Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-10-13
RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC.

RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC.
Tn noticing. few days since, the letter
IF Mr.. Pratt, of New York. in recommend
alton of MIR. Whitney's project Of railroad
to tho Pacific. az a substitute for the propos-
ed canal or railroad across the lsthmus of
Panama., we promised to recur to tho sub
lect, and point out the distinctive features
Of the plan OF Mr.. Whitney, and also that
of Mr.. Plumbe. which has at least equal
claims to consideration. . .
There is probably some msconception in
she public mind as to Mr.. Whi.ner's plan.
in reference to the control which
is to be exercised over tie work in the event
Of its accomplishment. Mr.. Pratt. we OBJ
serve, speaks Of it as demanding nothing of
the public or of Congress but votes-as to
be undertaken and accomplished at The en-
tire risk and hazard Of Mr.. Whitney, who
does not ask a dollar in money, or propose
to subject any man to a cent Of taxation on
account ofit-and IS finally to be under the
control of Congress. We do not so under.
stand the proposition of Mr.. Whitney him
self. He has. TO be sure, in the numerous
public statemenss be has made, in eSposi-
ton Of his plan, made the some what specious
declaration tint he asaea nothing for him
self: that he only desired Congress to set a.
pa:t--not grant to hi,n-a stsip Of public
land, 60 wide, from Lake Michigan to the
Pacific, to secure the means of constructing
the road; but when his proiect is Analysed
vt appears that he expects ultimately the
sole right, title and interest in the whole
Of this 20 miles in width of territory, TO be-
disposed Of Tor his own be eft after the road
is constructed. The number ofacres which
Will thus be taken is, surprising the distance
to be 24i'O miles, 80 100 700! This ques.
ton is not whether this vast territory will
ever be worth to Nir. Whitney or his heirs
more than the cost of the proposed railroad
but whether his plan CONCENTRATES the entire
reversIon Oft to himself. In these days o
oNtrorn" jealousy IS to the natural rights 0
!and-ho!ders. it is a great farm to nut into
one mau'~ hands. Ard then, as to the lina
c"ntrol Of the road we understand Mr.. Whit
ney to propose to retain the management
l'ms If to operate and keep the road in re.
par, &c There is no danger, he argues. O
individual power, inasmuch as Congress.
would have the ability, by enactments frou
time to time. or at any time, to guard n
ga'Est 1t. 1t must be obvious, however, t.
every one who reflect. upon the subject tim
It Mr.. "hitnev's idea IL realized in thi,
momentous project, he will secure TO him
self the exercise Of the Zone man power
with vengeance.
In asking for his grant, Mr.. Whitne,
takss his starling-poin, frr m Lake Michigan
somewhere between Milwaukee and Gree,
Bay. The land in Wisconsin and low;
would OF course be more valuable tnan an
other similar quantity on the route. Fo
500 miles, indeed. from Lake Michigan, tn,
land would be Of the very first quality fo
agricultural purposes. and If the railrua,
were constructed. would become inmensel,
valuable. This Mr.. Whitney az edges
and therefore makes it Il sine qua non tina
1T should DE embraced IN his plan In fact
he declares that Ills entire project depend
upon It. This is an Important consideration
as these lands are fast being taken up b
settlers, and may soon be beyond the reaci
Of Congress forever.
NJ. Whitney estimates the cost Of biz
road at seventy mill ons of dollars. He pro
poses 20 build ten miles at his own expense
which will cost, say 200 .GOO d..Ilars. Whe1
this distance often miles is completed t,
the satisfaction of commissioners appointed
ny the Government, then five miles, or one
hall OF the land is to be made over to him, Il
reimburse him for his outlay; and the othe
bali is to be sold by Government, and tn,
proceeds held in the Treasury as a fund 70,
his use to be applied to tbs construction o
the road wien it shall have reached puin,
where the land is poor nnG not likely to fur.
nsh means to build the road. For 81,
miles, he calculates that the land 60 miles
wide ill sell for 10000 dollars mile, o.
double the cost Of the road. in the wuy
mere pointed out, he proposes to proceed for
the first 900 miles. This will bring him to
the mountainous and barren regions, where
any deficiency of means arising from the no.
verify OF the land, is to be supplied by the
reserved fund above mentioned.
Mr.. Whitney is enthusiastic as TO the re-.
suits OF this magnificent project; but our pre-
sent OBJECT IS only to point out the mode by
"h'ch he expects to accomplish it. The
surveys and observations of Col. Fremont
ana others have no doubt az to the practica.
putty OF the proposed route. From Lake
Michigan to the Pass IN the mountains. n
road, it ia thought, may be built on an air
line. From the Lake to the Mississippi.
the grade FOR any one mile will not exceed
- feet; and from the Mississippi, say Pra;.
re du CHEN, to the Pass, the average grade
viii not exceed feet to the mile.--From
the Pass to the best point on the Pacific,
say San Francisco or the Columbia River.
he route is more difficult and not so well de.
lined; but no doubt exists, we believe, as to
is feasibility.
MIR. Piumbc's plan we must take another
occasion 10 notice.
[Boston Evening Traveller.
a Solemn Truth John Tavlor ofCsro