The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-18

struction of mail road, Through Virginia and
Tennessee the materials are abundant for the for
nation of turnpike; and through the States OF
Alabama and Mississippi it is believed. from infor-
nation which has been obtained, that in no part OF
the Union can artificial road of the same length
be constructed at less expense On this part oil the
route the general face Of the country Is level and
the soil well adapted to the formation OF solid road
Some information has been communicated 10 this
Department this subject, but it does not come
strictly within the scope of the resolution. If sub
stantial road were made in this direction to New
Orleans the mail could be transported to that place
from this city in eleven days. If the road were to
pass through tie capitals of Virginia, North Caro-
lna South Carolina, and Georgia, it could be.con-
veyed in less than twelve days.
The route on which the mail is now transported
to New Orleans, although more circuitous than
others, in the present condition of the roads,
is the safest and best. There many obstruc-
tions on il, but they less numerous than on any
other Greater celebrity and safety are given TO the
mail this route than could be given to 1t on any
other to New Orleans, and it passes through and
supplies many important towns and villages and
thicky settled parts of the country.
In the winter and spring seasons of the year the
mail this route, all others in the same parts
of the country is sometimes entirely obstructed by
high waters; and, when this is not the case, it is
frequently much injured by the mail horses swim
ming creeks and through swamps OF considerable
extent. The friction from the movement of the
mail horses Ia certain to destroy all newspapers that
become wet, and not unfrequenty letters much
obiterated When the mail is a considerable time
immersed in water, as has often been the on
this route, it is impossible to secure it perfectly
from injury.
The Department now pays at the rate of fifty
two dollars and seventy-six cents mile for the
transportation of the mail, three trips in each week.
to New Orleans. On good turnpike road it could
be conveyed in stage as often, and in less than
half the time, at the same expense. And what is q
most important consideration, the utmost security
would be given to the mail by such trnnsporta-
ton and very Observation-Disclosures to the receipts
of the Department.
have the honor to be, respectfully, your ODE
dent servant, JOHN MCLEAN.
Hon. JOHN GAILLARD.
Before proceeding to make any deductions
from this most important document, we may be
allowed to moraize a little upon the transient
interest taken in measures of the highest I'M
portance. The Congress of the United States
contemplated, in 1924, system of internal
ter; it proposed canals, turnpikes, and post
roads throughout the Union, and the purpose
was apparently to equalize the appropria-
tons sectonally, so as to do justice to all quar-
tiers of the Union. The plan proposed for the
accommodation of the Southwestern States
was post road to be constructed direct from
Washington city TO New Orleans. In ac-
cordance with this design, General BERNARD
was required TO examine the country lnterme-
date between these two important points, and
the result of the examination was communl-
Gated in the foregoing report by the Post
master General The proposed system was
attacked by those who were hostile TO the en-
ployment of Federal means for the construc-
ton of internal Improvements within the States,
and it was annihilated. The States afterwards
took up the subject themselves, and, with their
own resources, have since completed the con-
struction Of a most efficient and admirable sys-
tenn of internal Improvements, adapted to their
own wants, and subjected to their own admin
istIation.
However patriotic may have been the purpose
of the advocates Of improvement, the failure of a
system which must have involved incalculaple
expenditures, and have made the Federal Govern
ment the greatest shareholder in the Union
which must have added immensely to its inilu-
ence from the appointment OF officers, the ex-
penditure Of money, and the control of the
commercial relations between the States was
substantial benefit to the Union, since it has
been followed by the establishment of the State
system to. which we have referred.
But it is singular result, that after twenty
five years ofobivion, almost the Identical scheme
of connexion between Washington city and New
Orleans, recommended then as a work of Fed
eral importance, should be taken up by the peo-
pie of the intermediate country, and put under
continuous though sectional construction, with
no other means than the local resources of the
country itself. 1t vindicates the sagacity of
those who planned and the science of the Off
Ger who examined the great route, that the rail-
roads now under charter and in great part I'M
der construction, should be located upon almost
dentically the route which General BERNARD
reported twenty-five years ago as the nearest
practicable line Of intercourse between Wash
ington and New Orleans.
Accompanying the report which we have re-
published, we have been shown by our public
spirited and valued fellow-citizen, Colonel
FORCE, a map of the route reported by Gen
eraI BERNARD. 1t consists of the geodetical
distance from Washington to New Orleans,
calculated, according to the latitude and
longitude of the points through which the
circle of admeasurement passed, at nine hun
dIed and sixty-ive miles. The various com
peting routes reported are projected upon the
same map, and the preferred route is stated as
in the report which we publish at one thousand
one hundred and twenty miles. For the pur-
pose Of showing that the city of Washington
saay anticipate the important results TO its pros
perity to which we have referred, we now
state the line of railroad communication now in
progress, all Of which it is confidently expected
will be completed within three years. Its coin