Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1852-01-29

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and Mobile road must run nearly parallel with
the greatest river on our continent, and must en-
ter into competition with most OF the great thor
ougll-Eares OF the West. AL the rivers Of our
great valley tend from the North TO the South.
The Ohio and its tributaries on the one hand,
land the Missouri the Arkansas, and the Red
river and their tributaries on the other, in con-
junction with the Mississippi, open up the en-
tire West TO New Orleans and the Gulf OF Max-
Iico. But between the Atlantic seaboard and the
New States there is no direct natural channel Of
-IiEieroommguica.;sa. Commerce can be carried
on successfully between the old States and the
mississippi valley only by doubling Cape Sable
or through means of artificial avenues extending
from the Atlantic coast far into the interior.
Hence If the last Congress was justfablc in
aiding the construction of railroad from the
northern lakes to the Gulf Of Mexico, we shall
be more than justified in aiding the construction
OF highway from the extreme confines OF Mis-
souri, to the States this side ofthe AIleghanies-
a highway which will open a direct, speedy,
safe, and economical communication between
parts of the Union that now hold intercourse
only BY the most circuitous, tardy, hazardous,
and expensive routes. The Hannibal and st.
Joseph railroad will form an important part of
such line OF mtercommunicaton.
The town OF Hannibal is situated on the west
bank of the Mississippi river, in latitude 39 deg.
10 min north. The town of st. Joseph is one
hundred and eighty miles due west of Hannibal,
on the east bank of the Missouri river. The
city of Philadelphia, and the seats of government
Of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, are nearly on the
same parallel of latitude with the town of Han
nibal. So that a railroad running due west from
Philadelphia would pass through the centre of
the states OF Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, cross
the Mississippi at Hannibal, and strike the Mis-
souri, at st. Joseph. Within eighteen months a
railroad will be completed from Philadelphia to
PIttsburg. Within the same time railroad will
be finished from Pittsburg to Columbus, Ohio.
A railroad is nearly finished between Terre
Haute, near the western line of Indiana, to In
dianapolis, in that State. The Illinois cross-cut
railroad is already finished from Springfield to
the Illinois river, and in less than two wears will
be finished to the town of Quincy, which is only
twelve miles from Hannibal; SO that in the
course oi "a lev years We may reasonably expect
TO see railroad communication complete be-
tween Philadelphia and the Mississippi river.
The construction of the Hannibal and st. joseph
railroad will complete the connection as far west
as the Missouri. The same chain of railroads.
too, which will connect the western portions Of
the State of Missouri with Philadelphia, will
unite with that great railway line already ex
tending from New York city to Cincinnati.
and also with the Bltimore and Ohio railroad,
and with the road from Louisville, by way Of
Nashville, to Savannah, Georgia, and to Charles
ton, South Carolina. Thus, in a few wears,
may we hope to see the banks of the Missouri
river, and the fertile country bordering thereon,
brought within three days travel Of the metrop-
oils Of the Union, and of the great cities Of
Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York
and Boston. Nor is this ALL The railroad from
Chicago to the mouth of the Ohio river is to be
completed within few years. The Hannibal
and st. Joseph railroad will connect with the
Chicago and Cairo road, by means OF the Spring
field, Illinois, railroad. In this way will be
opened TO the South and to the northern lakes,
as well as to the Atlantic seaboard, all the fer
tile country included within northern Missouri,
and all that immense country to the west Of our
State, which is distned in few years to be the
home of multitudcs of white men. Let any one,
sir, turn to the map of the United States, and
endeavor to trace out the line of railroads which
will most promote the welfare of the whole
country, and he will inevitably fall upon that
very line of which the Hannibal and st. Joseph
railroad makes part. That road is on the par
allel Of latitude which passes midway between
the northern boundary of the United States and
the mouth of the Mississippi river. 1t is on the
AHc WllCu pdSScS through tlle neaIJ OIL hlSSO1fl
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 1t is
on the line which passes between the northern
lakes and the Ohio river, at nearly an equal dis.
; tance from each. 1t is on the line which divide,
The population of the United States into twc
l equal parts. 1t is on the line which connects a
: the same time with the great New York, Penn
! sylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and southern rail
1 roads, and by means of which, therefore, more
distant and more numerous points of the Unior
c can be brought into easy communication thar
. any other which can be conceived.
!, The opening of the good roads between thu
u eastern and western portions of the Union hai
been favorte object with our greatest states
|, men almost from the foundation of our Govern
9 ment. The Cumberland turnpike was projected
8 by one Of the ''early Presidents" and has beer
carried forward at the expense Of millions 0
dollars. In consequence of modern improve
!, ments, that work has become nearly useless
u But the time has been when the Cumberlan
road, by its promise of opening way from tn
old to the new States, was much-cherishe
object. with large portion Of the America
people. Ii is how proposed to effect the sam
" purpose by the greatest OF modern improvement
E. without the cost OF dollar to the Government
to without the exercise of any dangerous or doubt
o. full power, by the mere appropriation of sma
i'll portion of the public domain in manner tha
le will cover it with an industrious aud active pop
in ulatiOn, and convert il from awildcrness to cult
n waited farms and llgurishing villages. There
r no portiou Of this vast country which contain
" so large aa area Of fertile land, in proportion I
n its extentol surface as aorthern Missouri. "
n that fertile gpd beautiful region is to great d
he gree, a waste, because il possessts no ohann
for the transportation Of is prolgcts. It's cit
lot zens are almost entirely dependent upon d
n Missouri river for getting to anaFeturning Gro
or the markets Of the country. Thsl river Is elos'