Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-30
Fror: The Trenton Grundy Co.. Pioneer.
Hannibal and ST Josenh RAILROAD

Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.
IL is our intention TO say few words at this
time, upon the location of The route. Where the
Road will be located, we venture TO say no per-
son can at present predict. If the usual course
be adopted in It's location which everywhere
prevails in such cases, we imagine that the en-
gineers, corps composed of highly educated
and mathematical men, will run various routes,
or trail lines, and carefully prepare their esti.
mates, exhibit profiles and plans, showing how
much embaDkment here, how much excavation
there how many culverts and bridges on each
route: and show the sum total Of the cost and
distance. These estimates, thus obtained, will
be presented 10 the Board of Directors, who
Will decide on that route Offering, in their iudg-
ment, the most advantages. Public opinion,
along the trial line of last year, saws, that the
road will run on straight line, or nearly so, not
not varying much from the line dividing Town
ships 57 and 5S. Public opinion is often wrong
and In this case we should not be at all surprised
Il 1t was At iault. We have yet &c learn that il
is deslderatum in Rail Roads, that they should
run on straight line, especially a road of such
length rs this one. If this road extended from
termini somewhat contiguous, it might be urged
with some force, and even plausblity, that the
route should be direct. No particular interests
would demand DETECTION of any moment. But
this road, extending from great rivers washing
the extreme eastern and western border of pi-
gantic young State, should so accommodate itself
to the expanding and growing country embraced
within these rivers, as TO opon it up to settle
ment and cultivation: and by so doing would in
crease the business, and consequently the profits
Of the road.
There is no road of 200 miles in length that
runs upon straight line. That plea is very
pV fro int tod
who may chance TO live on or near an air line
between certain points.
The great New York and Erie Road, extend
ing through the southern tier of counties in the
State OF New York, commences at Pierpont on
the Hudson river, and after almost numberless
deviations, terminates at Dunkirk, on Lake
Erie; full ninety miles north of a straight line
westward, and as far north as the latitude of
Boston. If the company who built this road had
the straight line mania, they could have tapped
the lake on a much nearer route, and saved one
hundred miles in distance on the road, as well
as vas; sums Of money. And SO of many Of :hc
principal roads in the United States.
There is presented TO our minds among 9th
ers, one, 10 us forcible objection why this Road
should not run on a direct route. And that is,
if the munificent grant of public lands is TO be
rendered available in the construction of :his
of these lands, inasmuch as the lands cannot be
selected to distance exceeding fifteen miles on
each side of the Road.
Now it is we'll known, that vast quantities of
the best lands, most valuable for rock, timber
and water, are entered up by spectators, big
and little, upon the straight line route. Nearly
every man who could scare up money enough tc
buy land warrant, has done so, and laid it where
he fondly believed the road will pass, indulging
in the belief, that upon some lucky morning. lie
will awaken and find himself suddenly rich. -
We are informed that nearly the whole route
has thus been shingled over with entries, save in
some immense prairies. This being admitted
of what avail will the grant of lands be? Again,
large bodies of military lands lie directly upon
the air route, thus imposing another obstacle
IN addition to these objections, might be urged
the ncarness to the Missouri river formida-
ble competitor for the trade and travel Al
ready there is project entertained Of a rival
north side, via Weston, Richmond and Bruins
wick, which if executed, will most indubitaby
iniure the business Of the straight line road.
But time and our space this week, will no
permit us TO say all we desire. We understand
that a strong disposition is now manifested il
the proper quarter, TO run the road as far norti
as will enable the company 10 get good route
and obtain the most land. And we are assured
that line will be run, crossing the West Fork
at Cravensville. If so we may venture TO say
that the route will run via Collision s. Smith!
in Aubrey Grove Ga good route) thence follow
the Livingston and Grundy line, and cross a
Mr.. Craig's, or defect north, crossing between
Hickory and Coon Greeks, via Edinburgh, ant
crossing East Fork at Trenton.
An intelligent surveyor, who has examined
all the crossings of the river, says that the bluff
near Trenton present the best crossing from tht
mouth to the head of the river. The bottom il
not over four hundred yards in width, and rocI
and timber in great abundance are right at hand
Make Trenton the northern apex and the road
will pierce the richest portion of the State, OnC
I the trade Of all Northern Missouri will inevila
bly, tend to the road. The increase in the lengtl
of the route will not be serious, and the ricl
dividends resulting from this route will amply
| compensate the company and stockholders, il
: two ways: Firstly, by reason of fully secur
! ing all The lands TO be obtained under the gran
of Congress, and secondly by reason Of also sc
curing the northern trade without rival in th
field.
We earnestly desire that an experiment,
route be run TO Trenton, and that the Prcsidor
and Directors will give our country a lai
( chance for the Road.
h PoIsoNoUs CHLoRoroRN-Dr. G. T, Jack
f son, of Boston, states that ehoroform made froI
+ common corn, rye and potato whisky, is poison