The weekly Placer herald., 1852-09-11
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10 bel, no Alleghanies to cross; neither
tfas3lIs and winters Of Moscow or New
En9 OllUfo contend against.
But, fellow citizens, if the curtain Of
clouds is raised from the route of the
road, and all is made to appear smooth
and practicable, as it is, yet still an equal
obScurity seems to rest upon the sources
and resources for its construction.
| shall attempt fearlessly to grapple
with this difficulty also. 1t is said
"Fools rush in
Where angels fear to tread"
This may be my case, but confident of
the virtue of the attempt, and perhaps
egotisticaly confident too, of being equal
to it, hazard the undertaking.
Ignorant speculation in the Atlantic
States, assuming that the Sierra Nevada
and Rocky Mountains were great natural
barriers, to be overcome by the applica-
ton of immense labor, has in some in
stances placed the cost of this work as
high as $500, 100000. | have as yet seen no
calculation upon the hypothesis that it is
nearly level route from the Atlantic to
the Pacific waters.
For the purpose of making an approx
innate estimate Of the cost, have divided
the routes into western, central and eastern
sections, and distances as follows:
Miles,
From New Waters of Sacramento
to point on Humboldt $50
Humboldt river to Fort Laramie 92o
4 T.,I
Miles, 1,S45
Bay Of San Francisco to Mohave 47O
Mohave to San Diego on the Rio
Grande CTS
San Diego to Nachitoches 100
Miles, 1889
San Diego to Fort Smith 1926
San Diego to Independence $40
Within few years the cost of con-
structing railroads has been greatly re-
duced, partly from improved experience,
and the business being better understood
and more Systematically pursued, and
partly from the decrease in price of the
iron material on account of the surplus
manufactured and seeking a market.
recently noticed q statement that the
contract TO construct railroad from
Terre Haute on the Wabash, to Alton on
the Mississippi, with turnouts, depots,
cars and all necessary fixtures, the distance
It's miles, had been taken by party Of
Massachusetts contractors for the gross
sum of rs 1000, 900, payable partly in cash,
part in stock, and part in bonds secured
by the road. The road and its accompany
inents to be of fhe best description and
most approved rail. This road is to be
constructed and set in operation at cost of
$l7OO per mile. It'll passes over country not
equal in point Of grade to the eastern Sec
tion Of either route proposed, but little
better timbered, and having no advantage
over either, except in the distribution of
material.
I am no engineer, but in my calculations
have had the assistance of some of the
hest engineers in California. After making
all the allowances that their experience
and my own reflections have suggested,
am satisfied that an addition of SO is per
cent. upon the cost Of the Illinois road
will cover all extra cost of a road to Fort
Laramie or the Rio Grande.
The road from Fort Laramie to the
Humboldt river furnishes an almost equal
ly favorable grade, quite equal to the
grade of the Illinois road 1t runs near
the large Mormon city, which will furnish
both supplies and labor, and as the road
is pushed forward, population and pro-
duction will he pushed forward with it.
Labor here can he employed on the same
terms that it can be eaaiir!ccyed on the MIS-
sisspp. The transportation of provis-
ions and of men will be trifling, as the
road must be completed as it progresses,
and the perfect healthfulness of the cli-
mate will give a great advantage over la
Dor upon the Mississippi.
The additional cost Of distributing ma
teral will again be the principal differ
ence of the cost of this portion of the road
and making all reasonable allowances,
cannot for this section add more than rs
Der cent. to- the mile, with which have
started.
The road from the Humboldt to the
Sacramento would he commenced from
this end. Iron can be delivered cheaper
at San Francisco than at St. Louis. The
hills bordering the Sacramento and the
Sierra Nevada are planted with the
best of timber trees. The labor Of dis
trbuting the material would not be
greater than upon the Illinois road
Would not 1OG per cent. added to our
starting price be reasonable allowance /?
1t is much greater than the estimates made
by the engineer Of the San Jose railroad,