Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-04
RAILROAD TO II .,..; ,,a T

$ plans Tor the accomplishing mt OF tins 81
.antic enterprise have been suggested for.public
consideration, aud pressed upon the notice of the
Federal Government. The latest of these is the
s,roief of Mr. Gwin one of the Senators from
California an abstract of which the reader will |
find in another column.
1t will be seen that Mr. OWNS bill provides for |
the completion of the work IN ten years from the
date of its commencement. We observe that the
projectors of another scheme, u notice of which
was published in our last paper, promise if Con-
gress will accede to their terms, to build the
road in the short space of FIVE years. L hat this
Pacific railroad will be- constructed at some flu
ture day, we entertain no shadow of doubt, but
when we consider the difficulties which lie in the
way of its early completion. we are forced to dis
credit the sanguine representations of Mr.. Gwin
and others. A railroad two Thousand miles long,
traversing through its whole extent savage will
derness, and encountering natural obstacles of
the most formidable character, is an un-
dertaking of 50 stupendous and novel nature,
that its completion in FIVE or ten years seems to
be wholly beyond the range of reasonable proba-
bility, even though the Federal Government
should lay its Hereulean shoulder to the wheel.
The experience of our country in works of this
kind furnishes no sufficient data by which to esti-
mate the expense and difficulty incident to the
prosecution of the proposed scheme. The rail-
roads of the United States now in operation, Pc
netrate as general rule. thickly populated dis
trcts of country. As soon as few miles of these
works are completed, they are put in operation,
and yield revenue from freight and travel which
keeps pace with their progress. They are fed,
too, by lateral connections which contribute to
swell the volume aud to enlarge the Of their
eoay-business. But railroad from the Missis-
sippi to the Pacific ocean would enjoy of
these advantages and facilities, if as is now pro-
posed, an attempt be made to execute the whole
work in few years, far in advance of the settle
ment aud cultivation of the country through
which it runs.
The experiment would be bold one, and if it
succeeded at all, such result could only be
effected by expenditure of money, unprece-
denied in the history of such enterprises.
Imagine the work completed and we should have
railroad 1000 miles in length, without a single
lateral branch an iron river without single trib-
utary. Not traveller, nor ton oftreight would
it pick up by the wayside but would be depen-
Were this projected railroad completed and in
operation at this moment it may well be ques-
toned whether it would yield sufficient reve-
nue. to keep itself in repair, much less reimburse
the cost of construction. unless it should attract
the trade of the East and become the great
thoroughfare of commerce between Europe and
Asia. Many minds indulge in this dazzling
ticipation, but the probabilities of such diver
sion of trade from its long established channels
are too remote and uncertain to enter into our
calculations at present. in considering the FEAST
kility of this great enterprise, 1t may do no
harm to dream of the gor geous riches of Oriental
Commerce, and to speculate the chances Of
our graspng at some future day the prize which
Tyre. Alexandria, Venice and England have by
TURKS seized and enjoyed, but it would be the
height of folly to permit such visions to influence
conduct, in mat ter involving such serious
and practical consequences, as that now under
consideration. If the trade of East is ever to be
diverted from its present channels, the process
will, in all probability, be slow and gradual one
Nature Goes not abhor a vacuum more than Com
MERGE abhors transhipment, and not until the
periority of the American route shall have been
established by the clearest and most overwhelm-
log proof need we expect to see ships laden with
the treasures of the Orient, abandoning their
present route and coming to San Francisco to dis
charge tn cir cargoes. there to be placed rail-
road and carried 1000 miles 70 the Mississippi
river, thence to be conveyed 500 or 1000 miles
by steamboat or railroad TO the Atlantic or Gulf
ports, there again to be launched upon the ocean
for transportation to Europe. 1t may turn out
for aught that we know, that this is the cheapest
and most expeditions route, but the commercial
world will be slowto believe the fact, and long
time win be required to impress it with truth
so much at variance with its old habits of thought
and action.
1t appears TO US that the true policy of our
Government is to commence the construction of
a railroad to the Pacific early possible, but
TO have some reference to the settlement
of the country through which 1t passes.
The idea Of pushing this work forward in
hot haste through the heart of a wilderness
1000 miles in extent, strikes being
well-n IA impracticable except at cost pro-
dgous in itself and wholly disproportionsd to the
objects proposed TO be attained. Bat if the road
be allowed simply to keep pace with the settle
ment Of the country, its value and general utility
be thereby greatly enhanced. 1t would
then be certainly self-sustaining work. deriving
support from the region which it trayerses, and
not relying solely on its extremities for susten-
Emigrants would follow its lice and settle