New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-14
Railroad 10 the Pacific,
UorsE ~ REF. WAsHiNGr0N De-

IRE memorial Of william Il A.pinwsu John l.
stephens. Henry Chsuucey and their associates -
spectiul.y represents
That the ACQUISITION OF California sni the settlement
OF our boundary Inc in Oregon have opened new cr'
in the history Of this cOuntry. OF the value OF these
new territories they do not propose % speak farther
than . say trst the rdncss Of the climate the -ch
ness Il the soil the great promise Of mineral vesth
and above a tre long line Of coast with the gum
cent tsrbcrs pn the Pacidc. seem % Be sufficiently sp
pre- sfef 1y al classes OF people A. this moment
I hundreds OF young men, fal OF enterprise from our
Eastern states are tgfeiing The storms az Csp1 Horn
while IN the coming spring she hardy pioneers Of ne
Wesi VIII - moving oy thousands over the desc ate
praries az climbing toe rugged sleeps OF me h1cSy
Mountains 20 build - FOR states on the Pacic
Already . "a felt hardship BY those who 81 cui
irom among u.s. that on,e settled in California snd
Oregon trey are % great extent cut on nom ai the
iearss, relations Of life snd thst there o.
returning Of personal Intercourse with friends ~
home cxcep. hy the st0rmest passage ever known 10
sea or the most toisome journey ever made hy land
10 view this condition OF this. and % mold OUT some
encourasement % emizrsnts that they might nor De-
virtually eypatraffi when upon sol. and with
farther view Of fsciliiatng communications WITH
military srd naval stations on ne fscnc Congress
70 rs session before the last established fine of
I monthly malsteaners from New York - Cnagrts on
the Atlantic side Of the lsthmus Of Panama ard from
Panama on the Pacific side 70 California and oregon.
The will no doubt cienty he great purpose
Of facilitating correspondence by msii with those Ter.
rtories but II cannot . any extent the imne
ate and pressing want Oi a tn0rOugriare Tor travel
D
answer ~ al the constant and sometimes pressing DC
casI0ns Tor the transportation Of men, munitions oi
war. sni naval stores for our military sni naval ia
tons the Pacific. at % which. however great me
emergency and 40 whatever sacrifice of time and money
must go hg the long and hazardous voyage around Cape
horn by the Wild paths scross the Rocky Mountains
/ for half the year covered with SHOWS and entirely i'm
/ pracucab's.
Tho Isihnus OF Panama Is about 20 miles IN breadth.
ess hsn on any other part of the Continent OF Amer
les and from the falling of Of the great range Of Cor
] all Rocky Mountains toe An.
ies. q has always been considered "a the region In
VII ch n ever. an easy communication would o. effect
/ ed either by Canal or Road between the Two seas
The route over Il l. probably worse now than IN the
early days OF Spanish dominion when the gold Of Peru
passed over i % freight with almost fabulous wealth
toe argos.es OF spain No wheel carriage hss ever At
tempted O. cross L. The present mode Of doing 80 Il
by canoe up the Chsgres River set for great part OF
the distance by poles against the current and requiring
- % 800 hours Cruces Thence to Panama there u
mule road, dicultat all times Tor women ard children,
particularly with the effects of moving emigrsting
party and during the rainy season almost impossible
/ The Pacific Mail Company. charged With The trans.
poriston Of the mail from Panama 20 California and
20 Oregon. comprising your memcriaists, mmediatey
upon assuming the obligations OF their contract saw tue
necessity ior their own interest OF improving the road
across the thmus and after consultation with several
gentlemen IN high position At Washington took upon
themselves the burden and expense OF ntin. out an eN
petition for the purpose Of an examination and survey
One their associates % whom the execution Ci this
work was entrusted passed the last Winter on tho 18th
mus attended by two engineers OF high standing, who,
beside making general observations upon the i-ce OF The
country. commenced regular survey AZ high water
mark on the shore Of the Pacific and carried IL across
the Corderas down 10 the FRS, stream that enters into
the Atlantic when the farther prosecution OF the work
was broken up by the setting 10 Of the rainy season and
/ the party returned ~ Hew-f0rk
The schcms ~ this Company In trcurrng thr eN
pen ot this expedition, contemplated, As your memo
r..ts understand action on the part of She GOV
eminent n the way OF ia aiding n me construction %
10 least good wagon or plank road but The result
satisfied them that from the broken character OF the
country and the dsuges u the rainy season this would
be work Of tar greater magnitude than they mad eN
pacted and In the meantime new aspect has been xiv
en- In This matter By the important action of the Gov
| eminent itself
treaty has been negotiated with the Government az
New.Grsuads, by which ihe United states have under
| taken Ia consideration OF rec and uninterrupted
right of way the sihmus of Panama, by soy rosd
or roads then existing thereafter 10 De made 10 1sr
anty o. the pubic the neutrality OF the isthmus sud mo
authority of New Grenada over y So that II the istn
mus should invaded by any foreign Power the Uni
ted States are bound % protect with their Army and
Navy This treaty. In IL character and 90 im
p1rtant In the obligations IL assumes. was ratified Dy
the senate a. your uris SIS unt erstant without
dissenting voice and yClr mem0risst- regard 10 AS
manifest ind cation iho part OF our Government OF
the great national importance Of free and unnirfrup
ed massage az all times and forever across the i-fHls
/ OF Panama A. the closng act 81 That pohcy which
Established the mail route % California snd Oregon by
way of that lsihmus. and a. dev0lyng upon the Gov
eminent the necessity OF lending its c0untenance %
ward the Improvement Of the road across b. without
which they respectfully represent the heavy ooifn
tons of thu treaty vii b. attended Win no eQuFarnf
advantage and the right of way thus wisely secured
can never be- fully n0yed. Impressed with ne mp1r
lance of this matter involving the prosperity Of tsl
ioruia ADD Oregon and the welfare of at VIM sro In
any way connected with citizens la those terrific.
res and regarding Il vtaly affecting The best inter
ests ol our Government in political and pecunifly
uDnt Of view and having under their control the maps
draw NJ aud other Information procured % the fac1c
/ Vail Company your mem0rislists have secured %
them solves exclusive gran, or prfurEo ~ ninety
nine years from the Republic ~ New Grensds Tor con.
structng railroad across the lstnnus ~ fsnAms ana
they come before your hon0rsbie body O ask the ro
operation and aid necessary igr carrying out this greet
American work They beg leave % say that ~ speedy
completion BY private enterprise alone "i'hon, me
ruuutenance OF Government cannot BE- esp-cted ffIF
ilase after privilege similar to that which tney NV
mold mss been granted 20 others and al have failed u
does promise any iumed ie or certain returns ana
for complete aud early success 10 requires some engage
rn.uf Tor employment and compensation ~ THE Govern
aent a. an nducetnrnt b. capitalists - unite with your
/ msrnoriaists In furnishing the necessary means
Your memoralists believe that events ave been
r,lirr on toward cousnnms0n OF inI long fslzft ~
! work and tast the appointed time tss nov srrigsd
tna, the ACQUISITION Of California by the lntet states
and the estsbfshmsnt OF Organized Government 10
our territory 0t Oregon have liked ne period ana ihe
hand. by which q % be accomplished that f hes BE-
come the destiny of this country Tor - own interests
tor the benefit OF Ire an people snd Tor me so'' on
the world alone. promptly and "itnoui Decay %
achieve an enterprise which TOR more than three c-ntl
re, has under some aspect been cqnfemplttel ana
urooosai BY Al the great Powers OF Europe II u IN
der strong sense mat they bal speak the feelings q
The grez, mass OF people that tfy naYe Fentufea
% embark IN the great enterprise before nsm ahi ~
aim Il becoming instruments IN carrying out work
which from the time when Nunez balboa from TIE
nights of Darien frs the great souta sea nas DC
rup,ad the minds cf Al civilized people, Nnicn must
refect honor upon american enterprise, snd which BY
bringing INTO close relation. The most distant parts Of
our republic must add % and enlarge The sphere VI
human happiness
Your ulefnoriaists hope that these sn1 other co1sd
arafiaus OF the Ike nature may have At proper innu
ence UPON your honorable body Bat they AK your co
operation 90 none Of these grounds they ssE y ony On
tf- ground frsf Of economy and p-cunisry saFn. 10
| the Government; In the transportation or men, n-ni
tons Of war snd naval stores 10 cur military and naval
stations 10 California and Oregon and, sec0nd. on t1-
higher and more important political ground ol beng spe
La Ia emergency and when occasion requires = snl
-ainfrceeuts 10 ess than thirty dsys, instead oi Elk
month. A. REQUIRED % send ihrfn af0-nd ceFe horn on
,-ro.s tne Rocky M0unisus. They a.z no advance %
money toward rhe c.lstructl0n o the ro4i, snd no
rou.n.sti0n until services are Performed Dut tneJ
re.psctfhly pray your Honorable bodies g. empower
snf direct lie Secretary Of the SIVy - enter into
contra, WIN your neuOrssts ior the transportation
on aid road tor period OF twenty years Of nsFs and
army supplies including troops, munitions o. var pro
Visions naval stores the mails u the nfef rtars ani
n. prbic agents Il not exceeding the amount
- .-iset bv az % b. paid f0r the trans ports1o
IN "a. maj. s5n- from Ne- York o. LiverPo9l pro
-id-t th.t vogr raemorAlists snail within ore year