Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-09-22

committee on pubic lands Of the Senate go
,.i.Dul were referred 4 memorial of sundry cit.-
ions Of Indiana, prasing the construction of 4
. national railroad from the Mississippi TO the
Columbia River. ana The memorial of Asa Whit
Ecy. suggesting the means. and submitting n pro-
position. for tie construction of such road from
Lake Michigan 70 the Pacific Ocean.
The report - entirely favorable 10 the pre-
position Of Mr.. v nitncy-dcmons,ratos its prac-
ticabiaty--lts etlect in enhancing tho value Of
public ands-and lis immense importance to the
country IN u commercia point Of view.-Iho
report contains an elaborate arguncn. on the sub.
oct. ana a variety Of statistical information shew-
ing the vast increase which would probably be
produced IN tho commerce OF The nation, by the
construction Of tho proposed railroad. On this
head there can be no doubt, for tho road wouid
become tho great tharoughfare of commerce.
between the East Indies and Europe. The only
doub. we had was. as to the practicubl;ty of
ma king tic road: and this is entirely removed by
the facts submitted in this report. Ami,iing,
then. that thofo IS nc natural impedincnt to the
construction Of the road, It becomes necessary 10
enquire whether the means proposed by Mr..
Whitney. will be adequate 10 tho object. This
being all-important point, it has boon examined
with grca, by the committee, who say:
'''Those means 10 be derived from the sale
Of tho public lends already acquired, and to be
acquired by tho oxtinguishmon. Of tho Indian
title. 10 the breadth Of thirty miles each side
Of tho road. extending from Lake Michigan to
the shores Of tie Pacific"
Through consdGra bic extent of the route
tho land IS SAID TO DO unsuitable for settlement
aud cultivation. anl could rot, therefore. be
pcctcd 10 sell. Bat for about 700 miles from
the eastern terminus, the lands said 10 be of
good quality. though for the most part destitute
of timber. aud would readily sell at ) %, per
acre, If the road be made: which, estimating tliat
there would be oti,Na0.c02 acres, would produce
;ho sum Ct So, 800 800. Calculating that in
the lis3 mics from the South Pass to tho mouth
Of tho Columbia, 1000 miles Of that distance
would be found Of sufficient value. III consequent
co OF the con s;ructiou OF the road. 10 command
the same price. (anI is believed that the value
Of agricultural productions, connected with the
watcr-poWcr to be found there for manufacturing
WBfa4o IS ,,t.iiYuJ0U dcTbs' When 'woIui1 amount
10 Sis .G0o coo; and together these sums would
amount 10 s>l 100000, without considering of
any value tho intermediate distance of lib
miles. forming an area of 81, 739. 200 acres of
land; but which. taking II at the worst. must have
icast vcrdant and vaua bic spots, which
would become desirable for small settlements, md
rs dcpos for the use Of tho road and for conmodi-
ties cad productions of in;ersccting veins
lateral channels of trade and commerce. The
length of tho proposed road being $500 miles,
ard the estimate for lis ruction according TO
CooGc! ! tert, being S.3j.039 per milo, the pro-
babIc cost would be $4,000 900, leaving an
parts in operation until the whole is completed of
52S, 100000. This would appear, on full rcdcc-
ton. 10 be moderate and safe calculation; and,
moreover, the committee havo reason 10 boIiove
TINT. from tho exciting interest which would not
fail 10 surround this undertaking, whom once be-
gun, tho pressure for acquisition and Investments
in tho fertile part Of these lands, and in the
vicinity of 50 extensive a work, would place
their value at least At the minimum price Of tho
public lands. The committee therefore, incline
20 believe that the means proposed are abundant
y su1Iicicn. for tho end in view
We think that II IS thus pretty clearly demon
stratei, that this invaluable public work be
constructed without tho advance of 4 dollar by
the general government: and, in fact with grcat
benefit 70 tho rovonnc Of tho country, as II must
necessarily bring into the market at enhanced
valuc. large quantities Of tho public lnn1, which
would otherwise remain unsalcabic and useless.
1t is supposed that should the road be made
Teas can be transported from China 10 London
in forty. five da wand such will no doubt prove
TO be tho fact. especially as improvements arc
constantly being made IN stoan-tn1chinory.
Tho committee urge many and strong reasons
why the road should be made and We hope tia:
they vii have thoir duo weigh with Congress
Bat. should prejudice. or oter cause, Illustrate the
dasi-n 4, this time, tho work will unquestiona bly,
DO hereafter constructed; for, It is impossible that
the humorous advantages which would arise from
it 10 the na.}on. be long overlooked. 1t may
be. that tho terminus Of the road thu Pacific.
viii DO changcd and that. instead of the Column
bin river. !; viii take the direction of the bay of
San Francisco. in California. But, even if this
be designed. It should rot re;ard the commence
ment Of the work.
We presume that the subject will be again
brought before Congress at the next session. and
thu. tho bill which accompanied the report Of
the committee, will be called up The Senate for
consideration. As wo arc ''g0-ahcad" nation
in most things. land in somo things slower
motion. would perhaps, DO prcferabie.) wo trust
TIA, we shall proceed with little delay rs pos
si6ie with this great and magnificent work. which
will make oar country the great throughfaro of
all naiioas.-Bai. Clipper.