Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-28
RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
TrnnE HAvrr, srrrrnsra, ls, ls4s

In my first letter spoke Of the several routes to the Pacific
which have been from time to time proposed. My object in
this will be show which Of those is the practicable
Every body will agree that If road shall be constructed
from the valley Of the Mississippi 10 the Pacific Ocean,
should be so located pass through, nearly possible
the central portion Of the United States This will give it,
in high degree its national character. But, besides this
is true that the geological structure Of this part Of the Union
is peculiarly adapted the construction Of such road
central will also enhance the value OF the public domain
than any other could possibly do. shall also assume
tina, will be likely meet with favor from the public
than one either in the extreme North or South.
The atudna limits of the United States present
between 450 and 25o norh-a central line Of latitude would
therefore be $50 north. This line through the de-
ghtfu region Of the globe If road were CONSTRUCTED upon
il, emigration would Immediately follow from the climate
would be interrupted with ice snow, but would be
passabe at all OF the year. Such road would open
continuous intercourse the oceans and by its
position duse the trade borne upon and along il every
seaport and State in the Union
In relation the course and locality of the route have
adopted the general views Of Mr. Mills expressed in his
several memorials Congress- series Of articles published
by him in the National n,elgencer and letter to me
dated late the 4th Of this month He thinks that the
here indicated is decidedly the best be selected
aude to his opinion entitled consideration, inasmuch
as he was the FIRST to investigate this subject, and known
to be gentleman Of great intelligence Il will be that
| other scientific gentlemen concur with him.
II the road should start from the Mississippi rversay
St Louis, (Which point think preferable all Others the
mouth Of the Ohio at Mempbs-the general direction
would be west, little NORTH to strike the Ell Paso del
Norte passage Of the mountains which divide the waters
falling into the Pacific and Atlantic From this point
the road would proceed along the valley Ga river
the point of San Diego, the Pacific by the valley
the north branch Of the Sacramento, San oachu) Mon
erey and the bay of San Francisco San Diego lies in lat
tude $50 north Monterey latitude sec north San Fran
CISCO latitude 37o north ST. Louis latitude $50 30 north
.L. e. 4. O-O.
north-al within nearly the parallel of latitude The
places here mentioned, in Mexico and California, all with
in the limits Of the territory obtained by late treaty with
Mexico
The natural formation Of all this region Of country adni-
aby adapted for the location Of the cadrunnng would
the most of the way with the of the rivers and having
but few principal streams to cross.
The from ST. Louis " Ell Paso del Norte" is only
about three feet the mile; and probably exceeding the
maximum rise per me for the profitable operation of ocomo
tive engines railways (Which is entsepen feet,) from
this point to the Pacific The distance om the Mississippi
river to Ell Paso may be estimated at thousand miles,
and from Ell Iaso San Diego, seveQ hundred mis-and
mostly through prairie country.
The road from ST. Louis in the direction of Ell Paso, would
pass through the neghborhood Of Fort Gibson Van
Buren, rkansas where it would the Arkansas river
and keep the most favorable ground between the of
the Arkansas and Red rivers would the main branch
of Red river high towards its source also the Rio Pecos
Puerco and the RIO del Norte Paso. After passing
through the gap Of the mountains here would pass
prairie region Through which wagon road is ocaed)
into the Gla valley, intersection with the Colorado of
the west From this point to San Diego difficult ground
would be encountered but is travelled by wagons al
the way San Diego.
As is probable that the highest rise Of country from ST.
Louis TO the Pacific would not exceed oe,ueon feet
the mile the pracicabify of this road be doubted
And why should this Government delay the construction Of
work thus practicable which destined built confer in
calculabe benefit upon the Union Such road would be
emphacay nationan It's character there would be nothing
sectional about it. From st. LOUIS its northern in
esecion with the Mississippi the communication with all the
Northern railroads from Portland Aaine) to Baltimore Ma
land would be easy as crossing the Mississippi here il
would pass through the heart Of the States Of Illinois, Indiana
Ohio, &c, instead Of ranging their northern boundaries
in the Of starting at Chicago Thus viii be that
Washington Baltimore, and Philadelphia could be reached IN
the sane time with New York Surprising that Little Rock
Fort Gibson should be the point of branching off northeast
TO ST Louis, branch road could easily be extended TO the
east and south towards Memphis Vicksburg aAd New Or
ans II such branch should be deemed preferable TO
mna1n Of the read the point the Mississippi
souh Of the termination Of the main line at ST. Louis In
either the road thus constructed would also
with all the south Of the Ohio the Atlantic bo
der the north by Nashville, Louisville, and Cincinnati
and the south by Mobile Tallahassee Savannah Charles
ton, Raleigh, Petersburg and Richmond, 10 Washington
Thus will be that would be within the power Of
every State OF the Union TO connect with this road.
As San Diego would be the terminus Of the road il
be of place the capacity Of its habo
TO meet the requirements Of the immense trade that would
centre there. Lieutenant COL Emory OF the Typographical
Rio del Norte, through FL Paso aud along the Ga val
ley, thus describes the harbcr Of San Diego
"The bay Corning the harbor) Of the sea,
ndentirg the land four five miles, easily defended
and having twenty feet water the lowest tide the tide rising
five feet gives al high water twenty five feet"
AT present ran Diego is, AL things combined perhaps
Of the best habos the Caao Pugets
sound with single exception, that of San Francisco In the
opinion Of intelligent naval officers il is preferable
% this The harbor Of San Francisco has water, but
that Of San Diego has uniform climate, better anchor
age and perhaps security from wind 10 any direction.
"However" says he, the commercial metropolis must
be San Francisco owing the great and supe
roy Of the country adjacent wacrcd by the rivers Sacra
meno and San Joachim unless, indeed San Diego should
be made the terminus Of railroad leading the route The
Gin 10 The Del NOte, and thence 10 The Mississippi and
dtLdnGc."
Il would be impossible to estimate the trade and Of
such road this would be- whether terminating San Diego
San Francisco. The trade of Europe alone with Asia
annually TO frO hundred and nm millions of
dollars, employing tco thousand ships, with tonnage Of one
million tco hundred thousand and employing ffy thousand
seamen All this trade would pass along this road. At
fair Of tolls this would pay tho Atlantic cities less
than ccnty -four millions Of dops per annum, which amount
Europe alone would contribute for transportation. II is
presumed that the amount would be greater than this
for from the increased facilities afforded, the impulse given to
industry would secure constant and gradual enlargement of
trade. And the additional security given by the Of
instead Of sails would also tend produce this increase
have here had reference only the foreign trade which
would pass this road. WHAT would be no hu
man sagaciy cen forcc Il must, however, be ry great