Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-03
From N, Me-, York Hrou L,n !,

Plan.
The late speech Of Mr.. Gwin, Of California,
in the Senate of the United States, in the exposi-
tion and advocacy of his project for railroad
from the Mississippi valley 10 the Pacific ocean,
brings up that vast and important subject for the
practical consideration of Congress. That the
road must be built, has become fixed fact
that it can he built. nobody doubts that it will
be built, everybody believes; and that it should
be built without delay, is the universal judgment
Of the country.
1t remains yet to be determined, however, by
what plan and by what route this grand connect
ing iron ligament between the Atlantic and the
Pacific slopes of this broad Union is to be con-
structed. OF the various plans proposed during
the last ten years, the most prominent are those
of Whitney and Benton, heretofore presented 10
Che pubic and during the present session, the
plan of Mr.. Senator Gwin, and the plan Of the
New York Company.
The plan of Asa Whitney, which he Sgitatsd
III the legislatures Of the various States, and in
both houses of Congress. for several years,
seems to have been dropped, at length, by gene
gal consent, as an obsolete idea. 1t proposed to
build railroad from the southern end of Lake
Michigan, taking some pass north of the South
Pass, through the Rocky Mountains, so as to
about strike the Raoiic ocean at Puget's
Sound, or the mouth of the Columbia river in
Oregon. To achieve this immense work, Mr.
Whitney only asked Of the Government the al
ternate sections of grant of land sixty miles
wide, along the entire route from Lake Michi-
gan to the Paclc the lands TO be sold TO REIN
burse the builders as the work progressed, and
the road, on its completion to be surrendered TO
the government But land monopoly like this,
however guarded by saving clauses, was des
tined to fall, as it has fallen, from its own dead
weight, to the ground. Besides, such an under
taking, by a solitary individual is prin,a tacie
utterly impracticable.
The next prominent project was that of Col.
Benton, on far more imposing and tremendous
scale than that of Whitney. Old Bullion is a
man of large ideas, and the exploring expedi-
ton of Fremont through that vast terra incogni-
la between the frontiers Of Missouri and Ark
ansas and the Western ocean had made the VEN
cradle Senator an enthusiast in regard TO Pa
cific railroad, when he drew up and laid his
plan before the Senate. He proposed to set
out with grand trunk from St. Louis west
ward, through the South Pass, or some other
neighboring pass, over the backbone of the
continent; and, after crossing it, 20 strike off
with one branch to Oregon, and another to Call
ifornia, providing, also for still another branch,
on the eastern aide of the Rocky Mountains,
down to Santa Fe, in New Mexico. All these
roads were to have a margin of mile reserved
on each side, for stations, depots, SC. And
furthermore, in the outset, along the two great
lines to the Pacific, he provided FIRST, COR the
construction of a broad common highway; and
there was reserved ;fsmar provision for the
Santa Fe line. This great enterprise, through
out, ne proposed 10 rest Upoc tie broad should
ers of the government, and as basis of capital
FOR the work, to appropriate the proceeds of all
public lands to carry it on.
The objections to this plan are apparent. 1t
is too heavy and cumbersome. 1t will require
too much legislation, too much machinery, and
too much time to get it started; after which
there would be but a shadowy prospect of even
the partial completion of the plan, within any
reasonable length OF time.
Next, we have the plan of Mr. Gwip; and he
proposes to take the following route:
The plan proposed requires that the mail
trunk Of great Pacific railway system shall
commence at San Francisco in California, anC
passing around the southern arm of the bay oil
San Francisco, through Santa Clara, San Jose
and in a northeast direction across the coas
range of mountains, through Stockton, to {
point nearly south of the source of the Stanis-
. laus river, thence along the foot hills" of the
Sierra Nevada range, and east OF the San Joa-
Quin river and the lake Tulares, TO point des-
ignated on the map as "Walkers Pass" thence
eastwardly on and near the parallel of 80 deg
of north latitude, to Zuni, in longitude 81 deg
west across the Sierra Madre Mountains, by
well known passes, through which there are
wagon roads now IN use, to Albuquerque,
town on the east fork of the Rio Grande, and
continuing east on said parallel to point about
thirty-fve miles south OF Santa Fe, in the me.
ridan of 81 deg west longitude from Washing
ton: thence southeasterly to the source OF Red
river, and along the left or north bank OF said
river to Fulton, near the southwest corner OF the
State of Arkansas From this great trunk
railway St. Louis branch will begin, at point
nearly due south of Santa Fe, and taking q
northeastly direction will fall in with the road
from Santa Fe to independence Missouri, at oil
near San Miguel, Ca town on the Rio Pecos,
and keeping with said road as near as practical
BILE, TO the town of independence, Missouri
thence by the located roads in that State to st
Louis, thus connecting at that point Yth thu
great eastern thoroughfares of the Northern anC
Middle States, already made, or in process g
construction.
He PROPOSES, also, various connecting brapGh
es with the main trunk TO the Pacific, as fol
lows: ,,
From San Francisco, via Fulton, Arkan-
sas, to Memphis, (main trunk,) Z,oO'
. The Saint Louis branch, from point on
the main trunk, thirty-fve miles south
of Santa Fe ts st. Louis, 9l'
The Dubuque branch from point on the
St. Louis ,hrapcb, where it intersects
the ArkaLss5 river, to Dubuque, OH
The Texas branch, from the source OF lSed
10, hap nf ba i'm