The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-16

We recently noticed the great projects that
are on foot to bind together the commercial in
teres's Of the West, North, and South with
Missouri as the centre of The various diverginq
lines. The Western Journal, n monthly pc.
rodic al issued at St. Louis, presents the fol-
lowing epitome of the routes that now engage
the attention of that enterpris ng and prosper
GUS city:
''Looking to The North and West the frat diff.
cuiy that presents itself ia the lack Of any com.
incr'ial point, within reasonable distance, to
bulld t.; but, on the other hand. the country TO
build through lie all valuable either for mineral or
agricultural products. The necessity appears then
OF reversing the habits of the old countries and in
srad Of building roads to accommodate busiur 40
In existence, build them in order to create the
business that ia to maintain them. To the North
the route naturally suggests sef as along the di.
viding ridge between the Mississippi and the Mis-.
souri, rivers, and following into and beyond Iowa,
there lie found the valley of the Des Moincs river
and beyond the valley Of the st Peters, and attn
beyond the valley Of the Red river of the North.
leading into the heart of the Upper Canadns-pnd
all IN the direct route northward. Every foot OF
the country passed through ia valuable, and Il Ia
understood to be over which railroad can
easily be constructed The route through Mis-.
souri,, about two hundred and fifty miles il proba.
bly, the easiest one for ito length in the United
Statcs Magnificent as this project appears, Il il
still more go when, turing to the South a route
IL projected by the Iron mountain to the GuIf NJ
Mexico, at New Orleans Then is il seen to be ,
main trunk road North and South grand az the
Mississippi river iself-passing from the Gulf of
Mexico, by the Iron mountain and by St. Louis.
and stopping only when It reaches the limit of CT.
viliraton.
"Missouri can start tbis by simply mencine
the construction Of the North Missouri Railroad
and the Iron Mountain Railroad The States TO
the North and to the South will take II 10. and
carry IL on; and while each State will work for it's
particular interest, 1t will at the same time be for
the good OF all Louisiana, Arkansas, Iowa and
Minnesota can all be interested in the work goipp
on in Missouri, and in turn draw out for their work
the Interest Of this State.
10 the west the natural route seems TO be gene
rally by the valley of the Missouri river to the
mouth OF the Kansas, and following Il out, by the
South Pass to the Pacific ocean. This has already
been commenced. Here again we see the Gulf OF
Mexico, connected through st Louis with the
northwestern plains Of the country.
another route strongly recommends itself n
roo'e 10 the southwest corner Of the State. The
other projected routes do not accommodate that
section; and when this route is followed ont
through TeIas to the Gulf at Galveston or some
other point, interesting as it does all the routes
passing to the south o~ard the Pacific ocean It i.
found trunk road equally important with the
Others.
"fhe four roads mentioned above, with the
eastern roads now being built, are the main trunk
roads that will fix for all time Missouri az the seat
OF empire in the West, with arms stretching to the
Atlantic, to the Gulf OF Mexico, to the Pacific, and
to Northern Canada
The present estimated length OF the North
Missouri road is $50 miles; total cost 81 500 600
The Pacific railroad to Kansas is set down at
go miles; highest estimate $500, 900, Of
which 81 100000 has been subscribed The
Southwest Missouri road-about 300 miIes-is
estimated to cost $6 500 600. The Iron Noun