The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-06

veyed the coast Of Oregon, and his experience and
knowledge Of the Pacific ocean, with its many islands,
together with his highly celebrated scientific and prac
cal knowledge will no doubt render his opinions on
subject OF such magnitude important and interesting
to the public shall therefore, fee; myself under the
greatest obligation il you will pleased to give this letter
a place in your valuable columns.
4, Most respectfully. your obedient servant.
% A. WHITNEY
Ha NEw YoRK, October 90 1sa7
DEAR SIR: have the pleasure acknowledge the re-
ce OF your letter. wherein refer to the general be-
lief that am opposing your project Tor railroad IRON
Lake MIchlgan to the paehc inns was , entirely new
and assuring you that has not the least foundation
whatever and, if il be necessary to give il public deni
al, You authorized to do so.
am at loss to know how such report should have
gained currency, my views and feelings have been al
ways expressed in favor of your project OF SINH
lar kind and gladly take the present occasion to state
that the examination OF your project has afforded me
pleasure and excited much interest in your and
will cause me to watch your progress with some degree
lmpedments to overcome One OF the greatest OF these
impediments is the disposition in the public TO rdcue
the project altogether chmercal and Quxotc both IN
its conception and execution but this is to be expected
and is peculiarly the with great project like that
you propose, which requires thought and reflection be-
fore itcan be properly appreciated II will not be long
before countrymen, with their usual discrimination,
will discover its merits and pronounce IN favor oil what
many now dub as one OF the great humbugs OF the day
navigation and railroads, the public mind OF both
Europe and America has been quickened to the adj
vantages to be derived from the facility it affords for
and shorter routes between the great marts OF
the world. Look, for instance, at the effects that have
been produced on the commerce OF the East by the estab
though It is limited to mails and passengers See what
efforts being made to open canals construct rail
roads 70 connect the waters of the Mediterranean with
Who that has read the letter Of late minister to Prs
STA Hon. Henry Wheaton) to the Secretary of State in
lsi5 that has not felt both pride and pleasure at his
banded views and enlightened policy and the advantages
pointed out to this country in eectng intercourse
with China by shp-canal the lsthmus of Darien,
and the great benefits that would flow to whole
ty The information given OF the explorations the at
tendant difficulties, both physical and political, to be
by following either Of the routes examined by
able engineers renders the chances of efecng desa
bic an end almost hopeless.
Having thus become acquainted with the difficulties of
the route to China by the lsthmus of Daen and know
ing that they must be overcome, at ALL by people lack
ing the enterprise aud energy Of race, naturally
turn to other projects to accomplish this end and your
project for railroad this continent is of them
As apeOple, we are fortunate in having sufficient
experience of the kind of INSTRUMENTATION you pro-
pose to be satisfied that almost any mpedimens and diff
Cuties that can occur on this continent may be readily
overcome. We have before our eyes, and we are daily
witnessing the undertakings that our fellow citizens,
with moderate and limited have completed and
in progress; and amongst these works and lines of
railroad that but few years ago were deemed mposs
bic well ascertained that no greater difficulties are
to be found in the route you propose We therefore, be-
lieve railroad can be constructed
The next consideration is whether the object in view
is worth the undertaking! the construction of
continent to secure to our country the vast benefits that
must flow from partial, if not total, change in the
route OF the commerce to and from the east
The prize is agreat OF this there be doubt
in the mind ofany and the end sought to be
plished is one Of great national as well individual i'm
and he = w g. S s1pTs "a and de-
cc be reached days. OF the benefits that are to
flow from it Let every who feels interest in the
advancement OF religion, civilization, commerce. agrcu-
ture and manufactures, and in the progress of polt
cal and social institutions reflect the changes to be
brought about by it. In my humble opinion, there is
branch OF human happiness, employment and knowledge
that such improvement would not promote 1t would
add to national glory. and be worthy OF free in
Stitutions, to accomplish so desirable an end
In comparing the estimates for canal across the 18th
mus with railroad such you propose the cost of the
Inter would undoubtedly be much larger than the former
while the last everything, worth ten times
the to country, from the real benefits will heap
upon our people. exclusive of the advantages of
merce. The railroad beng completed, who doubts OF
reaching the shores OF the Pacific within ten days2 1t
would connect our eastern and western harbors and
mighty rivers, ghe finest in the worldly and both with
ton u.s. that would be all within our own limits free
from all political arrangements with foreign governments,
countymen and be carried by citizens under
the regulations, to tolls to be adopted by Congress
What BOND Of union would it not be? 1t would bring
the vast fields (both home and foreign Of our missionary
operations to very doors, thus aforng every oppor
tunty the dissemination OF the gospel and the blessings
Of Christianity among the heather that any one would
desire. Can any one doubt that civilization would be
advanced by such INSTRUMENTATION as must ensue
with the hordes OF sarages that nfest frontiers
Would 1t not be the means OF carrying political and
social Institutions to the farhest limits of the earth
Could anything tend TO advance the interest of our
commerce as making the great highway for the vast
trade OF the East through extended territory and our
harbors and storehouses the recepaces OF When we
reject on the wars that have ensucd and been carried on
nations OF Europe oendeavo to secure the monop-
oily OF the commerce OF the East cannot but be struck
byme glory attendant upon country such an end
could De brought about by the arts of eace and the
terprisc and energy Of people What would tend
more to the agricultural interest and prosperity Than tha
markets that would be thrown open for all our produc
tons and the field for manufactures and for every
branch of mechanical labor would be widely extended
The very construction of such road would afford work
for hosts of laborers think il may safely be asserted
that all and every occupation would receive not only
prospective but immediate benefits
Every satisfied with the facilities the harbors on
our eastern seaboard offer commerce However great
they may be, they do exceed those offered by the
Straits of Juan de Fuca Admiralty Inlet and Pngets
Sound on the western coast These am minutely ac-
quained with and they not surpassed by any, and
large enough to accommodate the navies of the world
and fit receptacles for the commerce of the cast which
cannot doubt will day, and that not far distant flow
into them '
Besides the commerce of the east we shall in like
manner command that OF the Poynesan archipelago
logetner win that from the western shores of America
ana tney VIII al become subject 10 heniuence of our
institutions, Inc vast accessons to our Commercial
prosperity that the opening of this route would brine
about is scarcely within the scope of calculation baye
10 4 r..