in thirty days A cargo of teas from Chi
ma may then be delivered in any of our Atlantic
cities in thirty days. and in London Or Liverpool
in less than torty-fve days.
These facts show at glance the importance
Of the work to this country. Its immediate effects
would be, an increase in demand and an enhance
ment in value Of the public lands in all parts
Of the country; the extension and promotion of
the interest Of agriculture the enlargement and
ofthe manufactures of the country
the development Of our vast mineral resources
the extension Of internal trade and commerce
the extension of our foreign commerce with China
and the countries Of the East the islands of the
Pacific, aud with the countries on the western
coast Of North and South America; the increase
aud protection of the whale and other fisheries
in the Pacific and Northern oceans; and the in
crease fthe maritime power ofthe United States.
Such a road would become great highway off
nations encourage constant intercourse, draw
in wealth from all the countries Of the world, .
promote the spread Of liberal principles, and
giving us in great measure the control oftrade
and commerce, to the same extent enlarge our in
portance among the nations Of the globe
Such would be in brief, some Of the effects of
the construction of this work, and in the view
fthem who can question the expediency of con-
terlng upon the projectors the power and privileges
desired We are confident the country would
approve the measure. But if adopted at all, it,
must be adopted at once. The lands along the
eastern sections OF the route are rapidly filling
up with settlers, and will speedily pass out ofthe
hands of government 1t is upon these lands
that reliance is placed toget the work fully in
progress. The protector, who has been over
this part of the route, represents that action
must be had at the next session Of Congress, or
the work must be giyenup Ii is to be hoped
that no neglect on the pat of that body will
illustrate work which promises such advantages
to the country and the world,