The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-10-21
Il would SECURE happy homes TO millions

i would secure happy homes 70 millions
now pining in want and missry:-
il would permanently secure to us the
possession Of oil California, which would
Otherwise 10 lost to us, and become separate
and independent governments:
i would save all the expense Of con.
structing any other pos, road tot The Pacific
and Furnish the opportunity Of erecting tel
egraphic wires along the linc:-
i would render the journey from New
York, or Boston, to the Columbia, the work
Of little more than week land, in fine,
i would do more To advance tho sum Of
human happiness and prosperity through
out the world than oil other phila nthropic
projects put together.
therefore respectfully beg to submit,
for your consideration, the propricty OF
your forwarding this noble work, by giving
il 90 much Of your attention aud influence
% you my think proper.
NV original proposition was this:
That the road should be constructed in
the following manner
LIST. Commencing or the western shore
az Lake Michigan, locatc the road I" the
Mississippi, and continue locating the line,
west ward, MS fast 40 the Indian title became
extingu'shed.
2nd. Appropriate every alternate sec-
ton Of Government land, on each side the
line, u . sufficient extent TO dcfray the
cost Of constructing the rad.
Sd. Let the minimum price Of tho d.
ternate sections remaining to tho govern
ment, be doubled-and thus the road would
b constructed for nothing.
4th. Commence the construction ri the
road at its eastern terminus; and prosecute
tho work . fast as the proceeds Of tho sale
Of the railrond land would warrant.
The first $50 miles Of the linc--rcnching
to the Mississippi--w"uld traverse CON-
paratively dcnsely populated country, a.
bounding ia agricultural aud mineral pro-
ducts.
Arrived At the Mississippi River, the
road would enter the heart Of the richest
and most extensive lead region in the Union
and at a point several hundred miles below
the head of steamboat navigation.
Tho trade of,he Upper Mississippi md
ito tributaries, and the travel os the whole
Mississippi Valley, would much of il be di.
vestcd into this new channel to the east.
After completing the road TO the Missis-
sippi, continue il (across the State "f Iowa
10 the Missouri river; which i, would prob
ably intcrsect about 900 miles below the
head Of steambost navigation on that
stream.
The entire distance from Lake Michigan
to the Columbia would bc accomplished
without the intervention Of my stationary
power 10 overcome the grades.
The rond, a this moment. would be good
stock NJ far M the Mississippi; aud hcfurc
Il could possibly lie extended To the Alissou-
ii, the amount Of transportation ready to be
passed over il would produce good dividends
from the whnlc line between the Luke and
the latter river.
Whcr re road is completed TO the Mis-
souri,, tho increased importance ri Oregon
aud California will he SD great ms To war
rant tho commencement IL operations, sim
UNANIMOUSLY, NJ both the Missouri and Pa
cific tcrmini Of the remaining portion Of
The line.
The importance Of this work, 10 b ,ston,
II incalcuIahlc. Already, she is connected
with Like Michigan by direct chain OF
railroads, which will soon be completed.-
The addition o( the first link ofthe Oregon
railroad, being only $50 miles In length,
would present the interesting spectacle Of
: direct steam line ext naing from England
10 lowe, passing through Boston.
Some idca Of tho amount Of business
which the completion Of this $50 miles
would divert towards this city, may be in
lerred from the stnicnsem lately published,
that there 10 twelve millions Of dollars
worth Of lead ready Cor shipment Mt one
point alone on the Upper Mississippi: and
although this amount may be exaggerated
- know il only wants capital, 10 manu.
faciure Il from tho ore, 10 produce that
amount.
The number 1t steamboat arrivals and
departure, in a single senson At tho Upper
Mississippi lead mines wns TT, ten years
sgo-and they have probably increased,
sow, to upwards Of one thousand.
Hoping that the interest Of the subject,
10 the country nt large, and New England
particularly, will be sufficient apology TOT
trembling you with this communication.
lam, very respectfully, your Obj eervr,
J. PLUME.
erTbe steamer Mail last week in her