The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-06
spirit or the Age-VallrPads and Canals, In
Progress and In Contemplation.

Spirit or the Age-Vallrpads and Canals, In
Progress and In Contemplation.
The magnetic telegraph, acting as spur to the
spirit of Improvement, has given new impetus to
American enterprise, which manifests itsefin no
way more strikingly than by presenting view
ofmagnificent projects for facilitating commune
cation between points of Importance, far distant
from each other. Our business men-now
able to send a communication TO correspon-
dent in Cincinnati, st. Louis, or Petersburg, and
receive an answer, In as short time as if their
billet went only to the next street, and returned
no longer bear the idea of creeping with
their merchandise through thousands and thou
sands of miles of rough sea, in order to gain ac-
cess to ports on the western side of the conti-
nent. 1t seems, somehow, unnatural to seek
the islands of the North Pacific, or even the
China Sea, by the long and wearisome way of
the North and South Atlantic and Indian Oceans,
whena route so much more direct lies westward,
across our own territory and the Pacific Ocean.
The increasing interest taken in the subject ofa
great natl onal railroad from the Atlantic States to
the Pacific coast the recent survey of the north
western passage, the meny projects for railroads
and canals across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
or DarIen, are all phenomena showing the exis-
tence of great schemes, which, though asyet in
cipient,w assuredly, at very distant day, be
consummated. Meanwhile, the vigor with
which new railroad and canal enterprises are
carried on, throughout the United States, is
indicative of the national feeling, which cannot
consent to be behind the most active in enter
prlses affecting the great commercial arm. The
various and varied interests ofmerchants, miners,
manufacturers, agriculturists, and lumbermen,
all combine to demand new ways of travel.
They all want railroad across Oregon; are all
in favor of either canal or railroad across the
Isthmus; are anxious to see ship canal across
the peninsula of Florida; are favorable to open
ing northern route to the Mississippi.
But to notice these enterprises some thing
more in detail-by connecting canals, the ST.
Lawrence is to be joined to Lake Champlain,
and thus made serviceable as a great highw ay
for the products of the fertile northwest, seeking
an eastern market. The only canal necessary to
be built, in order to accomplish this, will not be
more than thirty miles long, and will cost only
$500, 000-an amount insignificant, when COM
pared with the result to be gained; an important
CONJUNCTION will be formed, and the initiatory
step to new class of enterprises be taken.
Another and still more important movement is
that which proposes to fill up the spaces at present
intervening between the termini of various rail-
roads which stretch, with butfew intervals, from
New York, the eastern, and other Atlantic States,
far away towards toe northern valley Of the Mis-
sissippi. Substantial roads through the States of
New York and Massachusetts, are already in the
most active employment from the cities of New
York and Boston, to the Niagara frontier. 1t is
now proposed to build road across the Canada
,rauips,,l, lvipO botxu tho Nionara IN
the east, and the Detroit and ST. Clair rivers on
the west. Other roads are proposed, to extend
over our own territory, along the southern shores
Of Lake Erie; but the Canadian road would be
more direct, requiring but 2S6 miles to connect
Niagara and Detroit. At Detroit, the line is again
resumed over the lines already built across Mchi-
gan, and thus pushes westward till the produc-
tive regions of the Northern Mississ ippi are
reached. When all these undertakings are COM
pleted, there will be almost straight line of
railroads, over which the vast mineral and ether
stores of Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa,
can be with great facility brought to our market.
A glance at map is all that is necessary to see
at once the great utility of this movement
The railroads through the States of Gre orgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, now far
advanced towards completion, will form another
Oh tucsc SIduu ItFItc6, anu Will oPch nv
sources of profit and wealth. The investment in
this and other railroads in the single State OF
Georgia, will amount to over SIS, O00, 900. A
line is also to be constructed Gin all probability
from Mobile to Columbus, IN Kentucky, 40 miles
below the mouth of the Ohio river; and twin
enterprise to this last one, proposes the building
of still another line from st. Louis to Cincin-
natl, via Vincennes, Indiana. And finally comes
the proposed ship canal across Florida, which
can be built for S5OO,OOO, and which would eni-
bic vessels to avoid those dangerous keys and
shoals which lie in such profusion around the
southern point of the Peninsula.
These are only the long lines of railroads and
canals of common interest, 30 to write, and
do not touch upon the extensive works
which lie entirely within single States, like
the Erie Railroad in our own State, the seve-
raj roads in Pennsylvania, and the many
projected ones in the New England States,
which last have already $50, 900 invested in
this kind of property. 1t will not do to call
these projected schemes mere speculations, which
will never be realized. They will be realized
in full. Not only will these, but other great
lines, not yet thought of, be built, as new
resources are developed. Our more enterprising
States already appear bound and cross-bound
by these bands of iron. In seventeen years
we have built five thousand miles of railroad, at
an outlay of nearly one hundred and twenty
three millions of dollars, and have others COM
menced, and in various stages of progress, to
complete which will require thrty-fve millions
more; and every year gives confidence to capt.
talists, and renewed.v gor to enterprises of this
kind. The truth is, that the interests of all
classes are so Immediately ncerned, that the
whole nation may be said to have their shout
ders at the wheel, to aid forward these useful
works, which, in their construction, furnish en-
ployment to so many scientific men, artizans, and