Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-11-11

and stopping only when II reaches inc h''" VI
civilization.
Missouri can start this by simply commencing
the construction Of the North Missouri haii'
road" and the Iron Mountain Railroad,
The States TO the North and TO the South will
take it up and carry il on, and while each S'a't
will work for its particular interest, il will, at
the same time, be for the good of all. Louisiana,
Arkansas, Iowa and Minnesota can all be inter
ssted in the work going on in Missouri, and IN
turn, draw out for their work, the interest oil
this State.
To the west, the natural route seems TO be |
generally by the valley Of the Missouri river to |
The mouth of the Kansas, and following II on,
by the South Pass TO the Pacific Ocean. This
has already been commenced. Here, again, we
see the Gulf Of Mexico, connected through 81
Louis, with the Northwestern plains OF the
country. =,
Another route strongly recommends itself,
route 10 the Southwest corner Of the State. lhe
other projected routes do not accommodate thai
section, and when this route is followed OIL
through Texas to the gulf at Galveston, or some
other psint, intersecting, as 1t does, all the
route, passing TO the South TO the Pacific ocean,
il is found trunk road equally important with
the others.
The four roads mentioned above, with the
Eastern
trunk roads that will fix for all time Missouri as
the seat of empire in the West with arms
stretching 10 the Gulf OF Mexico to the Pacific,
and TO Northern Canada.
They are not roads that will make themselves
unless thew are started, and there is some dan.
ger that unless started soon, other projects, en-
anating from influences foreign and antagOnistic
10 the State, may throw them back for many
e, years if not for all time.
Having considered this general system for the
results to be obtained, it may be well to look at
these roads as State reads, and bringing the sys-
e. TEN down to something at present practicable,
i test their worth for local improvement and de-
velopment of the State, and stock-paying
r roads as they progress within the State.
i These roads are the North Missouri Road
S the Pacific Road-the Southwest Missouri road,
e and the Iron Mountain road. 1t is understood
: that the Pacific Railroad Company are making
d SURVEYS for the three last named routes, with a
view of making reliable comparative estimates
: these surveys are not yet complete, but have
y progressed sufficiently TO satisfactorily deter
e mine the practicability, at reasonable cost, Of
o all the routes.
ii The North Missouri Rodd.-The route for
this road, after crossing the river at or near St
q Charles, would naturally follow the level,
:, fertile prairie ridge between the Missouri and
~ Mississippi rivers, passing through st. Charles
d Warren, Montgomery Galloway, Audran
n Boone, Randolph Macon, Adair and Schuyler
+ counties. Some of these counties are among
the richeot in the State. Every foot of the
land is fertile, and the whole country as capable
of supporting as dense population anywhcr,
- in the United States. The St. Joseph and
it Hannibal road, the construction of which is Sc
e cured by the grant of lands lately made to it
will be but two branches from the East anC
10 West-and other branches will spring up from
n the river each side to pour the whole produce
it of that part Of the State between the two rivers
W now containing one half of the population of tn,
r. State, over the North Missouri road Their,
! can be no earthly doubt but that it must be
u stock paying road from the commencement
II The length of the road may be two hundred an,
a. fifty miles, and $4,000 per mile a large esti
- mate. The total cost might thus be "a 100000
- The ten counties it passes can easily subscribe
- on an average. (those nearer the river more
a. and those inland less) 100000 each, yieldin
i from county subscriptions, 5 100000. Ind
III viduals in St. Charles and some of the ohc
>, richer counties may easily subscribe $500,00C
St. Louis may bring in the same amount, an
e with the credit Of the State TO the amount q
d, $1,000, 00O less 10 per cent. for interest TO
be paid on whole sum, for say one half of fiv
il years time of construction (two and half year
at six per cent, means for building may
81 counted on 10 the amount OF $3, 30, 00G-iea
~ ing only ST ,225 900 for the credit of the roa
e, TO furnish.
4, 1t may be safely asserted that, when any roa
), properly located can furnish from the half t
+, two-thirds of the amount necessary TO bull
III it, that its own credit will furnish the rest whe
I'D needed. To secure the State from harm for il
Il. credit the road has only to earn 1860 per mil
10 of road The earnings must be five times thai
An article on the Railroad shows the earning
- Of the following roads in the West to be:
- Little Miami 1854 per mil,
as Columbus and Xenia 2,77S
- Michigan Central 2,ll6
m Madison and indianapolis 2,37S
The charter for the Pacific Railroad Compan
= is for read frOm st. Louis to the Wester
r limit of the State. As yet that company hav
s. not determined this route, whether it shall b
for the trade of the Missouri river, or towar
~ the Southwest. As carrying out the system G
roads, 1t may be assumed that The Pacific rail
Oh road proper will be located on the shortest rout
he to the mouth of the Kansas river, and that III
il Southwest road will be built Is branch 10 tn
re- Pacific railroad, on which the land grant ma
:. be applied as "a railroad from St. Louis 10 tn
Western line of the State.
&c PAcIEIc RAILRoAD TO KANSAS.
is Referring to the report Of the surveys Of thi
a road, made by Mr.. KiTkwOod, il will be see
!. that the shortest route 10 by the Missouri rive
10 Jefferson City, and thence - direct Is posi-
'' BILE to Kansas, passing through 81. Louie, Gas
conade, Usage, Cole, Moniteau, Psttis, Lafay
We cite and Jackson counties. 1900
l. 1t may be said of this route that the means Q
l. transportation on the Missouri river has arsad
IS created business that will 60 far toward ma