The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-14

PRorosxD RAILROAD FROM ST. LOUIS re THE
PAcnIc.-We are glad to see that Mr. Benton, OF
Missouri, famiary known. we may say. through
out the world, by the cognomen Of " Old Bali'on'
has brought forward in the Senate Propostlon
for the construction Of a railroad to the racine.
The plan proposed appears to us Judic'ous anu
practicable and in fact Mr. Benton 10 mol the sort
of man to lump upon immature aod lmpracucao4e
speculatons. Il il not, OF course, proposed 0y MI
Benton 10 construct continuous and uninterrupted
line of railroad the whole distance from st. Louis
to San Francisco, but to lay the rails and make
the railroad wherever 1t Is practicable and to con-
struct turnpike roads connecting the railroads by
stages whe ever it would be impracticable or I'M
advisable to lay rails.
We muet have such road some time or other;
and therefore we cay, the sooner the better. A
new world is now opened to the &C mmerce OF
New York and to the trade of the Atlantic coast.
The discovery of the gold OF California will be
more important IN Its effects upon New York city
than the discovery of the passage to India was to
modern Europe. Before that discovery, there was
scarcely any commerce In Europe. Venice, Lisbon,
Amsterdam. London, were successfully built
up as commercial cities by the opening of that
golden regions. Before this commerce with India
was opened, the mercantile genius and CONNER
clal energies of England were undeveloped and
dormant. So we may predict it will be with New
York with relation to California. For twenty
years to come, California must mainly derive
every supply from New York. and our merchants
will have market opened to them there, consist.
ing of population which soon will number some
hundreds OF thousands, and market where the
buyers will have the means to pay richly for tho
most insignificant of our goods sent to them. ST.
Louis may become the great depot; but New York
is the only place which can constitute the great
reservoir and fountain from whence the chief sup
ply must emanate.
Now il such road as Mr. Benton proposes were
constructed, St. Louis would become the ntermedl-
ate commercial depot between New York and the
Pacific; but unless such road ID constructed, the
benefits Of the immense commerce which must
inevitably open with this great and rich country,
will be diverted to some other place out OF the
United Statee, constituting on the Isthmus else
where the most convenient depot and stopping
place between New York and San Francisco. The
sagacity, therefore. of Mr.. Benton, in thus early
endeavoring to provide for securing all this I'M,
mense commerce to the United States, and within
| their limits, ID commenda BILE.
Such a railroad Is, therefore, highly important in
national point OF view. 1t would create great
highway between New York and California, having
a water communication the whole distance by the
lakes and the illinois and Michigan canal, to St.
Louis and from thence by railroad, with short In
tervals of water and turnpike carriage, 10 San
Francisco. Mr.. Benton's bill also proposes a
branch extending to the Columbia river, Oregon,
through the great Salt Valley and Mormon settle
ment; and if the bill passeshe whole would be exc.
cuted at government expense, constituting what /,
| ought to be, great national work. By such an un
deraklng the now important Pacific border of THU
| mighty Union would be at once connected with
the Atlantic coast, and great highway would bs
opened between China the East Indies, and New
York. Our city must then become, in the natura
course OF things, the great emporium Of the world
the great commercial centre--sltuated as we are
centrally, and, as 1t were, the halfway house be
tween Europe and the East.
Mr. Ben,on's bill has been referred to the Gem
mittee on Military Affairs, of which committee we
believe he is the chairman, and if so, we may ex'
pect some prompt action upon the subject. Any
action TO be available must be prompt; for if we
do not speedily wake up and connect by some such
railroad the Pacific coast with St. Louis and our
inland States, the chance will be soon lost for
ever, and route will be established across the
| Isthmus, which will direct the channel OF trade
out Of our own country, and lid up cities among
an almost barbarous people, on q swampy and
most unhealthy coast. Altogether, therefore, we
| look upon the proposition as brought forward by
Mr.. Benton, as one deserving immediate serious
confederation, and prompt and decisive action.