Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-12-01
ST. LOUIS RAILROAD CONVENTION.


In the Merchants Exchange, for the purpose
Oh nearing The report Ct the delegation appoiH.
led 10 attend the st. Louis Railroad Conyen-
ton in October last, when Solomon w. Ro.
berts, Esq, submitted the following written
report, which he accompanied with soms
appropriate observation on the great under.
taking, which in connection with pur own
enterprises now in hand, is destined to eser.
else so important an influence on the dest;nv
OF our city The report will be read with in.
terest and its direct as well as indirect sug.
gestions cannot fail to engage the attention,
and enlist the active cooperation of our capi-
talists and business men. In no light in
which this vast enterprise can be viewed. can
it be regarded otherwise than as of the yerv
highest Importance TO Philadelphia, and the
zeal which MIR. Roberts has manifested, not
only IN the matter of the early completion of
our own great improvement, but IN its exten.
sion through Ohio and the States west. with
the attention ne has given to the subject of
the western trade, will cause his opinions
and views 10 be received by our citizens with
special favor, and insure for them a careful
consideration
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 10Th, 1s49.
To the Board Of Trade of Philadelphia -,
GENTLEMEN: In September last, had the
honor 10 be appointed by the Board of Trade
OF Philadelphia, one of a delegation to attend,
and TO represent the interests of this CITY, in
the National Pacific Railroad Convention,
which was 10 convene at St. Louis, Missouri,
in the month Of October.
In accordance with the wishes of the Board
went TO St. Louis, and was present at the
convention; and as my colleagues were una.
BILE TO attend, there is no one TO Join with mo
in the present report.
Nearly one thousand delegates composed
the convention, representing about one half
the States Of the Union; and, after a good
Geal of discussion it was Ultimately resolved
by unanimous vote, TO memorialise Con.
gress in favor of a great National. Railroad
and Telegraph to Oregon and California 10
be undertaken by the general government,
and TO be begun at some central point upon
our western frontier on the unvieabe waters
OF Missouri river; and to ask Congress to aid
the States by grants of public lands to make
three extensions of the line to Chicago, St.
Louis, and Memphis. .a@
The point of commencement preferred by
the St. Louis Convention, for the Great Cen.
trail Continental Railroad, to be undertaken
by the government of the United States, is,
as nearly as may be, on the same parallel of
latitude with the city of Philadelphia; and
its construction as proposed would be Of the
utmost advantage TO the State of Pennsylva.
MIA, which is the Central Atlantic and Key.
stone State of the Union -t1
1t was further resolved at St. Louis, by a
unanimous vote, on motion of Mr.. Longhbo-
rough, of Missouri, to hold another National
Convention, TO promote the same object, AT
THE City OF PHILADELPHIA, on the first Mon.
day Of April nert, and to invite all parts of
the country TO send delegates to this city on
that occasion.
There IS reason to believe that the attend.
ance will be very large, and will include
many of the most distinguished men of our
country, without distinction of party; and l
respectfully suggest to the Board of Trade of
Philadelphia, the propriety of taking the
preliminary steps for the proper accommoda.
ton of the national railroad convention, TO be
held here in the month of April next, in a
manner worthy of the reputation of the city
of Philadelphia, and of its high position a.
mong the cities of the Union.
1t appears TO me to be unnecessary to ex.
tend this written report TO a greater length, as
| it is my intention to present in person, in or.
der to be able TO answer the questions of the
Board, and TO give any oral information in
my power respecting the progress of the rail.
roads between our city and the West, in
which every citizen Of Philadelphia is 50
greatly interested.
Respectfully submitted.
SOLOMON w. RoBERTs, Cipa Engineer,
MIR, Roberts subsequently explained to the
Board verbally, many of the advantages that
would hereafter be derived, by the speedy
completion of the Pennsylvania Railroad in
connection with the grand project of a Paci-
fic railway He remarked in conclusion that
unless the Central road was finished at an
early day, Maryland would endeavor TO inter.
pose, and monopolize the Western trade, by
a railway of her own, 10 connect with Wheel.
ing; but that this work could not be accoms
plished much before the LIST of Jnne 1852,
In giving an account of his mission to the St,
Louis Convention, Mr.. r, further alluded Ia
the lines of travel and trade of the We.s an'
the relative advantages these roads W ,n,d
afford to Chicago, and New York aa'. pb;Ia,
delphia. Tie was under the imr ,ression be
said, that Chicago would eventually take The
place in a business point of view, of S, ,o,a
aud that, therefore, instead of N ~ yo,l hs
ing benefited by railway o., the southern
side of Lake Erie, Philo .,,elphia would be.
come the central and only Eastern emporium
We shall allude to MIR, Roberts views in de.
'ai'' hereafter when we may have something
4 IN m ~ ~. Al D..