The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-08

railroad from New England in the northeast to the cities
the Gulf in the southwest The speed of the locomotive
is rapid enough for travel, but not for information And
accordingly find the telegraph established along this
whole line from Maine TO New Orleans transmitting
thoughts with the speed Of thought
The second division of the Union comprises the Mis-
sssippi valley, which extends from the Alleghanies
weswardly 10 the Rocky mountains The Mississippi
river bears the relation this portion of the con-
unent which the Atlantic ocean bears TO the division
we have been considering Its rapid current almost pre-
cudes the use OF vessels propelled by steam Accord
ngy we find the bosom of that single river together
with It's tributaries steam-marine such as floats
where else in the world But yet does not to sat-
lsy the exgences of the people which nhab that great
empire. They wish more expeditions communication
with the Gulf and with the Atlantic seaboard. Hence
we find IN every portion OF that region schemes and
plans practically to shorten the Mississippi Public
meetings are being held and companies being formed, to
connect by railroads the upper portion of that vast
valley with the Atlantic and the Calf of Mexico
Now we have two great national lines of commercial
communication, running parallel to each other from
the northeast TO the south west nearly hun,
dred miles apart. The one may be represented by
the Atlantic shore, the other by the Mississippi
river Between them is the barrier of the Allegheny
mountains, which is turned towards the North
by the uncertain communication of the Ohio and the
northern lakes, and towards the South by the dangerous
navigation of the Gulf of Mexico Both of these routes
too crcutous The people of the Mississippi valley
wish TO be brought TO the markets of the world
and The States bordering the Atlantic striving to
grasp the trade of the vast and fertile and growing
pre which lies beyond the mountains Pennsylvania is
striving draw it her territories by railroads running
towards the Ohio river Maryland, by the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad and Virginia, by connecting the James
river with the waters which flow into the river and
by railroad to communicate with Tennessee roads, in the
direction of Memphis, on the Mississippi 1t cannot be
doubted but that expeditions and satisfactory
nexon between the two great lines which have men,
toned will result from this eager competition.
The third division of our country lies on the Pacific
coast and beyond the Rocky mountains The whole of
this territory, with the exception of Oregon was acquired
by the treaty with Mexico and that has been in our sole
possession but few years. The discovery of the Cali
fona mines has made this portion of our Unon perhaps
the most interesting part of it for the present There is
no communication in the mercantile sense of the word
between our new territories and the States shorter than
that through the ishmus of Panama And this route
CdlnOl III present answer the purposes OF
commerce. The long and tedious voyage around Cape
Horn. and thence northwardy along the Pacific has to be
resored to- To avoid this long Journey it has been pro-
posed to connect, by railroad across the sthnus,
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans But this is not the
only scheme having the object which agaes the
public mind Many persons think that railroad should
be constructed from the southern part of Lake Mich
igan running westwardly through Oregon towards the
mouth of the Columbia Others think that the communi-
cation the Rocky mountains should be made if at
ALL further towards the south and exerons are being
made TO connect St Louis, in Missouri with Monterey,
in California Further yet to the south, is route which
has been recommended 10 public favor and convention
is to assemble in Memphis for the purpose of taking
the subject into consideration. We do not of course,
with our limited information, express any prefer
between the different routes which we have men,
toned Nor do deem this proper occasion to express
views to the power of Congress- under the const
tuition, to give its aid in carrying out the object The
idea certainly grand one, connect the Pacific with
the Atlantic by railroads running through the heart OF
the continent and bringing China to New
Orleans fifty years ago. But it will require time
to carry out such great undertaking. 1t will require
much consideration devise the best and the best
mode of making the communication No can
tell whether it will ever be accomplished But even if
it is not we have already, in the infancy of gov
eminent, accomplished enough to be of hon
orabe pride Our people, aided alone by their State gov
ernments have shown themselves cquao the task which
fortune has imposed upon them They rapidly sub.
DUNG the forest and bringing the wilderness under the
dominion Of man. Let government 60 on as it has
begun, securing equal rights TO ALL and the future will be
worthy of the past and Of the present