Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-12-10


1t is very certain that if any thing s to be done by
the general government in favor Of this enterprise, II
must be done now 1t is not of those undertakings
:vhch be best executed when the occasion for 1t
shall become most pressing Now is the time to assist
it, without bringing the least Inconvenience upon the
naiion departing from the strict constitutional pow
ers Of tie government. While delay, the lands,
from which il is contemplated to raise the same for
building tie road passing out of the hunds of the
government forever, and by the time we have large
and fourishing settlements in Oregon they Will have
become the property Of dvduals, and the construc
ton of the railway will be embarrassed with difficult
ties which may postpone it half a century.
We have already spoken at some length of the
practicabty Of this enterprise. friend has thrown
together the following reflections on its immediate
benefits while the road is constructing, and before
the Rocky Mountains are reached, and its ultimate
advanta ges after it shall have been made to the shores
Of the Pacific. s..
1.-THE building of this road will cause an outlay of
from two to five millions of dollars annually, which
must be distributed the whole country, for labor,
materials and transportation The greater part of
this sum will be furnished BY efnigrants from Europe,
who bring money with them, and will be so much
actual cash capital added to the wealth of the country
The opportunity for employment and settlement which
will be opened by this great work. viii have tendency
10 increase emigration, and by consequence increase
the demand for ships and give activity to our COM
merce. In q country now a desert, and remote from
all communication with civilized communities, and
with markets, population of producers and custom
ers both of our merchants and our manufacturers.
These of the immediate advantages OF
the project the future are CT striking nature. The
report of the committee of the United States Senate
gives u statement of the trade of Asia, which it is
supposed may be made to pass through this channel
1t employs annually 1880 ships, measuring 654 ,4SO
tons, with 81, 645 men. Allow as is estimated, that
these vessels will carry SIS 100 weight and sup
pose they carry full freight way and half freight
the other, shall have 277, $50 tons passing over
this road annually. This, at half cent per ton, for
each mile would give revenue of $l4,720. SEQ and
at cent mile for the roads which lead from the
Oregon railway 10 the Atlantic, would give them
S12, 27l 500, making revenue of nearly twenty
millions OF dollars, amount sufficient to give
all the railways liberal dividends and make the conf
Of Europe their tributary. Let see in what
this commerce will find 1t for its advantage to
take this passage to Asia.
"A ton weight of teas, or other like merchandise
will measure two tons and upwards of forty cubic feet
to the ton. Allow seven dollars and upwards as for
the freight of of forty cubic feet from Shanghoe
to Oregon and half cent per for each mile along
this railway, and cent per ton for each mile from
the railway 10 the Atlantic and you have SIS for the
cost Of Transporting one ton of forty cubic feet oil
teas from China to New York. which is lower than
the average price for ships. Besides this the Com
mlttee's Report has statement showing estimated
saving in cost to passengers and English mails Of
SlS, 766, 1885, and saving In the amount of capital In
vested in tonnage for this of $50, 493 6l3
/ To carry on the commerce which would pass along
this road it is estimated that half of the present
amount of tonnage would suffice for the present trade
the voyages will be so greatly shortened tina
several can be made in the space of time required
for one But il is believed that the opening of com
muncation frequent, cheap and rapid will vastly
increase the of the trade, and by consequence
the tonnage also. BY this we see that we shall imne
diatey on the completion OF the road want city OF
the Pacific to accommodate than thirty Thousand
| sea farng MENU Y. Erening Post.