The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-30

"ieslsslPPl anu IL Will DC most likely that
which first reaches it, unless there be something
special in the particular case to forbid it, If for
instance the Chicago road first reaches the Mis-
sissippi, can any reason be given why it should
stop upon her eastern shore, perhaps for years,
while some other road, far in the distance, and
perhaps existing only upon paper, shall be bro't
up? Moreover, Dubuque is in 'sthe line of safe
precedents, that is the right tineofimprovemcnts.
[ can scarcely doubt that by the time the Chi,
cago road reaches the River of the West, there
will be uninterrupted railroad communication
with all the great cities of the east lis scarce
ly less to be doubted that Council Bluffs upon
the Missouri, and the South Pass in the Rocky
Mountains will be the great land marks of the
Pacific road, which the wants Of the nation and
| the public sentiment have decrecd shall be made.
What more natural therefore than that the road
from the West should seek the road from the
East upon the very track which we contemplate,
and at the very point where we sit? Trifing
local interests may oppose our views and our
scheme, but if we are in the great current ofin-
ternal improvement which is to unite sea with
sea, as l verify believe we are, a single arm
might as we'll undertake to roll back the current
of our mighty river, as successfully to resist the
other
Moreover, should any adverse interest out of
our State seek to give a direction to any
branch or link of internal improvement within
the State prejudicia to our interests as people,
we will not suffer it to be DONE
Again it is matter of encouragement to us to
know that a distinguished Senator from Illinois
has introduced bill granting to the Territory of
Minnesota in aid of a railroad from the naviga-
BILE waters of the Red river of the North, by the
Big Bend of the St. Peters river to the Northern
line of Iowa in the direction of Dubuque, a guam
tity of land equal to the alternate sections for
six miles on each side of said road and from
thence to Dubuque, and also for the construc-
ton of a railroad bridge over the Mississippi at
that point. Now | am aware that the introduc-
ton of bill is not the passage of law, and that
the passage of law is not the construction of a
road But if as l have suggested, the appropri-
alton of public lands for internal improvement is
to be part of the policy of the government, it
| is matter of interest, that movements are being
made in high places looking with favor to US.
Moreover, Wisconsin is up and doing; yes
actually doing. Already road is commenced
at Milwaukee, desi gned to connect the Lakes
with the Mississippi. The western terminus of
that road cannot be far from our young city of
the Nortll-t may be Potosi-but let it be where
| tb,4 inf To n,b
one day another, sooner or later: and all an
alogy as to the growth of things here, will not
so ''deter hope to make sick the heart If
| have built castles in the air you must not blame
me. | have taken my cue, not out of my ina
gination, but from facts given me by others
And | am willing that my sentiments of this
day should be tested by the results of time.
| would not take narrow and merely local
views of such subject as this. fatter myscl
that have not done So If l have confined my
attention in part to locality, it is only because
considerations of general and controlling nature
have themselves given Importance to localities
The Dubuque and Keokuk road is needed, need
ed by itself, needed in the abstract; and if we
can procure appropriation for it, it will, a
natural consequence and without any special de-
sign our part, constitute part of the great
national road. Obtain this appropriation, and
every railroad interest from the great cities OF
the cast to the Mississippi, will be glad to sit in
our councils and smoke out of our pipe.
We have heard much lately of geographical
centers, and nationality by reason of such cen
tcrs. | care not for such ccnters-they are OF
about the same Importance as it would be for the
commerce of the world to be carried upon the
equator The centers ofcommerce are the CEN
ters for internal improvement. 1t is not theory
wire drawn argument, built upon ingenious and
forced propositions, that control these things
they will be controlled by facts and interest
the interest which seeks channels for trade
and enterprise for the profitable investment o
money. The advanced rail road enterprise OF
the attitudes of forty and forty one, the immense
trade and wealth of those attitudes; the advant
age which they possess in climate, for the trans
portation of articles subject to injury in warm
clmate create more than mere fancy that the
flying angel of the earth will not be the last tt
visit us. I do not overlook the fact that public
necessities, and no inconsiderable portion of the
public mind look to other routes and other points
for the dispensation Of rail road blessings. Be-
it so; shall rejoice with them in the full re-
alization of their most cherished expectations. =
And while we look in our present action will
an eye single to this project, we would not ever
cast jealous glance at our neighbors, who seel
the same aid for themselves We are sent here
to promote special object; and that duty W.
are bound to perform. We are merely private
citizens, seeking to relieve our own necessities
to redress our own grievances:-leto others do th'
same, and we will bid them God speed. W.
have everything for encouragement; and now j
the time to strike. The developments of hi
day cannot be lost. One half of great work j
accomplished, when it has deeply impressed it
self upon the public mind. To lie by ninactio'
while the public mind all around is alive, an
strung with energy to accomplish for itself grea
good, might be ruinous. 1t is said that ether
is a tide in the affairs Of men, which, taken