The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-21
Railroad TO the Pacific.

Jesse E. Dow, Esq, in a letter to the Washing
ton Union, claims tina, he broached the idea of a
railroad to the Pacific, long before Mr.. Whitney
entered the field as its original protector" 1t
seems to Us that the merit of Mr.. Whitney does not
consist mi the suggestion OF railroad that hun
dreds talked OF years and years age, but in e.er-
ing 10 the public and 10 Congress plan by VIII "a.
such road might RECONSTRUCTED. Mr.. ID. says:--
Seeing notice in the Union, thstny native Sta
Sor psa prsssn.ea fsso,uSons 90 CSngsss: IN
cannot refrain from calling the attention M
trymen to The fact that, long before Mr. Whitnss sd
en- estimate for railroad nom indep sndenee Missc
to the Pacific Ocean, and had submitted the .,
for ste amships the Poetic, notviths.ndir ssoso
ply and Dr. La dner has = that sessms oald
With yrodt In the y-ss5as1 Iprcpossd to John Jacob
Astor, to command AZ a. 8tip- ~-nlorstion,
and proceed 70 the great wsstsrn en- snd 1rS
upon him tbo c-sat Experiences u sunt, both Ia
national pc aa.sry point OF ar. Astor de-
withdrawn in a great measure nom theft 10 Of the
northwest. nv object in that expedite to
connecting linz ~it cmerce Of the vast Pacidc.
western Roihschild been more enterprsiog in lis pei
low leaf believe thai ears since, my football would
hare startled the Gag in his solitude, AMI ny hand
have gathered the golden sands from the RIVERS Of
Ophir and Parvam.
Ir should begin too far north; for then it would
be closed by the great SHOWS, and be secona In its
fruits 1t should not begin too far SOUTH for then it
would be incommoded by a parched desert, ard be
liable to depopuaton from stra ngers YER
assuming sectional aspect that would be
to Its usefulness 1t should not bsein at the Rio Psso
in Vera Cruz bay because then it would run through
a foreign rickety republic to Tehusutepec; and wbsp
1t reached that bay, the vessels connecting with Il
would find themselves embayed ont Of the reach Of
trade DIS liable to encounter ali the bad wea-
tber Of the Gulf Of Mexico. II should not pass tbs
1ttbmus Of Pansma because would rec ure the Allan
tic steamers bound to England to run 1000 miles
along lee sbore-the coast of the United States
with harbor for e-thrd OF the distance of
sofcient depth Of water to admit them-would expose
the passengers to the vcssitudes Of all temperatures
from the frigd to the torrid zone-which would give
them long voyage the western shore to reach our
own sea ports the Pacific, amid tempests, earth
quREes, nd 1.-The pettence that walketh in darkness
and wasteth at noon day. divert from our
country and concentrate 1t In wild and defenceess
between bays that could be sealed up by the
English navy In week against the world; and this
too when France and are to grasp
the the former By right Of survey the part OF
pilgrim engineer, with ninety nine years charter
from government that MIR. Stephens, our Charge
not fnd and the latter by title derived from q nun
cupative will, made by bare backed Indian king the
king Of otquitots and mahcgan y-whereby Queen
Victoria became heir apparent to the wild lands of his
Royal Nakedpess
The great Resperan railroad should connect with
the atlantic, the capital Of Marylaud it should
run through the city OF Washington, cross the Ohio
river at Wheeling, pass through Columbus, the capital
Of Ohio, thence through Indianapolis the capital OF
Indiana thence through Springfield the capital of H.
Dois thence across the Mississippi st Louis,
thence over the western border of Missouri
10 Westport near the mouth of the Kansas river; and
thence as far az practicable along the banks of rivers
until IL reached St Vrsns fort, the south fork OF
The Platte or Fort Laramie, the north fork and
thence 70 the by the less exposed to
OF tnow and most convenient to the water courses.
Artesian wells sboud be constructed at convenient
distances on the route where the rivers failed to afford
ar ample supply, and permanent encampments Of drs
goons aud protected ty tents of India rubber
coh with iron framef should dot the line every TWEEN
nes from the mouth Of the Kansas to the Pacific
DIE would make about lsO posts and ut the of 80
nictrs ana men 10 port, would require 500 souls,
quo tfhcerr apo 900 and cost per not far
Tom $3.50 GOO This body of men would protect the
osd ave the various Indian tribes defsRd the settlers
md In their rights and nsurs the safety Of
ne rich trains that would pays through the country
rom asttrp India and IRON Europe The line should
De under the command Of Brleadi.r Geusral OF the
Jnied States Array, Who should pass over and inspect
he entire line once quarter. and repert directly to
he Secretary Of War. II Ia conceded by the p1ost
trait laced eonstitutonasts that the 80, of
he United States build military road rou IN ito
errittriss As the west ride Of Missouri VII tho
indian territory ection be urged again the
onstit1toDsty ofthe work from that point the Pa
i6c ocean.
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