The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-17
To the Editor Of he Nn,on .

To the Editor Of The Union:
SIR; Seeing notice in the Union" that my native
Stale connecticut had presented resolutions TO Cong
in favor OF Mr. Whltneys plan for a railroad to the Pa
CHIC, cannot refrain from calling the attention of my
countymen TO the fact that long before Mr. Whitney had
presented his plan TO the eye OF the public had made
estimate for railroad from Independence Missouri TO
the Pacific ocean, and had submitted the same TO several
members OF Congress had estimated, also, for steam
ships on the Pacific, notwithstanding Philosophy and Dr.
Lardner had asserted that steamships could never nav
gate the North Atlantic in safety with profit In
the year S37 | proposed 10 John Jacob Astor to COM
mand expedition of exploration, reconnaissance, and
trade, TO start from independence, and proceed to the
great Western ocean, and urged upon him the great inn
porance OF ssch lauHi both in national and pecunia
y point of view. Mr. -Asor declined my proposals, urg-
ing as reason his having Withdrawn IN great measure
from the fur trade OF the northwest My object IN that
expedition TO explore pathway for the iron horse
through the western wilderness, and select site upon
the seaboard for connecting link with the commerce OF
the vast Pacific. 1t was bright dream OF my young
fancy; and had our western Rohschild been enter
prislng in his yellow leaf believe that years since, my
football would have startled the eagle in has solitude, and
my hand have gathered the golden sands from the rivers
My object at present is TO enumerae the benefits
that might have accrued TO commerce to myself, had
been permitted 10 toll Tor her in danger al an earlier
period; nor is II 10 measure pedigrees with MIR Whit
neys plan, but simply TO show that III this matter have
right to speak on account OF relationship to the
first conception
Mr. Whitney deserves the highest praise for his per.
severance and energy IN bringing the subject OF this rail
road before the American people In their State egsla-
lures and the path proposed by him worthy of serious
consideration, inasnuch traverses certain States of
this Union renowned for their energy, and that wealth
which springs from labor The statistics of foreign trade
gathered by Mr. w are also OF vast importance TO those
who take an interest in an lron-bound, well as an
ocean bound republic. The railroad IRON to ocean
will soon be commenced. Necessity, with golden slip
pers will make her pathway smooth western
prares and rocky hills and the galopng mind of the
specuator will rest satisfied until ii outsp the
winged flame of the burning prairie.
W., ka,l al hot
point east OF the Rocky mountains shall said railroad
commence!
1t should not begin too far north for then would be
closed by the great SHOWS, and be sectional in It's fruits
Ii should not begin too far south Tor then 1t would be
incommoded by parched desert, and be liable TO de-
population from the strangers fever, besides assuming
sectional aspect that would be preudicial to liz useful
ness. 1t should not begin a, the Rio Passo, IN Vera
Cruz bay because then II would run through foreign
rickety republic to Tehuantepec and when it reached
that bay, the vessels connecting with IT would find them
selves embayed, out OF the reach OF trade Winds and
liable 10 encounter all the bad weather OF the
Gulf of Mexico 1t should not cross the isthmus
of Panama, because it would require the Atlantic
steamers bound TO Eng land TO run over 1000 miles along
a lee shorethe coast of the United States with scarce
a arbor for third of the distance OF sufficient depth
of waller TO admit hem-woud expose the passengers TO
the vicssiudes of all temperatures from the gd TO the
torrid zonewould give them long voyage on the west
ern shore to reach seapors the Pacific, and
amid tempests earthquakes, and "the pestllence that
walkeh in darkness and waseth at noon day-divert
commerce from our own country and concentrate II IN
be sealed up BY the English navy in week against the
world and this, too, when France and England are en-
deavorng grasp The samc-thc former by right OF sur
vey on the part OF pilgrim engineer, with "a 80 years
charter from a government that Mr.. Stephens our
charge daIares, hunted after for eight months, and
could find and the latter by tile derived from nun
cupaue ayiV, made by bare backed Indian kng-ihe
king of mosquitoes and mahogany-whereby Queen We
torla became her apparent TO the Wild lahds OF Ills
ROYAL NAKEDNEss
The great Hespean railroad should connect with the At
lanc the capital of Maryland II shoud run through
The city of Washington, the OHIO rver at heenS
pass titouah Columbus, the capital OF ONO, thence
through lndiaIop6lis the capital OF Indiana; thence
through Springfield the capital Of Illinois, thence across
the Mississippi near ST Louis, Missouri thence over the
western border of Missouri to Westport near The NOUN
of the Kanzas rver and thence far praccaoe along
the banks of rvets until it reached ST. Vans fort on the
south fork Of the Platte, or fort Laramie, on the norm
fork and thence to the by The route less exposed
to storms of and most convenient 10 the water
Courses. Artesan wells should be constructed at con
venient distances the where the rivers failed
to afford an ample supply and permanent encampmens OF
Dragons and aruces protected by tents OF Indian rubber
cloth, with iron frames should dot the Inc every twenty
miles from the mouth of the Kanzas to the Pacific This
would make about $50 posts and at the rate OF 90 oceIs
officers and 1000 and cost per annun not lar from
81 100000. This body of men would protect the road
awe the various Indian tribes, defend the settlers and
emgrants in their rights and insure the safety OF the
rich trains that would pass through the country from
Eastern India and from Europe Tho line should be un;
der the command OF brgadler general OF thg United
line quarter and report directly to the Secretary OF
Wat. Ii s conceded by the most strait laced consu-
uonalsts that the government OF the United States can
build military road through Its territories. As the
west side of the Missouri within the Indian territory,
valid objection be urged against the constitutions
atty of the work from that point TO inc Pacific ocean
From Annapolis to Washington city road is already
built and in operation A route is now in contempa-
ton far St Louis, TO connect with the Ohio and the
Chesapeake very little improvement TO these routes
would enable them all TO connect with the monster road
For the purpose OF guarding against all contingencies
and osses have estimated the coast of the railroad at
$4,000 per mie which, supposng the track to be 5000
miles long, will make the total cost of the same $780,,
O0O,O0O-a which the sales of public lands alone
the rate OF one mHlion per month an gold, the present
yed will pay in less than eight years; and which the
sales of lands and the yield Of The MINES added together
will pay for in six years.
The railroads of the Union including land at extrava
CANT prices have cost far less per mile than 100000; and
that too when there many obstacles 10 overcome
IN the construction of roads, which perseverance and
skill have since accomplished.
This monster work, mighty in It's consequences
and national in It's benefits, cannot be left ~
individual enterprise or be nursed along by a
lont-stock company 1t must be the work OF a
nation, 10 stand monument OF its glory when the
pyramids have crumbed to dust on the plains of Gizeh
and the marble pillars of Sunum have been wasted away
by the blue waves OF the Egean
In throwing out these suggestions, acnated by no
sectional interested motives An nhabtan of this dis
ianchlsed capital OF freedom, can look 10 all quarters
OF the Union with heart glowing with patriotism, and
free from prejudice. love all the in the Union of
our national ensign and would die at my hearth
stone than see spot upon their bright disks hear
one wall from the hamets that they enghten. desire,
before California becomes State to have this railroad