Washington telegraph., 1852-12-01
Gigantic Railroad Project.


themselves with New Orleans and the South,
by means OF a railroad on the west side of
the Mississippi river, to run as nearly on
direct line as the Typographical formation of
the country will admit. and the wants and
prospects OF trade may seem to demand
They are to have grand railroad conven-
ton IN St. louis, in December to which will
be accredited, we hope, large number of
delegates fiom this city.
The favor with which this project was
generally received, and the zeal and deter
mination manifested for it by many of the
most prominent men of Missouri, stimulated
the people ,orth of ST. Louis to strive to
connect themselves by railroad communica-
ton with that city, and by so doing, with
the whole South and West The people of
Minnesota hive become aroused, and voice
from the Falls of st. anthony, has been
raised strongly and eloquently in behalf of
the stupen6us project We take the fol-
lowing paragraph from an admirable article
in the St. Anthonys Falls Express:
the que;tion is, whether we shall follow,
in our trade relations, the course and direc-
tion clearly pointed out by Nature and be-
come conneted with the South, or whether
we shall, in opposition to reason and COM
mon sense, become suburbs of New York
and Boston. Those two cities are stretching
out their long strong iron arms, year by
year, and errircling in their powerful grasp,
State after State, until they have reached
our very borders. Minnesota is hardly ripe
enough yet to be tasted, but eager eyes are
fastened upon us. But it is evident to every
rejecting mind, that it is for the interest Of
Minnesota that it should 90 South rather
than East, 1t has been heretofore stated
that the national current of exchange Of az
ricultural commodities is between different
parallels OF latitude rather than longitude
Nature herself seems to have limited, or
rather plainly pointed out this arrangement
III the course Of our mighty rivers. Our
wheat. potatoes, oats, hay, lumber, ETC.. are
all wanted in st. Louis and New Orleans
whilst we IN return will need their cotton
rice, sugar, molasses and tropical fruits
The exchange may and should be made d.
rect. We need no Eastern merchants to
step in and act as brokers' middle
sumers, without producing any real wealth. :"
The Minnesota Democrat, is also out in
an able and eloquent article We only have
room to quote one single enthusiastic para
graph:
''One of the greatest, and grandest rail
road Improvements of the age is now en-
crossing the attention of large number Of
the most enterprsing capitalists in the West
a work Of vast ma agnitude, which we sup
posed would not be contemplated for many
years to come, is already in progress, and
before six years expire, we may be able to
exchange by railroad transportation, the
staple products of the Northwest for the
fresh and ripe fruits Of the tropics and
measuring distance by time, St. Paul will
be as near New Orleans as it now is to
Galena The enterprise is truly magnificent
That it is practicable no one acquainted with
the subject can doubt. That it will be ac-
complished is already assured by the intelli-
gence we this day present to our readers
The wealthiest and most sagacious capitalists
of ST. Louis have embarked in the enter
prise with a far seeing and patriotic deter
mination to achieve success. Thousands OF
capitalists along the line Of the proposed
chain of roads, will cooperate with zeal and
liberalty. New Orleans will embark in the
work with enthusiastic energy. and before
six months pass away. the New Orleans and
Minnesota Railroad will be hailed through
out the West and South as one Of the great
est Improvements Of the age. As the ST.
Louis Neacs remarks in strain OF enthusi-
asm which the subject naturally inspires:
NO grandeur scheme was ever projected for
the promotion of mans empire over the very
climates of the earth, and no enterprise has
ever been untOlded that will take stronger
hold upon the hearts and imaginations of
men,"
This project will receive that considera-
tion from our citizens which it's merits de-
serve, we feel entirely assured. Should it
be carried out it will unite climates dissim-
liar in nature and products ts-soils different,
but surprisingly fertile and capable of i'm
mense development-and will give a COM
mon interest to millions differing widely in
pursuits and circumstances. forming at the
same time new guarantee for the perpet-
uity of the Union, stronger than any legisla-
tion. 1t will give to the extreme North
west its legitimate market-will add vastly
to the country through which it will pass
will contribute immensely to the trade and
greatness of New Orleans. The scheme is
SO vast that odd fogies" may look upon it as
chimerical, but who can tel, IN this country.
what year or two may bring forth!
The December ST. Louis Railroad Con-
vention viii throw much light upon this sub
ject, the proceedings Of which will be look
ed for with much interest.
A poor fellow who owed money, and was