Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-28
! NEW SERIES.
AtIan,ic and Pacific Railroad.

ise people Oh thls CITY on The subject OF the best
route for railroad 10 the Pacific. .fs. ..rI
He commenced by stating that ours was a CEN
tral position, taken in connection with the great
roads leading from the east, and concentrating
at Tcrre Hautc in Indiana and Terre Haute bO-
ing on the same parallel of latitude with St. Jo-
seph, they all point in this direction. A COM
parison Of maps would show that between the
route leading from Terre Haute through st.
Louis TO Kansas river, and to point as far west
as ST. Joseph, there is difference Of 200 to
$50 miles that difference being in favor of the
route through Hannibal. He however insisted
on the people refraining from opposition to the
route through St. Louis. If that was the best
route it would be adopted, for the commerce of
the world, in crossing the continent, would ul-
timatcly seek the shortest route, and capitalists
would see that in advance.
In his opinion the best route was from
ST. Joseph across the beautiful and fertile
country bordering the Platte river; up that
river 10 the South Pass thence in south.
westerly direction to the Great Salt Lake
Valley; thence a little south of west to
the Middle Fork of Feather River or Jam-
sons Creek down Feather River, to the
Sacramento Valley, and thence to the Bay.
No obstruction of importance is met be-
tween the South Pass and Feather River,
or Jamison's Creek, the valley of which
leading through Sierra Nevada Mountain
TO the Sacramento Valley, is entered by
the traveller without being aware that he is
passing through the mountains, except by
the ranges that rise up on either side. The
only difficulties worth considering are about
twenty miles Of canons, composed Of soft
sand stone, which can be cut away as easily
as hard clay and gravel.
Although Benicia can thus be SO easily
reached, yet San Francisco and her repre-
sentative Mr.. Gwin, are opposed TO a
Northern route, because the confguration
Of the country is such that San Francisco
cannot be SO well reached by northern
route. The route laid down by Gwin is
several hundred miles longer than would be
the route just described.
Another route was referred to, bearing
off north Of west from the Salt Lake val
ley, called Shasta, or Nobes Route. On
this route there is said to be very little gra-
ding necessary, in order to pass through
the Sierra Nevada, many teams being re-
ported as having passed through there
without locking wheel; thence down the
Sacramento valley to the Bay. This route
is said TO be $50 to l75 miles further than
the Feather river route, and about $50 miles
nearer the mouth of Columbia river, where
the road takes south to 60 TO the Bay of
San Francisco.
Shasta is about one and half degrees south
of the south Pass; and the latter is about two
and half degrees north of st. Joseph.
This route he had never passed through, but
had his information from such sources that he
could rely upon the statements.
To obtain the labor at small cost TO settle
up the country along the route, and thls raise
the price of land and to FURNISH homes for the
homeless, lie suggested the enlistment, like SOL
diers, Of the thousands Of INDECENT foreigners
constantly landing in this country-mustering
in, say %, 900 men furnishing them rations and
clothing the same as are now paid to the regu-
lar army having officers, &c.; and at the end
of FIVE years service let them have each l6o
acres eff bounty land, on or near the road-thus
creating protection for the road, and for tel
sgraph line; enabling the government to civil
ize and Christianize the Indian tribes on the
route; saving the great expense of keeping up
Indian agencies; building Notifications, and sus-
tanning standing armies. All this to be done
by the laborers employed to construct the work.
Pursue this plan, and the work can be finished
in FIVE years. The lands should be withheld
from sale till they shall have been cultivated
five years. All settlers should be prohibited
from transferring title directly or indirectly un
iii they shall have cultivated their lands five
years.
Many foreigners land here without dollar
home or employment. In the way proposed Tho
government might relieve all their wants; SETTLE
up wilderness and enhance the value Of th'
public lands to an amount sufficient to pay for th
construction of the road.
The bounty for the 25O00 men would amour
10 100000 acres-a very small proportion 0
the vacant lands in the West belonging to gov
eminent.
by pledging the lands government could bull
the rOs without touching tAe Treasury.