Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-18
RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC ocEAN-No III.
Ttnnr H4urr, ooroprn "a, 1913.

me from home, have pevened from continuing regular,
my letters the impqtance and necessity of constructing
Railroad to the Pacific hope shall be able to do SC
without interruption.
Since the publication, of my first letter several very ably
written and interesting articles have appeared in the "Na
tiondl LateHgeneer, over the signature Of "Ophloco,
on the trade of Chia which very concIusvey show the
importance Of the re the United States take it for
granted however, thu this is not doubted by any body The
readers OF the ncer especially, have heretofore had
ample means Of forming opinion this subject every
thing that could be sad about said, than year
ago, in series of articles the Commerce Of the Pacfc
and "ss route tole Paeifc Ocean," which UNDER
stood to have been written by RoBERT Mills Esq The
very able report from tip Hon. 1HoaAs Butler KING, from
the Committee Nava Ars, of the House of Representa-
tyes, referred to by" dpc0" contains also very valuable
information on this So also does that Of the Hon.
Thomas H. BESToS, from which have quoted in my first
letter have lot beer able find any earlier vaiu-
able suggestions on the bect than those made by Mr. Benton
and Mr.. Mills.
"Ophloco," who HIS evidently studied this subject, DIFF
ers with only The point on the Mississippi fom
which the road shall west He suggests Memphis and
have given the preference to ST. Louis. | do not attach
very much importance the point there will, doubtless
DC connexion with thu main trunk from all the principal
cities OF the United Stats il the eastern terminus
ar north This view Isuggested in my second letter 1t
was, however, mere Suggestion, not certain that it
good policy to discuss at present. the respective claims of
rival cities or points, inasuch such discussion might array
local feelings prejudcial 10 the work. appears be
best for the present least that the general subject should
De considered only hears upon the trade Of the whole
country and not upon particular parts The work be
national one IT'S only by preserving for it that character
that constitutional difficulties to be avoided. DO
favor the idea Of authorizing the construction of such work
by company, under charter from Congress. An
prise OF this kind should be left individual management
II is probable, if such charter were obtained that the
grant OF public lands and there very many good obec
tons to such grant The failure Of Mr.. Whneys project
has proven, aso that Congress will be likely to make one
Another writer ID the lntclgencer Charles Fletcher, of
Lancaster, speaks OF plan which he understands will be
laid before Congress at its session, by Mr. Carver
who resides the falls of ST. Anthony. From what Mr.
Fletcher says infer that both he and Mr.. Carver will give
preference to route passing from Chicago Galena and
oa thence through Iowa to the Council Bluffs, the Mis-
souri, This route is not liable all he objections that
Waitneys is, but it is to prominent 1t too far
north TO accommodate any considerable portion Of the route
as that city by its enterprise has already secured very large
perhaps the largest share Of the trade that passes North
lakes. But il would render it almost impossible for the
Southern Southwestern, and of the Western States to
unite with the main Of the road by lateral branches
Either the Memphis st Louis much preferable
to this all paris OF the United States could with
them.
havo said that such work this should rot be placed
in the hands OF company 1t is unquesonatly much better
that it should be done entirely by the General Government.
Ii there large profits 10 be made by IT, they will when the
road paid for either go into the Treasury the support of
the Government or, which would be preferable constitute
fund for the construction of other roads in different parts Of
the Union. agree, however, that much rigid system
of economy must be adopted than has heretofore prevailed
public works. bn this be dependant in great mea
sure upon the character Of the gentlemen who shall charg
ed with the work. AT all events, satisfied that the whole
work may be completed for the sumsaed me- 0O0
and perLsls less. What is such sum as this to nation
like ours especially when consider the vast importance of
the work to be accomplished
had, to the commercial importance Of this route
intended to conense Of the views Of Lieut. Maury of
the United States Navy while engaged in doing So found
the following in the I" Western Christian Advocate which
is quite ui lent for the purpose designed 1t is from the
pen OF Dr. a. Simpson, late President of the Indiana Asbury
UNIVERSITY He says
or wei known 10 mariners and gaogaphers and recently
public attention has been called the fact by Lieut. Maury
Uned States navy, that the between any two
points not he parallel of latitude joining them but The
of great circle passing through them. In examining maps
deceived the direction sailing on this account
but any will take globe and connect any two places
by string tightly drawn, il will snow the direction which
vessel should take there Obstacles BY thus joining
tie potts Of Chill and Peru with those OF China, it will lie
perceived that The direct line will pass close Monterey In
deed the line win touch almost the whole continent south OF
Monterey. Lieut. Maury has further shown that this line
will pass the Fox, Aeutan islands, which might be
u ed as deposes Tor coal &c, aud thus would divide the
distance, making the passage either from Monterey China
TO those Islands somewhat les the distance from Liver
pool Halifax Steamers might then traverse the ocean
regularly least thirty days Were this route determined
upon, 1t probably will be few years, tho whole trade
OF China and much of that Of In1a pass this way
"I then, Monterey joined with New York by railroad
and Geographic communication the commercial intelligence,
and much Of the trade, would pass continent its
way 10 Europe. II jim New York with Monterey, the
direct connecting line would pass Milwaukee but this
IS too far north 10 odmto direct route Ice think highly
probable thai 81. Louis IcOd he made pont, and from
tnce trade WouH pass by the routes connecting
tint place ,cith the East"
When consider these great commercial advantages,
combined with soil in many places productive, and CHI
mate at pleasant and saubous doubt Cali
forua is destined To contain large population Emigration
will take place from China we'll from the older Stat
and Europe and here will commence in all probability, that
mingng Of the which will lead the Of
Asia Already il announc that a colony OF Chinese
about ssng for California and when that ovcreeDing
country shall find itself connected with inving-one
which offer such great inducemcats-wl the emgra
ton vastly increase The enterprise Of America will pess
TO Asia, converted and enterrising Chinese will
their land, BEARING the Gospel missionaries and the
arg and manufactures Of land the shores Of the Cees
tal it1pte nn long, the ihrons Of China and japan
wi fhake like those Of France and Austria.
Lieut. Msury expresses preference for the route from
Memphis the most central and direct that has
b.ep proposed from the United to China He thinks
the distance from Memphis by Monterey and the great circle
is only per cent greater than is by "bee line
drawn though the air from heaphis direct Shangbae in
China. He also thinks that Monterey directly the
great highway from western North America and Mexico
China and that this fact Of itself sufficient show why
tie preference should be given the American term-
Of nv of