Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-07-19
successful in the sale and settlement of the

prise do not seem 10 be fully appreciated
by the country or by Congress, yet this
consideration does not appear fully to ex-
plain the mai!est reluctance of Congress to
approach this great measure. There has
been shyness, a holding back, that is not
to be accounted for by the want of conf
dence in the practicability Of the enter
prise, or the importance Of it. The cause
OF this is to be found rather in en- opposite
direction. 1t is the conviction of the vast
influence this road would exert on the in
teres,s and prosperity Of the Countrywide
direction it would give to settlement and
| population, as well as TO commerce, which
seems 10 have restrained Congress from
acting upon it.
One section of the Union is Jealous of
the others, and each seems to be appre-
hensive that railroad in one direction or
route, may dispense its benefits unequal
ly; that some sections of the Union may
derive less advantages from it than others.
That the portions Of the country through
which it may pass, and most contiguous
to It's eastern terminus, may be more ben
Gifted than those more remote, is obvious.
This must be the case, let the road be To-
Gated where it may. But the true question
is, what route unites the most advantages
in reference to the great national objects
and interests expected to be advanced p
This great national enterprise should rise
infinitely above all mere local interests
The route which will best promote the
settlement Of the vast interior OF our con-
tinent, which will best accommodate the
trade of the whole country, and the COM
merce Of Europe with the east, is the route
that should be selected, provided it is e.
qually practicable with any other. There
is another consideration Of no small impor-
lance: the facilities or means any route
may afford, towards the construction of
the road, is a matter not to be overlook ed.
A route having no timber upon any por-
ton Of it east Of the Rocky Mountains,
nor within hundreds Of miles of its eastern
terminus, would cause great difficulty and
expense in the construction Of the road
and its repairs afterwards, beyond what
ould be required on route, some hum
dred miles OF which was through timber
country.
TIE quality Of the land, its adaptation
TO settlement, the streams with which ii is
supplied, and the climate, are instances Of
the highest moment. IF, from the barren
ness OF the soil or the want Of water, the
country through which the road should be
constructed is not fit for settlement, that
would defeat one Of its important objects
the settlement OF that interior portion of
our vast territory which cannot be settled
without a railroad through it. And thro'
such country there could be no local bu-
siness tossupport the road, and no popula-
ton to protect it.
The climate is also important region
of eternal snow would be a great obstacle,
and a hot climate, would be liable to dam
age some Of the agricultural products
which would pass over the road. Blu, ac-
cording to the best information in relation
to the region Of the Rocky Mountains, the
prevalence of snow does not depend SO
much on latitude, as on elevation and 9TH
er circumstances.
It's not my purpose to examine the diff
ferent routes which have been proposed.
This has been done by Mr. Whitney, very
fully and apparently very fairly, in a
pamphlet he has recently published. This
pamphlet not only contains much inlorma-
ton on this question, but upon the whole
subject. II should be read by every per-
son in the Union who wishes TO make
himself acquainted with the merits of this
great enterprise ofthe age. Mr. Whitney
has devoted seven years TO the investiga-
ton of this subject, and has collected a
vast amount Of information connected with
every part of it. 70 him is not only due
the honor of first suggesting the pro-
ject, but he is entitled TO the merit of the
chief agency, m calling public attention to
il, ana Of collecting and laying before the
country vast amount of information rela-
ting to it. Whether his particular project
and his agency shall be adopted or not,
lRuld the road ever be constructed 49,
Name cannot be separated from the W.,
nor can he be deprived of large shareof
the honor it would reflect on the country.
Without assuming to be qualified to de-
eide the question, which is the better
route, we must be permitted to say, that
from the examination we have given 10
that question, our first convictions have
not been changed, that Mr. Whitney's
scheme, his route being regarded as part
of it, is the most feasible, and combines
more advantages, than any other yet sug-
gested.
The route from Memphis, from Fort
Smith in Arkansas, and from Texas, pur-
sue the valley Of the Rio Grande beyond
Santa Fe, and the river ella. This route,
if not imprac,icable, passes through very
mountainous and barren country, and,
from the description of Lieutenant Emery,
would seem 10 be utterly uninhabitabe.
Considerable portions of the route must
be in the Mexican territory. In the noun
tain region, the frost and snow interpose
quite as formidable obstacles as the north
ern route; whilst in dher parts of the
route, both east and west of the noun
tains, the heat is .excessive. This route
is destitute of timber, and we know of no
single advantage it possesses over the
route proposed by Mr. Whitney.
The route proposed by Col. Benton,
from St Louis, by way of the Kansas and
Platte rivers, to the South Pass, seems the
only one yet suggested deserving of con-