New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-18
osWEGo Co-rOncial.I
Railroad TO the Pacific.


merits Of this gigantic enterprise. The high repu-
tation of the Orator-alike distinguished in New
Hampshire and abroad-and the importance of the
subject Justify transerrence to columns Of the
speech We will add beside, that nowhere so
well as in Gen. Wilson's remarks have we seen
the character Of the undertaking developed.
Gen Wilson said
THE resolution, upon your table Sir refer TO pro
position for railroad from the western shore OF Lake
Michigan to the Pacific Ocean They refer unquesuon-
ably to a scheme which was laid before the public BY
the gentleman whose name Is mentioned In these reso
lutons. ] can admire the mind when couid CONCEIVE
OF such an enterprise and can admire the energy OF
the man who could devote himself 10 H. as that gentle
man has done. have very strong desire 20 see the
Improvement 20 on but while entertain strong dis
position strong desire for that great improvement II
is necessary for me 10 look at things which are
connected with II the scheme has been laid before u
In hearing the stAtemen, which has been made II oc
CURED TO me that there some things In which he
feelings and opinions of the gentleman differed from
my own. 1t struck me great request OF the Govern
ment Of the United States to grant TO single man or
any body of men, a belt Of land 90 miles in WIDTH
reaching from Lake Michigan TO the Pacific Ocean. Il
IL indeed great request and which requires great
holiness 10 make. We can hardly realize the Idea
The idea that any any body OF men, by grant
of the Government can become propretors OF such
vast amount Of land, IL such that hardly com
prehend It. do not sag that considering the msgni.
Jude of the enterprise, il Is unreasonable but would
state In regard 10 this things connected with H.
II SO happens that within the last four or five years
have been called through some portion Of the land
through which this Railroad would lead. can say that
certain portion OF tbs portion OF the best part OF the
habitsbe globe. Look wherever you will wherever
the sun shines during s whole circuit Of twenty four
hours undertake say that there Is not place supe
rior 10 this and this Railroad passes directly through
the centre OF that portion OF the country Commencing
at the Sheboygsn river flowing into Lake Michigan,
from that TO the southern shore of that lake there 10 not
better country In the world Going through that whole
region there not cent OF waste land taking II
all together There Is not one acre In the hundred but
what IL good settling land some prairie some TIMBER
all ADAPTED for cultivation and some Of IL even better
than that Going through the whole distance to use
Western phrase il " cannot be beat
Giving 10 one mai even a company OF men the en-.
tire control of such et of land sixty miles in width
looks 10 me exceedingly alarming We have heard
about the East India Company, the Hudsons Bay Com
pany and others but whoever becomes proprietor oil
such tract of country this in my estimation that sp
preparation would make him the richest man on the lace
of the earth private individual. The moment the
land Is appropriated, and II IL understood that such
Railroad ia 10 be built instead of being worth 81 % per
acre il thereupon becomes worth twenty-five nity-
yes more than a hundred dollars an acre. There Is
hardly an acre of II but what when powed and plowed
readily as ills will yield without IS bushels Of
wheat TO the the climate is mild-t 10 beautifully
watered but then this does not half begin TO explain the
great value OF that portion Of the country This Rail
road track goes right through the heart OF the most rich
mineral countries upon the face OF the earth part OF
Il 10 that from which almost the entire supply OF lead for
the world procured at the present day. do not men
ton this because opposed to the resolutions but TO
do Justice myself because could not reconcile my
set appropriation OF belt sixty miles wide to
single individual or any number OF individuals whatever
might be- the equivalent rendered 10 the public.
For the fret 500 miles extending the Territory
of Wisconsin to the West through Iowa and 70
the Platte River It is invaluable and all Of II good.
portion 10 be goes into general prairie country
and you will find but small supplies Of timber there
what called Islands of timber but they are few
and far between. But Sir II Is perfectly understood BY
anybody and everybody that let II be settled let
the policy of the Indian tribes OF burning the prares
every year be stopped and In half or quarter Of
century there would be Infinitely more timber there
than at the present moment.
expense $4,000 per mie) IL altogether too high snd
for this reason, Sir Whoever Is acquainted with the
geography OF that country knows that for ls0 miles
-rosd can be there cheaper than decent
common road in New. England The track could be car
ried through that whole distance without crossing
single Tavine. and almost, too In straight
line First on the western shore Of Lake Michigan Is
the Milwaukee River, running almost parallel to the
Lske. Then you come 10 the Fox emptying into the
Illinois and then the Rock River e1npyng into the
Mississippi little farther you will and ths waters OF
stream emptying into the Rock River al these run
ming In soCtherly direction. little farther TO the
north, At the sheboygan River, you viii End that the d
reciion Of the river 10 changed You will ind that Tor
the first 90 miles running along al the left OF the
Sheboygsn River you will have the waters Of all these
other upon the left and the sheboyssn upon the
right mr. w traced the route 70 the Mississippi River
and then proceeded The grading of road of that
sort the construction Of road there 10 matter Of very
little labor and desy whenever II undertaken have
question Sir that far that Is concerned tcoud
% built HPon private enterprise at any moment when
reasonable charter IL granted.
II this bs 40 can the Legislature AJAX the Congress
of the United States 10 appropriate belt 90 miles
wide the building Of this road And then 10 $50
or 10 miles the west Of the Mississippi you and the
country almost equal In its facilities for improvements
Of this sort.
Again there are other difficulties Il has been repre-
sentsd that this Is almost wilderness country. DO not
mis- when Inform the House that this whole shore,
embracing than 10 miles 10 the west has been
surveyed and In the market for considerable re and
10 very considerable portion OF i. In the posses
sion of private individuals Thirty miles on each side
the road would take In the capitol Of Wisconsin Prs
RE du Chen and several other consdersble towns II
would take in the whole northern part OF Wisconsin the
Counties Of lows and Grant both being vsusee eoun
ties cannot therefore send that resolution 70 Con
gress advising them To adopt plan for 90 srse an ap
preparation that would throw obstacles N Tie
way of sufficient appropriation am DESTROYS that the
project should 90 iniehgenty and that when We
make an Appropriation IL should De made understand
inely shsli not oppose the resolutions but do be-
eye Sir that II the proposition should be finally carried
through We should grant Of the largest and In pro
cess Of time one Of the mosi Astounding monopoes ever
heard Of since the days Of the resurrection Of the Saviour
OF the world.