Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-11-25

me by Col. Fremont in person, by Mr. Fitzpat-
rick and many others who have been to and re
turned from Oregon, and az the Senates Com
mittee say, "a consideration Of the facts in the
premises, therefore leaves no doubt Of the prac-
ticability of the proposed route for railroad
from the shores of Lake Michigan to the navi
gable waters of the Columbia River"--this point
seems settled
And now the means for the accomplishment Of
this great work.
1t is not at all probable that Congress will ev
er appropriate money for such work. and there
are serious objections 10 the carrying on Of such
n work by the General Government In the first
place, it would require years to complete sur
vey, and then the route must be fixed upon by
Congress, causing further delay, and most likely
the work would never be commenced, and sure
ly like the Cumberland Road, never completed
1t would always be subject also to being made Il
powerful political engine, craving the earnings
and means from one section of the Union to be
squandered upon the hrolings of aspirants to of.
fee.
do not ask for or require a survey. | do not
ask for one dollar in money, and can commence
the work SO soon the grant is made. The
route from the Lake 10 the River could be fixed
upon and the work commenced without delay ;
10 the mountains the route is well known, and
while the work is progressing from the Lake,
and fixed upon.
1t is a work hey ond the power of individuals,
nor can it be done by States not yet formed.
An entire wlderness-it becomes absolutely
necessary 10 connect the settlement of the cnun-
try with the building Of the road and the road
is absolutely necessary for the settlement of the
country settlement being impossible without it.
have sought to mature, and believe | have
matured, plan which shall leave with Congress
the power Of control, and of holding all as secu-
rlty-making it national road, while at the same
time the work would be carried on as an individ-
ual enterprise, freed from the immense govern
ment patronage which as government work it
would create, and also freed from the delays, ex-
penses and insurmountable difficulties sure to
arise from constant Legislative changes OF d.
rection.
ask Congress to set apart, mot grant to me-
90 miles wide of the public lands, from Lake
Michigan TO the Pacific Ocean, for this especial
purpose. make the starting point from Lake
Michigan, first as the road would add value TO
the lands and as the land is the only source of
means, the road must be located where the land
on lis line could be applicable to it. Land dis
tant from the road could not be nude available,
and therefore the project would fail. There are
other important reasons why this should be the
starting point 1t is all important to fave u cheap
and direct water communication with the Allan
tic, while the road is being built, to take aborers
settlers and materials, to the starting point and
have easy communication with the settled coun-
try around TO furnish food for the aborers and
settlers, TIL they can produce themselves. 1t is
necessary to have timber and other materials con-
venlent; and there is timber on the borders of
the lake that could be taken on by the road but
from any other starting point on either the Mis-.
sisslppi or Missouri rivers the difference in cost
OF transportation for the material alone would
forbid the commencement of the work. 1t is al
so important that the starting point should be
where timber can be taken on by the road for set
tiers, for buildings and fences for that Immense
distance OF 1900 miles where there is no timber,
anu could not be gotten there except by the pro-
posed road
From the Lake to the Mississippi, somewhere
between Milwaukee and Green Bay, nearly the
~ miles could be found unoccupied; but should
the commencement be delayed, even for a short
time, the public lands from the Lake to the Mis-
sissppl river, will be far taken up as 10 defeat
the work forever. The lands beyond the Mis-
slssippi could not be made available Tor settle
ment, or for means TO build the road. until a
means OF communication by railroad could first
be had, and then the lands beyond could not be
made to produce sufficient funds to construct The
road
From the Mississippi through to the Ocean,
is an entire wilderness. From the lake onward
iof elght hundred miles, the land is of the very
pest quality, for the production of bread-stuffs-
The surface beautiful, without rock or mountain
or even hlll-just enough rolling and descending
to let the water off, and all covered with rich
grass, ready for grazing or harvest, and enough
Tor millions oil cattle. The farmer wants but the
plough, the seed, the scythe and the sickle.
FOR about 800 miles of this 800, except on The
border OF the lake, there is timber only suffi.
aOFlpnltDral hill
fences; the other 500 miles and 90 onward to
the mountains, are entirely without timber; but
us lhere IS an abundance Of coal, all on to The
mountains, and timber in the northern part oil
Wlsconsln-this is no objection, because timber
can be taken on by the road at low tolls, suffi.
Client Tor buildings and fences, to the places
where there is none, cheaper than he lands could
oe cleared; go that for settlers, particularly those
rom EUROPE, with the road the country is bet
Ter without than with timber; bn. without the
road, cGn never be settled. Beyond the SOC
mites to the Pass in The mountains, the land is
represented as very poor-too poor to sustain
setllers but am inclined to believe, that the
iacliitles which the road would create, would
render part Of 1t productive and useful. From
Tue fass to the Ocean, | am disposed from in.
formation which have been able to procure, &c
believe there are more lands suitable for cul
lure and grazing, than we have been informed Of
ny inherent writer's.
1t has been estimated that the road will be
from the Lake TO the ocean 2400 miles; but the
actual distance from the Lake to the Ocean, al.
lowing 26O miles for detour, will not exceed
2O30 miles; and 1t is estimated that good roaC
with single track heavy rail, with turn outs
can be built for $4,000 per mile, amounting
to $40,600000
And as the road, except this
side Of the Missouri, could not
earn any income until il is complet-
ed TO the Ocean, and must be kept
in operation for lis construction,
further sum for operation repairs
and machinery, would be required
of at least $2O,0O0,OOO
Total cost when ready for use, $50 COO, 900
But II has been estimated as high as $780,
100000. The 2030 miles by 60 wide, would
give to this work n $4,000 acres of waste land
900 miles on the first part is good--say 30,720,
600 acres; deduct 10 per cent for waste land
and per cent for sales, and allow that by the
road 1t could be made to average $l,25 PEI
acre, and wo have $32, $4,000. Thence 10 the
Ocean, 1890 miles, the greater part is represent
ed as being too poor TO sustain settlements; bu
allow The facilities which The road would create
to make one half or 23,6l6,000 acres, yield the
government price, 81 rs per acre, and allow s
per cent for sales. and we have S37, 044 ,O0(
more-together, 59S79,000 or less than The es