American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-05

out fiery and luminous PARTICLES in every direc-
tion-when a calm examination Of facts will
demonstrate the absurdty of such a theory.
We would as soon believe, with DR.. Lardner,
that the meteoric stones which occasionally fall
upon the earth, are cast from volcanoes ia the
moon, as that the sun is ball of fire, or sur
rounded by the elements of heat and Light
elements which exist only in imagination, and
cannot be exhibited by any chemical or other
process.
RAILWAY TO OREGoN. We have had in
our possession for some weeks past, the report
made by Mr. Breese, from the committee on
public lands of the Senate, 'sto whom were re-
ferred a memorial of sundry citizens of Indiana,
praying the construction of national railroad
from the Mississippi to the Columbia River,
and the memorial of Asa Whitney, suggesting
the means, and submitting a proposition, Tor
the construction of such road from Lake Mchi
gan to the Pacific ocean,
The report is entirely favorable to the pro-
position of Mr.. Whitney-demonstrate its
practicability-its effect in enhancing the value
oFpublic ands-and its immense importance to
the country IN commercial point of view
The report contains an elaborate argument on
the subject, and a variety of statistical informa-
ton showing the vast increase which would
probably be produced in the commerce of the
nation, by the construction Of the proposed
rail naA n, th, ho,J ibaro bo
for the road would become the great thorough
fare of commerce between the East Indies and
Europe, The only doubt we had was, as to
the practicabilIty Of making the road: and this
is entirely removed by the facts submitted in
this report ANYTHING, then, that there is no
natural impeachment to the construction of the
road, it becomes necessary to enquire whether
the means proposed by Mr.. Whitney, will be
adequate to the object. This being an all-m-
portant point, it has been examined with great
care by the committee, who say:
"Those means are to be derived from the |
sale of the public lands already acquired, and
to be acquired by the extinguishment of the
Indian title, to the breadth of thirty miles on
each side of the road, extending from Lake
Michigan 10 the shores of the Pacifc.n
Through considerable extent of the route
the land is said to be unsuitable for settlement
and cultivation, and could not, therefore, be ex-
pected to sell. But for about 100 miles from
the eastern terminus, the lands are said to be
OF good quality, though for the most part desti-
tute OF timber, and would readily sell at 81 25
per acre, if the road be made; which, estimating
that there would be 26, soc, 900 acres, would
produce the sum of $50, SOC, 900 Calculating
that In the ,4S3 miles from the South Pass TO
the mouth of the Columbia, 900 miles of that
distance would be found of sufficient value, in
consequence of the construction of the road, to
command the same price, land it is believed
that the value of agricultural productions, con-
nected with the water-power to be found there
Tor manufacturing purposes, fully justiies this
est'mate,) there would be 100000 acres,
which would amount to S4S 900, 900; and to-
gether these sums would amount to o8l $780,
oOo, without considering of any value the in
termeoate distance OF ,ll3 miles, forming an
area CT 32,7S9,20 acres Of land; but which,
taxing 1t at the worst, must have at least some
verdant and valuable spots, which would be-
come desirable for small settlements, and as
depots for the use Of the road and for commodi-
ties and productions Of intersecting veins or
lateral channels of trade and commerce. The
length OF the proposed road being 1850 miles,
and the estimate for its construction, according
to Colonel Albert, being $4,000 per mile, the
probable cost would be $50 ,600,0 900, leaving
an estimated surplus for repairs, and to keep
the parts in operation until the whole is COM
pleted, of S2S, 100000. This would appear.
on full reflection, to be moderate and safe cal
culaton; and, moreover, the committee have
reason 10 believe that, from the exciting inter
est which would not fail to surround this I'M
dertaking, when once begun, the pressure for
acquisition and investments in the fertile part
Of these lands, and in the vicinity OF so extern
sive work, would place their value at least at
the minimum price of the public lands. The
committee, therefore, incline to believe that
the means proposed are abundantly sufficient
for the end in view"
We think that it is thus pretty clearly demon
stratod, that this invaluable public work can be
constructed without the advance of dollar by
the general governme and, in fact, with great
benefit to the revenue of the country, as it must
necessarily bring into the market at an enhanc-
ed value, large quantities of the public land,
which would otherwise remain unsaleable and
useless. TI.'fD lin
1t is supposed that, should the road be made,
Teas can be transported from China to London
infarty-6ve days-and such will no doubt prove
to be the fact, especially as improvements are
constantly being made in steam-machinery.
The committee urge many and strong reasons
Why the road should be made; and we hope
that they will have their due weight with Con-
" 4.