The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-08-04
THE PACIFIC RAILWAY.

While nearly all the press here in Richmond
are discussing the ezpedency and constitu
tionality Of constructing the Pacific Railroad
elsewhere the construction seems to be regard
ed settled point, and the only discussion IS
as to the relative merits OF the three routes.
In this discussion the most prominent rndiVl-
2ual is Col. Benton, whose laundering procla'
nations remind US very much OF those O'Con'
nell used to pat forth before he had governs
mental relapse. He and Fremont and Kit
Carson have taken the Pacific Road under
their guardianship, and nobody else is consld'
cred as being entitled to an opinion on the
subject. This trio proclaim that there Is no
route practicable but the middle route, and the
explorers of that route are anticipating their
OWE reports by forwarding TO old Bullion des'
patches setting forth their progress and the
nature of the country. These dispatches rep
resent the country as a perfect heaven on earth
rich lands, we'll vatered level country, and
so on clear to the valley Of San Luis at the
head of the Del Norte-fully half way from
Missouri to California. These epistles are
quite entertaining. We clip few passages
"We have had an ample supply Of game
eyerv day since leaving Westport, the Mlssou'
ri frontier. We found the plaina, particularly
between the Arkansas and the mountains
teemipg with deer, antelope, &c"
"The health of the party is excellent. MIR
Riggs left his govt at Council Grove and III:
rheumatism at Fort Atkinson"
These interesting incidents are not allowed
to pass without a more particular explanation
bv Mr.. Benton, who gives us clear under
standing of where Riggs left his govt and hi
rheumatism. He says:
"'Council Grove where Riggs left his govt
is $50 miles West of the Missouri frontier, il
the Plains; Fort Atkinson where he left hi
rheumatism, is 300 miles farther, On the Ar
kansas river"
So we have here perfect elysium in tht
middle route. We may infer that the gouty
and rheumatic have only TO 60 to "Counci
Grove" and fort Atkinson" and, like Riggs
bid adieu TO their unpleasant comp anions.-
What a glorious discovery this would have
been for that rum old commodore, y Whose
hull was so knocked about by the "bullet ant
the govt, the cholic and the phthiscl" How
he might have restored his old hull at ''Coun
Gil Grove" and taken new lease on lif
st"Fort Atkinson - tits not improbable tina
Kit Carson may yet find in this wonderful
route that magical spring so earnestly sough
Tor by Ponce de Leon, and whose waters pre-
serve perpetual youth in all who battle i
them. The next proclamation from sc
STREET," we anticipate, will announce III
fact.
Colonel Benton is stealing march upon III
o'ner routes certainly. He rot only make
These grand representations of his and FRI
monts and Kits middle route, but he is 6
o0hgng to the Southern route as to inform u
.ha' MI says "a ~o!f eoalda't make his lining
init! We do not see the uss a, al 81 ro,aE,
ment engineers and surveyors, as lons ~ -
Immortal trio survive to ilumips on, n..1
across the shining mountains; and :, r
doubt, great piece of extravaganza in :,
government TO 60 through the ridiculous 80,
mony of surveying the three routes.
Col. Benton is aware of the tact nd iud
ment of the old dramatists in drawing I'm
the artillery Of the heavens 10 s,arile and i
yr So the spectators. So he intends TO eros