The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-02-19

We Zee in the N. Y, Tribune of the 9Th, notice
of project and proposition for the construction ola
great channel for the commerce of Europe and the
Atlantic slops of America with India, China Aus
traa and the shores of The vast Pacific through The
heart of our country, which, we are informed, is
warmly commended by many distinguished cit-
zsns The proposition emanstes from Mr.. P. P F.
Degrand, well known philosophical Bostonian
He proposes that a company composed of men,
in whose integrity and sieaduess of purpose conf
dence can be reposed by the Nation,) be chartered
by Congress to construct Railroad from ST. Louis
to San Francisco, with capital of 800 900, 600,
| and that this Company latter having paid in
$1,000 000) shall have the right to borrow United
States Six per cent. Stock 10 such an amount mot
exceeding SOS, 900 .o0O,) as may be sufficient to
finish the Road and carry it into full operation with
double track.
He proposes that Congress- give to this Company
strip of Public Lands 10 miles wide on the north
side of the Road, and the land for the bed of the
Road, and for d6p6ts, and the right to take, from
the Public Lands, wood, gravel, stone, iron, and
other materials, necessary to construct the road.
The adoption of this plan, we are told, will Sc
cure the completion of the road, in as brief space
of time may be permitted, by its physical obsta-
cles; and will secure this by single act of Con.
gress, free from the chance of future freaks of egs.
lation. This is the distinguishing feature of his
pan-and it is free from the objection of absorbing
the private resources of active men-and free from
the risk of hal!ng, in this great work, every step
for want of tangible means.
He proposes that Immediately after the SURVEYS
are made, the Company proceed to construct this
Railroad on the whole Route, going to work, al
once, on many different paris as practicable; and
building at difficult points, temporary Railroads, to
be used while the permanent Railroad is construct
ing land actually bringing into use the various
portions fthe Road, as fast completed.
The Company, being thus in possession Of tangi-
bic means, and acting under sense of the impera-
tive necessity of giving to the public the aciliti
of Railroad travelling, as fast as practicable, will,
it is asserted, very sooR reduce to moderate dis.
lance, the Inconvenience of Land Journey to
California, and will secure the completion OF the
entire line, in the brefest period practicable and
IN the interim, the Mail-Stage and the traveller, by
the Land route, by following, near as convent,
ent, the track marked out for the Railroad, will
avail themselves more and more, every day, Of the
comfort and protection, naturally incident to the
incipient stages of civilization, which accumulate
on the line of Railroad from the very moment it
is begun, to the day of its completion,
After further exposition OF his plan for the con-
summation of this magnificent enterprise the pro.
jsctor concludes, that, Whether we consider this
Railroad as an indissoluble bond of union between
greatly distant parts of our wideIy-extended empire;
or as means of averting European wars and wars
with the Indian tribes or as means of transport.
ing the mail and communicating tslNsraPhfu tttsl-
lsenee, or "a measure of internal commerce, so
vast, so varied, as to defy all precedent; or as
measure for national glory, obtained without waste
of blood or treasure, by constructing and complst
ing, in brief space of time, the great work of the
age-we irresistibly led to the conclusion, that
national glory and national interest alike dictate
the adoption, at the earliest day, of measure cal.
culated TO obtain, for the present generation, the
honor, which posterity will award to those who
secure, for all future ages and by this single act of
legislation, the Unreasonable benefits flowing from
the existence of this great work"