Southern shield., 1852-05-29
From The Western Journal and Civilian. RAILROAD FROM ST. LOUIS TO
 NEW ORLEANS.


 tions which the Gulf of Mexico presents in respect to the principal geographical divis- ions of the earth, and endeavored to show how much the future prosperity of the re- zion watered by the Mississippi and its trib- utares depends upon the channels through which it's inhabitants may carry on their foreign trade.
 Had the use of steam as a motive pow CT been confined to river navigation and labor saving machinery, the Gulf of Mexico would have been always regarded as the natural and most convenient commercial thoroughfare between the valley of the Mississippi and foreign countries. But the Locomotive and the Ocean steamer are producing revolution in commerce which must, in a great degree, affect the private and public economy as we'll as the com mercial and social relations of every civil ized people. And although these mighty engines are rapidly overcoming the prnci- pal obstacles to commercial and social in- tercourse, yet. owing to their tendency to centralize commerce and capital, it has be- view, that the people of every State, and indeed of every county, should adopt some measure 10 protect their own interests against the monopoIzing power of steam.
 We have so often remarked upon the ru- inous policy Of carrying on our foreign commerce through the Eastern cities, that we refrain from discussing that topic in the present article. A glance at a map, exhb- iting the lines of railroads projected, and now in progress of construction, from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, will show that, when these projects shall have been com pleted, the entire commerce of the West will be placed under the cotrol of New York, and other Eastern cities. And, n- stead of becoming commercial emporiums, our towns will be reduced 10 the condition of mere depots for receiving and forward ing commodities in tranSitu; unless we can devise some plan that will counteract the influence of the railroad system which is designed to connect the Mississippi with the Atlantic coast.
 ThU Ceulrai railroad or TIlInOIS, III comet ton with the Mobile and Ohio railroad, though conforming in its direction to the natural laws of uade, is too remote from the Mississippi 10 increase its commerce or to enlarge materially the growth of the riv- CT towns. Its location is well calculated to promote the interests of the region through which it passes; but it will add lit tie, if anything, to the commerce of the Gulf of Mexico. Nor will its connection with a railroad to New Orleans be of much benefit to the people in the immediate val ley of the Mississippi river. And hence we must look 10 a more direct route 10 New Orleans, than can be obtained through the States of Illinois, Kentucky and Tenn essee. We must have a route connected with the commerce of the river located with a view to the development of the re- scources of the States west of the MiSsis- sippi.
 A line drawn from St. Louis to Helena, Arkansas, and thence South until it inter- sects the railroad proposed to be construc- ted from New Orleans e Holly Snrin@ss @s, may be regarded as the shortest practicable route between the valley of the Upper Mis- sissippi and New Orleans. On an air line the distance from St. Louis to New Orleans is about six hundred miles, and the railroad proposed by the way of Helena, would pro bablv not exceed $50 miles, and might be travelled from New Orleans to St. Louis in twentv-four hours.
 The distance from St. Louis to New Or leans, by the route here proposed, is less by about four hundred and fifty than from St. Louis to New York. And estimating the cost of railroad transportation at three cents per ton per mile, which may be re- garded as the average rate on dry goods the charges on this class of merchandise from New Orleans to St. Louis will be les bv sixty-seven cents on the hundred pound: than from New York. This would doubt less make the Gulf route the cheapest iron St. Louis 10 any part of Europe, and ena ble the merchants of this place to impor their goods on better terms for the countr than to purchase in the Atlantic cities.
 With this road completed we should hay nothing to apprehend from Eastern compe ton: but without it the time consumed and delays incident to rivernavigaton wi cause the principal part of the foreign ar > goods consumed in the West to com
 through the Atlantic cities.
 But doubts may arise as to the practic; : biitv of making a railroad from St. Lou
 to New Orleans on the line proposed, an
 also, as to the probability of raising tl 3. means of accomplishing a work of such a parent magnitude. It is true that part
 the route has never been explored with
 view to the location of such work, b
 we have been seeking information in I
 gard to the country through which Il
 route is proposed for several years, and
 are persuaded that from St. Louis to Il Iron mountain is the most difficult part
 the route, west of the Mississippi. VI are informed that narrow ridge of hle
 land, west of the St. Francis river, eXten from the Southern line of Missouri 10 He