The weekly Placer herald., 1852-09-11
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Great Speech OF Cen. john A
McDOugal.
Delivered at The Verandah, in San Fran
cisco, on the cath .4ug, 1852.

FELLOW CITIZENS ii have invited
your attention this evening to a discussion
of the practicablity and plan of con-
structing railroad from the Bay of San
Frunciseo to the Atlantic States, on enter
prise possessing magnitude of interst to
the people of this State, in comparison
with which all other projected enterprises
sink into insignificance. Indeed ever since
| first identified my interests with, and
made my home on the Pacific, | have re-
garded this work as the great enterprise
of the age, in which not only California
but the whole republic was vitalIy con-
cerned, and which while of vital impor-
tance to sfor purposes of intereommuni-
cation and government, must secure to us
a commanding influence over the COM
merce of the world.
Entertaining these opinions; and now
occupying position that devolves upon
me the duty of communicating my views
on questions of public policy to the people
of the State, gladly embrace the oppor-
tun ty of agitating this important subject.
In the year 1649 | crossed the continent
into California, spending several months
i'm the interior, and crossing the central
section between the Sierra Nevada or
Rocky Mountains and the mountains of
the Pacific on two different lines; my at
tention was then directed to the subject
Of this road; it was matter that had been
discussed with much earnestnesS through
out the western States for the two years
previous, and then regarded ltas work
to be undertaken at no distant period.
The information that | then gathered
from observation and from the statements
Of old settlers Of the interior, mountain
men and guides, have since compared
with official reports found in our public
documents, books of travel, and intorma-
tiop derived reasonably from travellers.
From these sources believe that have
gathered an intelligent opinion of the char
acter and practicabiity of the enterprise
upon the different routes that have been
suggested.
now state it as my clear conviction,
that there is not a single serious natural
obstacle to either northern or a southern
railroad route to the Atlantic States.
do not wish it understood that | pre-
sent my views as matured opinions, or my
plan as matured plan. | present facts,
opinions and plans to the people of the
State for discussion, addition and i'm
provement. The agitation of the ques-
ton will develope new facts, and con
stantly throw new light upon the subject.
and if this results in the maturing of a
plan for the enterprise, and the concentra-
ton of the public opinion. the moral force
of California in its support, the great
work will have been commenced, and
when once commenced in earnest the OBJ
scure and misty difficulties which disturb
the imagination of our people with igno-
rant and Informed conjectures, will van.
ish into thin air.
If can succeed in bringing the inteli
gence and the energies of California tc
bear upon this subject, if can but give
motion to this enterprise, shall feel wei
rewarded for the labors of the canvass be-
fore me, whether elected to stay at home
OF to take a place in the council halls o
the nation.
propose first to discuss the practicable
ity of the road with reference to the coun
try over which it must pass, and next tn
practicabiIity of concentrating the mean
and the enterprise necessary to its con
struction.
Three different routes have had thei
advocates. The northern route, risin