Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-11-18
Rail Roads, a

Public attention seems TO be fully aroused
TO this species of improvement as a means
Of developing the resources of the State
The subject is an interesting one, and wor-
thy the serious consideration Of every citi-
zen who has the prosperity of the State at
heort. The State and National Govern
ments, have lent helping hand towards
putting the ball in notion, and two roads
are now under construction. This has ava
kened the public mind, and railroad con-
ventions, and public meetings are being held
in different sections, urging the importance
of different locations. II is to be hoped the
State will not run to the other extreme
She has long held back from engaging in
works of improvement, with a pertinacity
that was as unaccountable as unwise; and
now that she has taken start we trust she
will not run TO the other extreme, and en-
gage in paper scheme which will break
down useful works now being constructed,
and in contemplation. To make road sue
coed, as a general principle, its beginning
and terminus should be at points of COM
mercial Importance and trade, which would
be facilitated and increased The country
through which such road would pass
would improve; towns alorg the line would
receive fresh impetus, and new ones
would spring up. Agricultural products
would increase, from an increased demand
consequent upon increase of population and
cheap and rapid facilities for reaching mar
kets. All this is natural, and is proven by
every day experience in those States where
railroads have been extensively built. Be-
fore roads are built there must be business
for them to do-there must be demand for
that species of improvement. Where this
is the case--where there is already a suffi-
cheney Of travel and freight for road, it
will be augmented by the construction of a
road, in a much greater fold than our
western denizens imagine. Nor is it to be
denied that the construction Of roads will
settle the country through which it passes
will build up town and cities-give an i'm
petus to Agricultural, Mechanical and Man
uIacturing pursuits; yet we do not think
Missouri, in the beginning of her railroad
system, should undertake 10 make the "des-
ert bloom" by first building roads. There
are points Of sufficient Importance to demand
the bild.ng of roads; by the time these points
are supplied others will open, and in turn
can be supplied; and after while we may
be able to run railroads "into the wilder
derness." We have been overcautious.
Let us not drop all our cautiousness. We
ere, and always have been, in favor of pro-
gress-but there is danger of progressing
too fast.
The following extract from an article In
the forthcoming number of the Western
Journal, presents a plan which will be
urged upon the Legislature. The article
sets out with the assumption that St. Louis
is 1.-The natural centre nj the Mississippi
Valley"--and as eastern enterprise has al
ready pushed railroads to the Mississippi
opposite that place, what is now essary
to be done is, to look to the other points Of
the compass. The writer proceeds:
The necessity appears, then, of reversing
the habits Of the old countries, and instead Of
building roads TO accommodate business in
existence, build them in order TO create the
+ business that is TO maintain them. To the
north, the route naturally suggests itself
as along the dividing ridge between the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri rivers, and following
into and beyond Iowa, there is found the
valley of the Des MONIES river, and beyond,
the valley of the ST. Peters, and still beyond,
the valley OF the Red river Of the North,
leading into the heart Of the Upper Cans das
and all in the direct route northward.-
Every foot OF the country passed through
is valuable, and it is understood TO be one
over which railroad can easily be con-
structed. The route through Missouri.
about two hundred and fifty miles, is proba-
bly, the easiest one for its length in the
United States. Magnificent as the project
| HppcdiS' IL II stil ilOIc 50, Wnen, turning 10
the South, route is projected from the
Iron Mountain 10 the Gulf of Mexico, at
New Orleans. Then it is seen 10 be a main
trunk, North and South-grand as the Mis-
sissippi river itsell-passing from the Gull
of Mexico, by the Iron Mountain and BY
st. Louis, and stopping only when it reaches
the limit Of civilization.
Missouri can start this by simply COM
mencing the construction Of the North Mis-
souri, Railroad" and the "Iron Mountain
Railroad" The States to the North and ia
the South will take it up and carry it on
and while each State will work for its par.
ticular interest, it will, at the same time
be for the good of all. Louisiana, Arkan,
sas, Iowa and Minnesota can all be inter.
ested in the work going on in Missouri
and in turn. draw out for their work, the
interest of this State.
To the west, the natural route seems tc