Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-30
RAILROADS.

Railroads.
The subject of railroads is which this time
engrosses large share Of public attention through
out the country. Notwithstanding the predictions of
" ruin which yet ring in our ears, there probably
never time when larger surplus Of means was
seeking investment. The highly prosperous state of
the country at large, urged 10 yet higher range by
extensive improvements, and none more closely uni
ting tins great family In bonds Of affection and inter-
est than railroads, evidently points TO them as
promising greater rewards for enterprise, in every
view, than any other of equal extent We learn that
agents in Boston from Illinois, asking aid 10 make
railroad from Alton on the Mississippi, to extend
through Springfield Ill.,, 10 Lafayette, on the Wabash
and from that point TO unite with the Detroit road at
New Buffalo Oh Lake Michigan, and thence through
Canada to BosionI Now, all this may be DONE aud
probably will be- But we hope our Indiana friends
on the central route, and especially the city Of Gin
cnnati will look well to it, that do not get be-
hind the times" Our Boston friends with the
dimes aso look wei, that thfg do not get the
shadow for the substance.
As this subject intimately concerns Indiana, we
make no excuse in placing such matter before our
lowing from the Boston Courier
Mississippi and Atlantic Railroad.
Boston Enterprise. Western Trade. indianapolis
Convention. RailIray 10 take The course Of the
Cumberland Road. Connection leih Cincinnati
with BlHmore-,cih Boston. Immense and in
creasing raiue of Western trade. Importance q
THIS Railroad 10 commerce. and TO rdHe Of NaSsa-
chHsettS Railroads..
Boston is behind no other city in promoting the
great improvements of the age; and her enterprise
already oyerleaps the bounds of New England and
extends helping hand to develop the latent energies
OF the remoter portions of our widespread nation
The trade of the west, if placed in connection with
the Atlantic States by continuous railroads, would
greatly exceed in value the whole existing commerce
OF the United States with foreign nations; and it is
somewhat remarkable that no combination of wealth
and enterprise has hitherto projected and accomplish
ed scheme Tor grand and unbroken railroad COM
munIcaton between the commercial cities Of the At
lantic coast and the emporium of the Mississippi
valley.
In May last a convention, at which the present
Governor of Ohio presided, held at indianapolis,
consisting of delegates from the three States of Ohio
Indiana and Illinois, to consult upon suitable means
to effect railroad connection between st. Louis and
Cincinnati; and in conjunction with this object
continued railroad connection between st. Louis. on
the MISSISSIPPI, and the termination of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad at Wheeling, on the Ohio, with the
ultimate view of thus completing railroad commu-
ncatlon, by one grand route, from the emporium of
the upper Mississippi to the Atlantic border.
The route proposed for this railway is the line of
the great Cumberland road. as marked out under the
direction of the Engineer department, by authority of
Congress. 1t from Wheeling, on the Ohio
through Columbus, the capital of Ohio lndianap polls
The capital of Indiana Terre Haute on the Wabash
and thence in direct line to 81. Louis on the Mis-
sIsslpp,-takng, in its whole course, of the most
fertile regions of the west, with population capable
of insurng to the road local business which would
be alone sufficient TO make il a safe and profitable in
veslment
1t ntersects the Wabash and Erie Canal at Terre
Haute; the railroad from Madison. the Ohio, at
indianapolis; the Cincinnati, Mad River and Sandus-
Ky railroad at Springfield, Ohio, and the great canals
of that State, besides several railroads in state
of progress or inception. The branch for Cincinnati
will diverge from the main line at Richmond, which
point sixty miles only from that city, and lies upon
the eastern border Of Indiana.
The whole distance from ST. Louis to Wheeling is
six hundred miles, through districts rkably favor
able for the construction of the road. company is
already chartered that portion of the road
which passes through the State of indiana, and the
Legslau of Ohio have granted the right of way for
lis entire through that State 10 Wheeling No
further Legislative action is therefore required
mence the prosecution of the whole ine with the ex-
ceplon only of that portion which extends through
the State Of Illinois, comprising hundred and sixty
miles,
The wealth and enterprise Of Indiana and of Ohio
fully adequate 10 accomplish their portion of the
enterprise, and the city of ST. Louis is ready to give
helping hand to that portion which passes through
Illinois, where the population is not sufficiently dense
rich to accomplish the work without aid from
abroad
H. 81 c.
to Baltimore, will not exceed nine hundred and fifty
miles in length. and may be readily travelled within
fUriy-eght hours.
Upon this route the whole travel from the eastern
and middle States would inevitably concentrate. But
the interest Of the west invites her to more direct
route with the New England cities, which could be
accomplished with readiness and certainty by rail
road dIverging from the main stem at Columbus, and
striking the great Western Railroad at Buffalo A
continuous line of railroad ght thus be accomp he'd
from Boston TO ST. Louis, by direct aud available
route, every section of which would embrace a rich
and we.-peopied country, abundany able to sustain
such road by the facilities afforded TO its local trade
and intercourse.
The alone of the great valley Of the Missis-
slppi bear annually upon their bosom commerce
which was estimated in 1915 at three hundred mil
lions of dollars. This trade will double in less than
ten years. The natural and best market for this im-
mense commerce, is New England; yet there is at
this time, safe and direct means of commercial in
tercourse with any portion of tho west ;-and during
several months in the year, it is wholly interdicted
by drought or food or frost. Could any investment
safe, that promises better return be hoped
for than is offered by enterprise 10 unite the cap
tai of New England with the emporium of the west
by railroad which is already half accomplished and
which may be completed by less amount of capital
than has been prOitaby expended two hundred
miles of railroad in Massachusetts and the middle
Statesi