Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-11-13

1the Western line on the South, will be links in
Ithe great chain which will connect the Eastern
and the Western boundaries of the United
States. All the Railroads which may be I'm
Iished east Of the Mississippi river, win be in
lterested in the success Of these two lines, and
all theaS States, az they cherish their own works
from Illinois to Maine, and from Maine TO Car
olina aare interested in encouraging them BY any
Influence, political or otherwise, which they
may bring toobear.
I Missouri stands in an attitude somewhat differ
ent now, from that she has occupied for many
years. She has not heretofore given much mo-
tableevidence of active friendship for internal
Improvement. She has now emerged from her
barbaric stolidity, and entered a career Of en-
frightened Improvement. She has commenced
with due caution. She was par icularly forta-
nate in being able TO avail herself Of the vast ex
perience of The other States, iIe having COED
credit never impaired, and in being comparative
ly free Of debt. We shall soon feel these ad-
vantages. The last Legislature must haye the
credit Of bringing the State TO fair commitment
and Of preparing the way for more liberal and
perfect laws hereafter. In the old attitude Of
Missouri the subject was approached .g;.h sc-c
timidity, and perhaps not so much was gained
or even asked as might haves been in &C
more ADVANCED state. Yet l am not prepared 10
say that would alter materially, the act loaning
the credit Of the State 10 our two Railroads.
There are very few Of our railroad charters,
however, that will be found to work well in
practise. Experience will show in what par
ticulars of detail they win Se1uire amendment.
A railroad, although necessarily in the hands Of
a corporation, is public enterprise, almost al
ways engaged in, as was especially the case in
Missouri, for The promotion of the general pros
perity. II authorized at all by the Legislature,
lie is because public convenience or good re-
quires it. In similar designs, generally, private
interests are required to yield to those of the
public. Individual rights ought always to be
protected certainly, and are, so far the inten-
ton of the law is concerned. But that an indi-
vidual should be permitted to obstruct for
months and perhaps year or more, such
work, in order to obtain not only his rights, but
something more, unreasonable and unconscious
bile Sums Of money for rretended ard unreel
damages, seems preposterous and absurd. Yet
an individual, through whose premises railroad
corporation may desire to construct their road,
however much the road may enhance the value
of his property, may, it would seem, harass, de-
lay and worry company into virtual surren-
der of their purse into his hands till he gorges
himself to his entire satisfaction. This seems
to me nothing less than 'tfat burglary" and re-
quires little legislative doctoring or Railroads
ESTIMATED.
In appropriating three millions and a half TO
our two leading lines of railroad, the last legis-
lature did as much as prudence, in the use Of
the public credit, seemed to warrant. tits now
of the highest importance that we make care
full and economicaluse of this credit in order that
it may not only not depreciate under our man
agement, butt that it may take, and maintain a
frank to which it is entitled, at par with the lead
ling State stocks Of the country. There is no
lreasoa Why EfisSopvi credit should nat be frs.
rate. She has never failed to meet her engage
ments, nor has she made any she cafinot meet.
Vita great variety Of valuable natural resour-'
ces, such as few other States possess, an im-
mense territory of 5000 square miles, a pres
ent population of 100000, increasing at a rate
that will enable her, if continued ,cto number o
yer a million within the next ten years, she
must acp very unwisely and very differently
from other States and people, if she does not
find herself entirely of esse in regard TO any OBJ
Legations she has as yet entered into, or is now
contemplating
The two railroads now going forward will
furnish test of the wisdom and utility OF their
dproiectiOn in this State and if the test is unfa
lv6rable, probably no more viii be attempted.--
If favorable, they may be used as base lines,
lfrom which branches may be projected wherey-
Ter they will pay, and as examples for indepen-
dent lines. For myself, l anticipate the success
of the system, and hope to live 10 see the Paeif-
lie Road in operations at least to the Western
boundary line, with branch reaching into the
South-western district Of the State, and either
Ia branch or an independent line TO the Iron
Mountains, and perhaps continuation 70 Ar
kansas On the north side of the river, l.hoPe
Ito witness your line completed, a line from 81.
Louis, crossing yours and reaching toward
Iowa, and connecting link between yeHr read
land the Pacific road at their upper end, II not
lalso. in. or near their middle sections.
Having the advantage of q new country, and
! no old Railroad connections 10 make, we haYe,
ON our Pacific road, adopted the wide guage-
Is l-2 feet. | should be glad to see your road
adopt the same. tits guage particularly suited
Ito the Great West, and there is scraeely doubt
that the great East, if they were to commence
Ide moro, now, would adopt that guage.o It's great
advantage consists, briefly in admitting Of a bet
Ter arrangement Of the engine, higher driving
wheels, lower centre Of gravity, greater speed,
greater safety, and of larger and more ecmmodi-
Gus cars for passengers, as well as for cattle, and
freiehts of a bulky character, as many Of yours
will be. l found, while At the East, that, our
eaVue was generally approved hs engiasers,
superintendants of roads, and manufacturers Of
engines. We are endeavoring to construct the
Pacific Road, so fsF as We 60, as web as we can
lRet the work done in this part Of the country
, We are going on BY special eontraets--not bs
the slunping process" which Is 80 often avail
ed Of Is wonderfully easy for company, but
as often turns out 50 hard for travellers and g
bad for working, thaiEeeOnssroosion necessarily
has 70 tollew.
II is much 70 be regretted tlps We cannot
a. uuE