Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-05-26

The bill Tor establishing railroad to Oregon re-
ported to the House OF Representatives by the Com
mittec to whom the subject referred, has passed
by unanimous to second reading and is now
in Committee of the whole House. The bill reported
10y the Committee differs from that drawn up by Mr.
Whitney IN some respects, particularly IN regard TO
the regulation oi the tolls, a night which the bill ms
originally framed reserved to Congress- but which the
Committce thought best 10 leave, to be graduated ac-
cOrdlng To the circumstances by the states Though
winch the road may pass
The bill does not give, nor was it any yart of the
original plan 10 give any person engaged IN PROJECT
ing or building this railway, any portion OF the lands
appropriated to furnishing the means tor It's consruc
ton None OF the lands 70 from the possession OF
government until they sold to actual settlers, in
parcels containing from forty to one hundred and SIN
~ acres 10 these settlers the patents are to be lssu-
ed, and the money paid for the land Is expended in la
Dor and materials Tor the undertaking. The settler
gets the land Tor his money and has the railway for
nothing. Mr.. Whitney, for aught we perceive, gets
nothing but the glory OF having projected the work, and
procured 1t to be carried INTO execution.
The Committee, we learn were unanimous in re-
gard To the immediate eXpedlency OF the enterprise,
and IN regard To the provisions OF the bill 1t Is mn
purtaut, however, to IT'S success That the measure
should be speedily adopted. In other projects delay
often adds strength the materials Tor adopting them,
and accumulatcs the means OF executing them. But
in this cnsc. every months delay dlminishcs the re-
sources which are relied upon 1t is important that
the railway shond commence at the lakes, where the
uCh aud well numbered lands Will furnish the means
tor making the road Tar IN the and wilderness which
stretches away eastward from Tie Rocky Mountains
These lands are now filling up with settlers and a
very short time, few months perhaps, will defeat the
project forever leave the government without the
means OF executing H. and postpone railway COM
Inunicatiun with the Pacific to the next century
There is a report OF which brief account Is given
in the Washington letter publish to-day, made by
Mr. King, oil Georgia, IN which strong argument Il
advanced for Il land communication with the Pacific
1t is contained IN the following passage:
Place one end oil a Suing on a globe at Panama
draw it tight with the other end at Shanghai, aud
will cross the sthmus dlagonaly pass up the Cult
Mexico, and through Louisiana To the west OF the Nj
sls-ppl river, and describing circle, will pass TO tn
sogln OF Columbia river, and crossing the Pacific vii
in its greatest nurthery incubation, touch along tn
chain Of Acutian or Fox Islands and as 1t approach
Japan and China, pass the straits OF Sanger be
tween the Islands OF Niphou or Japan and Jesse, AN
through the OF Japan, passing near to Queipaert
( lsland-which has been taken possession OF by til
- Brltish-and terminate at Shangai
" This line cXpodes the idea oil a ship canal acros
r the isthnuS, and establishes beyond controversy til
u great necessity and importance OF railway from tn
= Mississippi to the Pacific ocean. As tins work-th
: greatest OF the age in which livehas not yet bee
e commenced, aud its completion will require sever
years. becomes necessary 10 avail ourselves IN Il
It mean time OF the most practicable and expedition
route, IN Y IrfHiHg Post.