The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-13

Il
For many years, It was thought hat if such pro-
jecr were feasible, and carried into operation, the
United States would reach the ultima thule of ma
tonal greatness and prosperity The benefits arising
from ii were considered to be beyond computation
the riches OF the most extensive markets in the
world would be thrown open to our enterprise we
would, as nation, become the carriers OF the world
in fine, the advantages which were certain to &C.
crue from the completion Of such an undertaking
dazzled the imagination and paralyzed the mind, on
contemplating them. Thus il was, that the vastness
and profundily of the undertaking, made it unap-
proachable by ordinary men. No sooner would
they begin to think on the subject, than they were
bewlldered; and until within few years, the SUBJ
ject publicly received but little notice The recent
discussions on the Oregon territory question, and
our relations with Great Britain have directed the
attention Of people to that part Of territory,
and they have become familiar with its numerous
and splendid harbors-its importance in a CONNER
cial point of view, affording US az it would means
OF communication with the Indies and China, three
months sooner than any European power.
The sailing distance from the city Of New York
to the mouth OF the Columbia River, is somewhere
in the neghborhood Of 10 900 miles, and it takes &C.
morally from IA to Is weeks TO accomplish the voy-
age. BY means OF railroad, the distance would be
about 5000 miles, and at the rate Of sixteen
miles an hour, the distance could be accomplished
in eight days. What an immense saving of time
and money would be saved through the medium of
a railroad Our large feet Of whalers sould de-
posite their cargoes at the mouth of the Columbia
and send them to market at once. BY the great sa-
wing of distance, our manufactures would monopo-
lise the China markets, or European nations would
gladly employ to carry theirs, and thus produce a
revenue that would more than be sufficient to pay
the interest and cost of the work before many years
and afterwards defray the expenses Of our govern
ment, For the establishment of naval stations the
harbors Of St. Juan de Fuca and Pugets Sound, Of
fer peculiar facilities for the erection Of the works
OF great maratme nation.
The above remarks are elected by perusal OF a
pamphlet lately published by Mr.. George Wilkes, Of
this city, gentleman of talent and ability, who has
devoted many years to the consideration Of this most
important subject. Mr.. Wilkes demonstrates to the
satisfaction Of men Of the dullest comprehension,
that the project Of building a railroad from some
point on the great lakes, say Chicago, to the Ore
gon territory, is not only feasible, but if it were
undertaken by the national government, is per-
fectly practicable, with comparatively small ex-
penses-comparatvely with the great national adj
vantages that are certain to accrue from it. That
it should be national, no man can gainsay. Mr..
Whitney submitted to the country project to build
a road across the territory on his own responsible
ty, modestly asking compensation, strip Of
land of sixty miles in width along the whole line
The unreasonableness Of the demand, at once con-
demned his project, for it could not be
supposed that monopoly of such fearful magni-
tude would be conferred on any individual or any
company. 1t had, however, one good effect II
agitated, for the time, the subject Of the PRACTICABLE
lily OF the undertaking, the result Of which is, the
general conviction that the road is feasible, and
should be undertaken, as no doubt it WILL at an ear
ly day, by the general government. Indeed, the
matter is already before the government Mr.
Wilkes submitted his project to the present Con-
gress, and the Committee on Roads and Canals, of
which the Hon. Robert Smith is chairman, is at
present engaged in drawing BILL that he intends to
submit to Congress, for undertaking the work at
once. Mr.. Wilkes is in favor of selecting the city
Of Chicago as the starting point account Of its
being the great depot OF the lake trade, and like.
wise because of its contguity to the forty second
parallel, which strikes both New York and the
Great South Pass in the Rocky Mountains. That
that route is practicable, there is no doubt The
discoveries by Messrs Smith, Jackson, and Sou
blette in The year 1929 show that the whole of the
line, from Chicago, in the State of Illinois, to the
Great South Pass, is smooth and gently rolling
plain without any serious obstruction or obstacle
The remainder Of the route is equally favorable as
appears from letter written by Peter H. Burnett,
now member Of the Oregon Legislature, in which
he states that Mr. Ashley. who was connected with
an emigrating expedition in the year 1886, drew a
field piece, six FOUNDER, from the State of Mis-.
souri, TO within ninetyslx miles of the Pacific ocean.
The expenses Of the work would not be go great
as the apparent vastness Of the undertaking would
seem to imply. The American Railroad Journal
which is good authority, sets down the aggregate
number Of miles Of railway in this country at 5000,
which cost on an average, twenty-five thousand
dollars per mile. As portion Of this expense Is
occasioned by land damages, tor the privilege Of
laying the track, deduction should be made In
favor Of this work. The rate of this may be OBJ
tanned from the example Of the Boston and Lowell
Railroad, the land damages OF which amounted
to 1882 per mile. But say $4,000 per mile. Ia
king this as a guide, then, MIR. Wilkes computes
the cost Of the road as follows Three thousand
miles of railroad, at 900 per mile will amount
to seventy6ve millions of dollars Deduct the land
damage from that amount and it will leave, as the
whole expense of building railroad to Oregon,
the sum of seventy-one millions two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.
II will be seen, therefore, that this great work,
involving consequences of the greatest moment to
our country-a work which would make the whole
world our commercial tributary-which would
make US, beyond question, the richest nation that
ever existed, can be accomplished for the sum Of
seventy-one millions OF dollars
The limits Of newspaper article will not allow
us to 60 as fully into the details Of this work as
would wish. That the work is practicable, there
can be no doubt-that il would confer advantages
on our country almost too great and magnificent to
be comprehended, is sefevident; and that it should
be undertaken and carried through with all possible
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