The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-02
pacifa Railroads,


who are willing to undertake the construction o
railroads or other means Of communication witt
the Pacific, if it can b, done at the expense of thu
government for the sole profit of themselves, il
rapidly increasing The project of Mr.. Whitney
to build RAILROAD from Lake Michigan to the moutf
of the Columbia, for the trifing consideration o
sixty miles of the public lands on each side of The
road, through its entire length, has been followed
| by another from a Mr.. Bayard, who proposes t.
make a road from ST. Louis to San Francisco, fo
| only twenty-five miles Of public land on eacl
side of his route, offering furthermore to deposit five
millions of bonds with the government. on which
it shall pay him an interest Of six per cent, as secu
| rity for the completion of the road. These two
| rival projects have hardly come before the public
when up spring Messrs. Aspinwall & Co, and ask
tor the exclusive permission, something like it, to
| make railroad across the IsthmuS of Panama and
ask the government only for u contract which will
pay them five per cent. the capital which they
expect to eXpend, restore the whole of that CAPT.
tai to them In twenty years, for the transportation
OF troops, stores, etc, of the United States
a space Of thirty miles-and they have found a
committee, at the head of which is Mr.. II. Butler
King, to report in favor of the scheme!
1t is not our intention to enter into any elaborate
review of the advantages or disadvantages of these
different routes, although we think that proposed
by Bayarj the best, and that about to be adopted
by Aspinwal & Co., the wors! of the three, for
| a permanent arrangement From St. Louis to San
Francisco, Or from some point between New
Orleans and ST Louis TO the mouth Of the Sacra-
mento, will doubtless be the route which will be
finally adopted for railroad 1t is the shortest-i
through the most fertile and easily traversed
portion of the country-t runs entirely within the
limits of the United Statess latitude renders the
climate healthy, and exempts it from the ice and
SHOWS Of a more northern and the vrulent diseases
of a more southern route. Ofthe Panama scheme,
but one thing can be said in its favor-it is a good
present SO make-shilt the distance OF the land
carriage is trilling, can be easily overcome, and
will shorten greatly the passage when compared
with the voyage around Cape Horn. But to
the Panama Railroad, as work which is to
be built by or under the patronage of the Govern
ment there insuperabe objections. |. is not
within the limits nor under the permanent control
of the United States, and even the right of transit
by our citizens may at any time be interrupted. 1t
lies within the most pestierous climate in The world,
the interior of Africa perhaps excepted 1t is, as
expensive route. Chagres is ten days from New
Orleans, fifteen days from New York; and Panama,
the other end of the road is fifteen or twenty days
from San Francisco, with the cost and delay of
reshipment and transportation across the isthmus
The distance from New York TO San Francisco, by
the way of Panama, would, therefore, under the
most favorable circumstances, be for passenger
from thirty to thriy-fve days, and for merchandise
Al 4
days--for it is by days and not by miles that
must count these things-while the distance by
railroad across from 81. Louis or the mouth of the
Ohio, or Memphis, would not be more than eight
or nine days. This would be the gain of a national
railroad in time; the gain in expense Of transit and
profits of Commerce would be incalculabe.
But, as We said before, we do not intend TO re-
view in full the advantages Of the different routes,
but to enter humble protest against every one
Of the schemes proposed. The Government of the
United States has no right to give lis public domain,
nor to pay graiuitles in money, under the form Of
contracts, TO build up companies indvduals--to
foster monopolies, for private advantage, at the |
public expense. communication is wanted with |
the Pacifc--the necessity of intercourse with our
people in Oregon and California, the obligations TO
govern them in peace and to protect them in war;
demand such a communication-and demand that |
it should be entirely under our own control, and |
by the most direct and rapid route. 1t becomes, in
this view, Il great national work - one which |
great nation should, for its own safety, and with
proper regard for its duties, undertake itself, and
moi he trifing or huckstering with Mr.. Whitney or
Mr. Bayard, OF the Messrs. Aspinwall g. Co. If |
these individuals can make it profitable to build |
road, let them build it-ten or a dozen, if thew |
let them pursue their own course, avail
ing themselves of their enterprise and capital
but if the roads cannot be built without the direct |
or indirect aid of the Government, common sense
would dictate that the party in the transaction who
took all the responsibility and bore all the expense
should not do it for the exclusive advantage of |
others. If the Government must build the road,
after all, let it take the honor Of the work and |
secure to the whole people the benefits thereof
This is the most dignfed, honorable, patriotic,
and, what may not be without its influence, the
cheapest way in which the desired end can be at
tanned. Such a work would become the people
and the age-it would enable the Government to |
discharge its obligations, and OPEN vast field for
the enterprise, industry and intelligence of our |
people would unite the different parts of this great
country in Tie closest bonds for ever and would |
place Us at once indsputabIy at the head of the
nations of the earth. Rome could build the APP
plan and Flaminian roads, to bind her provinces
together, yet Rome had neither our power, means,
nor motives for the undertaking Of such great
works--and here is one which would cost less thar
either of Rome's famous highways, but which |
would far Guido, in utility and real greatness, all
the monuments Of her power and splendor. 1t
would give us the command of two oceans, and
make Europe and Asia alike tributaries 10 our
people, and sources of our wealth and power.
PUBLIC SCHooLs.-The exercises yesterday at
the Presbyterian Church opposite Lafayette Square,
were of highly interesting nature. The building
was crowded TO It's utmost capacity with delighted
spectators, all Of whom seemed to view the pro-
ceedings with much pleasure The orleP of exer-
cses was completed in the manner laid down in the
prOpra Innp with the aYcenton of two neces which