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

enth of our present annual increase of popula-
ton, and only about one third Of what we may
expect the yearly emigration from Europe will
be during that period.
The question has been asked by many, How
is the road TO be protected from the Indians,
through wilderness of such vast extent f? and
how is it to be supplied with water and fuel
and what will support and keep 1t up" To the
first, | answer: II the road is built, it can on.
ly be done by the sale of the land and the settle
ment Of the country on its line, which will be a
sufficient protection, and where the land is poor
and unsettled, the constant business and opera
ton of the road would protect it. The indians
disappear with the game, and it cannot be sup
posed that game, such as Buffalo and Elk the
dependence of the Indians, would remain long in
the vicinity of railroad constantly in use, as
this must DE, even for its construction.
Fuel and Water of the former coal, there
is an abundance all the way t6Sbe Rocl.y Noun.
tains; and on the other side, it has been found
on the COLUMBIA river and Vancouvers Island
Wdter.- To the Missouri we cross living
streams each ten to twenty miles; from the Mis-.
sour to the Pass, we go parallel WITH and if nee
essary, directly on the banks of streams; and
from the Pass to the Ocean would probably fol-
low the courses of the streams.
The last question is answered partly by the
answer to the first. That the settlement, which
must take place or the road cannot be built
would OF itself maintain it; and it will be seen
that this will be the shortest, cheapest, and most
direct route even from Europe TO Asia, the islands
OF the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. The voy-
age from London, or our Atlantic cities, 10 Chi.
ma, around the Cape OF Good f1oJ e, s estimated
at not less than 1900 miles, requiring from 100
to 100 days for its performance, and 10 to IL
months for the voyage out and home, and the
same for all the commerce with all Asia. Our
whale vessels are absent two to four years.
In consequence of the long distance and time
required, our commerce with Asia, China par
tlcuarly, as we have but a small amount with
any other part, owing to the power and influence
and control, which England holds over al,) is
limited to few urtcles but with this road
built, it would be increased beyond the power o!
the Imagination to estimate, and must ali be done
by our own ships and our own men, as the Asiat-
les are not and never can be- maralme people
We must be their carriers.
This road would undoubtedly be Joined from
all the important Atlantic cities; from any
OF these cities, it would be TO japan, with so 10
100000 900 souls, but 1000 miles, requiring but
~ days by steam-now nearly six months Tc
Shanghai in China, at the mouth of the grea,
Yanghtse keang, (which near its mouth is eros
sed by the great canal to Pekin,) where all the
commerce of this vast Empire of 500000000 Of
merce must centre when this route is opened, il
S4oO miles, requiring but "a days. To Austria
la 5000 miles, requiring but 20 l-2 days, and &c
Singapore, where all the commerce of Europe
with India must centre, is but 10000 miles, re-
curing but 30 l-2 days, and all this commerce
and intercourse might be carried on by steam
because there is an abundance of coal at Vancou
ver's Island, at Japan, in China as low down al
Formosa, and at the high ATTITUDES of Australia
and the distance from point TO point is within
the capacity OF vessel to carry fuel; but thi
Pacific.
The commerce and intercourse from this rou
with all Asia and even Africa, may be carried oil
along the coast, never out Of sight of land
What picture, what a glorious prospect before
us Very soon the various lines of steamer
from Oregon to Japan, to China, to all the Isl
ands and TO all Asia, would far outnulnber thos
of any of the Atlantic cities of the present day
The saving of time, so all important to the mel
chant, giving him the control of the markets
would force commerce over this route, even a
much higher tolls; but this would not be neces
sary, as will be seen.
Eighteen dollars per ton, measurement, is tn
very lowest rate from China to New York, pc
ships around the cape; and Young Hyson, til
heaviest description OF teas, and about the 3
class article In weight and bulk, ranging wit
Hour, requires two tons measurement for on
ton weight. From China to the termni of tn
road on the Pacific, 81 per ton measurement ION
ton weight making two tons measurement) woul
be large freight compared with lreights irol
this country to Europe. From the Pacific to tn
Lake is 2O3O miles, and the road would nc
be required to earn dividends, 2 cent per to
,ceight, per mile, would be sufficient for repair
and operation, which would be S5,O9 more on
the Lake, making but Sl2,0S frnm China. Frol
the Lake to the Atlantic, say 1000 miles, wit
roads 10 earn dividends one cent per ton weigh
| per mile, would be 80 more-in all, Sl7,0S pc
Ton measurement, from China via Oregon Raj
road TO the Atlantic cities and less than ca
be done via the Cape of Good Hope by ships
The commerce OF Europe with Asia, in whic
we do 10 not participate to lhevalue of one cen
amounts IN The aggregate to S250,000,000 pc
annun', making more than 200, 900 tons weigh
which at its tolls, would give 10 the road $l2
lo0OO0 per annum, and TO the roads leading t
and joining it from the Atlantic cities, $4,000
! GOO matchmaking S24, 10000 per annum, whic
the commerce OF Europe " it'll ASA would b
! Tributary to us alone, for transit across our cor
tinenl, and which Is small compared with all tn
other advantages TO grow ont oft. So that it
possible that the road will not be able to accom-
MEDIATE all the business now ready for it, but ne
probable that there will not be business enoug
10 support H..
| II VIII be seen from actual calculation iht
mere Is no other route across this continent
Chlha, SO short by several thousand miles, an
none other which would change the present roul
Tor the commerce of Europe with Asia.
route has been talked of from Charleston, s
u, though Louisiana, Texas and Mexico, to Ma
gelian, which from Charleston to China woul
DC 2342 miles creates distance, than frol
charleston to China via this route and per IN
Magellan route, the distance from all the cite
north oil Charleston must still be added.
a canal, somewhere across the Isthmus @
Mexico, has been for years talked of; but tina
would make the distance from Europe to ASIA
greater than around the capes. From Sydne
to London, through the proposed canal, would b
lO0o miles greater. From Canton 10 London
olo miles more, and from London TO Singapore
22@o miles greater distance than the presen
voyage around the cepes. Besides, the Orego
route Is the only one where the wilderness land
can be made to furnish the means for accom-
pl'shng the object desired
II has been my endeavor to show that thi
road can be built, upon the plan | have propos
ed, and that the means which have asked 70
VIII be made ample only by the road itself. hop,
lhaye not failed to do; but there other view
anu opinions 10 satisfy there are those who (per
haps without examination,) think or fear, to
much may be gained TO those who may be inter
ested with me in it that It It may create mucl
Individual tayor-accumulate lands in indyidua