The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-07-10

Ess7e The Pacific Railroad.
We cut the following notice of tie impression
made in Ensiand by Mr.. Whitney and his Rail-
road scheme. from the money article Of the Lon
dohi Times. of May So: a.''' =
The letter from Mr. Whitney in the Times Of
the 18th of April, describing his proposed railway
across the Amerfcaa Continent from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, has excited much attention. and
led to offers in this country to afford him any as
sistance he may require. The novelty and sis,-
| plicity Of his plan contrast remarkably with the
magnitude Of It's object, and suggest revolution
! in the modes Of conducting public enterprises
which may opportuEoiy compensate for the dee-
truciica of faith during the last ten years which
has threatened to render it impossible to carry out
Tor the future even the most need ul ana qromis-
ing undertakings. Ills scheme j.. TO hnild rail-
way 2,030 miles in length, noe on'; WITHOUT
shilling Of Government money, but also without
raising any contributions from the public. and.
when completed, il would be the properly o. the
nation, the yalue Of Whose territorial possessions
would also be intellectually augmented. Al the
same time, the element of self-inierest, the true
adjunct Of practical philanthropy, would operate
as the moving cause IN every stage Of the ~ho'e
affair. From NeM-Yofk TO fhe Wisconsin border
Of Lake Michigan, distance west Of about i,o0V
miles, there is already perfect commun'caiioa
by steamboat and railway, and Mr. Whitney pro.
poses 10 continae the line thence to The Paeifc.
For this purpose he asks grant Of 30 miles oi she
public lands on each side Of the contemplated
road, and from these although they are at present
without value except III the Immediate neishbe..
hood Of the starting point, he would create slf
the means that are necessary. He would Tor
instance, commence with 10 miles OF the ROAD,
and then sell portion Of the lands ON each side.
which, owing to their proximity to the advanc,ng
rush of population the existing facilities OF uansis
and The fact Of such an enterprise beng UNDER
taken, would ut once realize considerably more
than would be requisite thus far 10 meet the cut.
lay. The point at the end Of these 10 miles would
then be in nearly the same position as that rom
which he had originally started; and another 10
miles might therefore be constructed with like re-
suits. In this way, bit by bin, the road would aa-
vance, and with steadihess and rapci whicn
IN only by those who have watched the nfesisti-
BILE effects of the great tide Of Western ernigra-
ton. For the first 500 miles the land is mostly
prairie, and ct for instant settlement; and one of
the provisions of the bill recommended by the
committees Of Congress who have reported upon
the subject, that not than half the quantity
granted on each side shall be sold in the first IN
stance, the remaining half being reserved to com
ple,e the work in those districts where the sol!
might prove poor. Not only, therefore, would
each prolonga,ion Of the road naturally re. der
more cer,ain ,.le Completion Of the remainder, but
it would provide a fund that would place tnat re-
suit beyond all doubt.
Gigantic as the scheme is, the simple caicula-
tions on which these conclusions based are fa-
miliar to all who are acquainted with the rise and
progress Of tine inland cities Of America, and IN
this case the protector is 10 stake the reward OF
all bis labors upon their success. Alter the road
shall have been completed and in operation, all
the surplus lands or money are. according to the
bill which has been introduced, to belong to bir.
Wh;.~ey -"A his heirs: hut there is no provtsioh
for any direct remuneration; and consequently,
although every step of the work must benefit the
nation, he cannot derive an, thing except from tn
final triumph.
The ultimate effects Of such land route be-
tween Europe and Asia, and its influence IN still
further minglng the productions and races OF the
world, are to be regarded with equal interest ID
England and the United States. 1t has been unsn-
iu,ousIy reported upon by diTeren, committees Of
the two Houses of Congress at different sessions,
and has also been sanctioned by legislative votes
in about 20 of the individual States. The party
warfare, however, Of last session, prevented
fnal resolution from being arrived ut, and conse-
quenily caused delay, which as far as the United
Stated are concerned, jeopardizes the project.
So rapid is the progress Of settlement In the West.
that the lands in the neighborhood OF the route
itself, that even before Congress will again meet,
they may be so far occupied to put il on Of The
power of Government to make the needfuI grant.
Looking at this possibility, attention has been
turned TO Canada, whence a feasible route has
long been considered TO exist from Quebec to VAN
couver's Island. in the offers understood TO have
been made to Mr.. Whitney the possible adoption
Of the latter course has consequently been taken
into account, the proposal being to furnish HIM
:. r. g. A nf
the line (in consideration for share Of the re-
suits contingent upon its final completion )whrthsr
it may pass through American or British territory.
supposing similar grant Of the latter could be
Obtained. For the present, h appears, he has de-
clined to enter into any arrangement, preferring
TO wait until the next session Of Congress: but It
is satisfactory to believe that his bold conception
is now sufficiently appreciated on both sides to
insure that it will not be suffered TO fail for the
want Of any rational aid that can be afforded
10 it. a d