Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-07-12
Railroad to tho Pacific.


This great enterprise; destined to form
a new era in the commerce Of the wo,ld
and to exert prodigious influence on the
rapid progress Of this country in popula-
tion, and all the elements Of national
wealth and greatness, we are rcioiced to
see, is commanding increased public aiten-
ton. Whether we regard the magnitude
OF the enterprise, or the influence it i.
calculated 10 exert on the cause of civil.
zation,and the destinies Of the old and tbe
new world, its accomplishment will BE-.
and ever remain, the greatest event Of the
nineteenth century.
1t is impossible 10 conceive Of the IN.
huence this great work must have unor
trade, population, and the highest inter.
ests Of the human race. 1t will open The
heart Of this vast continent Of more than
| 5000 miles in extent, TO The over popula.
ted countries Of Europe and Asia. Tk;.
road will carry settlements and ciyilization
from the Mississippi TO the Pacific, on e.
tent of nearly 1000; and open that vast
region TO the dissatisfied people Of Europe.
now struggling for a social condition.
which, under their old organizations, they
will probably never attain. 1t will also
invite emigration from China. India, and
other over-populated countries in Asia.
The Chinese, not being mara.imc people.
have not planted colonies, or established
settlements, beyond the limits OF their own
territories, notwithstanding the excess Of
their population, which has led 10 the in
human practice'of exposing infants and
aged persons TO perish, that they might
not consume the food wanted for those who
were more useful.
But who can say that this policy or pre-
JUDGE, whatever il may be, may not be
overcome by more intimate acquaintance
with the people Of Europe and Ameri-
ca, and greater facilities Of intercourse
with them? Who can pretend to foresee
the consequences which are to follow the
establishment Of American civilization.
with the principles of civil and religious
liberty, and the spirit Of enterprise which
belong to it, on the northern coast Of The
Pacific? The countries of Asia, and The
islands Of the Pacific, would be TO an en-
terprising commercial people, on the NORTH
west coast Of this continent, what countries
of Europe, and the islands Of The Gull Of
Mexico, have been 10 the people on The
Atlantic coast. From our surplus food
We have supplied the wants of Europe
and the West Indies, and from our enter
prise in the fisheries, have furnished them
with fish and oil. But, in process of time,
the half furnished people of Europe have
found it wiser course TO emigrate to this
country, where food was so aboundant,
and the facilities Of living SO great. And
may not a similar trade and intercourse be-
tween the Pacific coast Of the United
States, and the countries Of the East, pro-
duce like result?
But whether emigration from China and
the countries Of the East, to the Pacific
coast Of America, is to take place or moi,
there can be no doubt that our American
population on that coast will maintain IN
active commerce with China and the co,ln-
tries Of Asia and that this intercourse
would gradually reflect and impari 10 the
Asiatic nations the civilization Of Europe,
improved by being first transplanied in !.
america. CIVILIZATION, commencing m
the East, has advanced westward, improv.
ing as it has advanced il has spread over
Europe, and crossed the Atlantic 10 the
shores Of America; penetrated into the
interior Of this vast continent, and now il
Is suddenly planting itself on the western
coast OF the continent, where it will react
upon Asia.
But these results must be remote, with
out some communication better than now
exists for transferring the population, en-
terprlse, and resources Of the Atlantic
States, and the States in the great valley
OF the Mississippi, TO our possession. on
the Pacific. This cannot be accomplished
by voyage of five months around Caps
Horn, nor by the Isthmus route, which in
many respects is not less Objectionable.
And as TO any route across the continent
Tor travel, emigration, or trade, upon the
waters of the Missouri and Columbia, or
the Rio Grande and Gila, or any other, il
the idea OF it was ever entertained, il
seems now TO be abandoned. Even Col.
Benton, who once maintained that the wa
tiers Of the Missouri and Columbia formed
the natural channel Of commerce between
the valley Of the Mississippi and the Pa
ciflc coast, appears to have changed bis
"'ie' - i.o" IHIHVdu
across the continent.
But if Oregon and California could b
settled by an enterprising. commercial
people, without railroad, they would be
cast off from the great valley of the Mis-
sissippi, and could have very little trade
with the Atlantic or Western States.
Neither could they supply China and the
countries Of the East with food. From
Cape Horn to the Frozen Ocean, the
mountain ranges approach near TO the Pa
chic; as you go north, the western slope
increases IN extent; aud from San Fran
cisco north TO the British boundary, its
some lOo from the Rocky Mountains to
the Pacific. But tie western slope from
the Sierra Nevada is but $50 or 200 miles,
and the country lying between these Two
great ranges is either desert, or broken
and mountainous, and no. adaptedt TO grain.
And south of the tributaries Of the Co
lutnbia, there is no rain in the summer,
and can be 10 cultivation except by irri-
CATION.
Neither California nor Oregon can ever
become great grain countries, and when
al al Aha