The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-26

The Mississippi and the Pacific.
That CONNECTION. by railroad is TO be
made, sooner or later between the Missis-
sippi and the Pacific seems to be gsnegally
admitted The grand project Of M BIN
ToS contemplates an early beginning q the
work Yet not too early for the requirements
ofthe age. We find, however, that the gem
eral appreciation which has been gvsn-to
this imposing design meets with an excep-
ton now and then. The Philadelphia Amer
lean, speaking Of the subject, says:
3The idea that railroad could, under the
present condition Of things, be safely COM
menced and successfully constructed between
the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Ocean,
appears to us a particularly wild one. We
have famiiarized ourselves with the project;
but it is, in reality, one Of the most enor-
nous that the human mind ever conceived.
What were the Pyramids, or even the Chs
nese wall to railroad Of 900 800
or 1900 miles long, every mile Of it, too,
through an uninhabited wilderness, and more
than half of it bowling desert The phys
ical difficulties are almost intellectually great |;
the financial ones are still more formidable.
Where is the money to come lrom' The
constitutional scrnples of whole political
party, comprising half the people, prevent
the possibility Of its coming directly from the
Golfers Of the government. From the public
lands' They must be made valuable first,
by population: there is no intrinsic value in
prairies, sage plains, and volcanic pedregals
NOT even in the rich soils of Bear River
Valley, and other out Of the way hooks Of
the Rocky Mountains. Time is, here, the
true and indispensable element Of value, and
the value will come only with time. We
want some more trustworthy estimates Of
expense and calculations Of resources than
we have yet been favored with, before we
can feel certain Of our ability during the pre-
sent generation to establ sh arailroad commu-
nication between the Mississippi and the
Columbia or Sacramento. y
How great soever this undertaking may
be, it is not too great for the American peo-
pie. II is not too great to be begun. Phys
ical difficulties The route from the Missis-
sipp 10 the Rocky Mountains is level
prairie, with but slight fluctuations, and along
the courses Of the Missouri and the Platte,
where the road will run, those fluctuations
may be avoided. The scarcity Of timber
will present the greatest difficulty. But from
the regions Of the Upper Mississippi It can
be brought in any quantity.
The money to be applied to the construc-
ton is 10 come from the proceeds OF the sales
Of the public lands. Ever since the estab-
lshment Of the government an annual reve-
nue. has been derived from that source. 1t
may average three millions one year with
another In proportion as the road advanced
westwardly it would enhance the value of
the lands, and cause increased sales; but il is
not necessary to calculate specially upon this
enhancement. The ordinary land revenue,
if it should remain at its present average,
would be sufficient to carry the road forward
with considerable rapidity.
political party" will have to give way to the
spirit Of the age, and TO the force Of irresst-
sible tendencies Those scruples must be
overborne if they viii not be coneiliated.
The Lilliputians cannot expect to keep GuL-
LIVER always fastened down by pegs in his
hair
The march Of the Republic is onward.
The avidity with which thousands are rush
irg to the gold mines Of California is in har
monious keeping with the enthusiasm which
urges the enterprising throng 70 the shores
Of the Pacific. Both impulses unite to the
same end Bah. Amer.