The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-05-27
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
THE BEGINNING OF TIE PACIFIC
RAILROAD. M

|, is but fair 10 say that railway Ia
connec, the Mississippi valley with the
Pacific ocean, has been commenced. -
Congress has appropriated large sum Of
money, $l50,000, for tho purpose Of ex-
ploring The country, for The best route,
and invested the President with power TO
select proper persons TO make such ex-
ploraiions and report The resul, early in
the next Session. i
We do not propose at present 10 discuss
the magnifcence Of this enterprise, nor
its Importance 10 the commercial and in
dus,rial interests Of the world, for we
have time and again given our tumble
testimony upon both these points. We
simply wish TO record brief but accu-
rate history Of the passage Of the first
law by the American Congress looking
10 the construction of work which is
destined, not only from its utility but lis
sIupendous magnitude, TO sink all The
memorable achievements of oriental des-
potisms into compalilive obscuri,y.
The lime viii. come, If il has not al
ready arrived, when the world will be
curious TO know through " hose agency,
and by what insirumeniali,y the Pacific
Railroad was initiated. We propose
briefly TO stake out The lines for The fu-
,ure historian, that neither more nor less
Than justice may be done 10 tbose who
have participated in the deliberations
which promises such momentons results.
Early in the last session Of the last
Congress, Senator Gwin prepared bill
which he introduced without the sanction
Of any committee, and asked 10 have il
made special order for certain day.
After some debate il was laid upon the
table, and another bill making provision
for an emigrani route was made tie spe-
cial order, TO which Mr.. Gwin gave no.
lice that he should move his bill as an
amendment.
BY this arrangement Mr.. Gwin's bill
was removed from the consideration Of
The COMMITTEE on Roads aud Canals,
consisting Of Messrs. Bright, Of Indiana,
Douglas, Of Illinois, Chase, Of Ohio,
Adams, of Mississippi, and spruance, Of
Delaware. Ii is doing the parties inter-
estsd in Withdrawing OWNS bill from
this committee, no injustice 70 say, thai
they did not wish il 10 be uoder the con.
troll Of a committee, majority of which
was from the northwest. The whole
struggle Of the session was TO secure a
southern route.
When the Emigrani Route Bill came
up, Mr.. Gwin moved his bill as subsli-
inie, and il was accepted IS such. Mr..
Chase, then moved an amendment, the
effect Of which wls TO strike out The
half dozen branch roads provided for in
Mr. Gwin's bill, and TO provide for a
single road with an eastern terminus on
tho Missouri river. Several days debate
followed.
Pending this amendment ofMr. Chase,
a selecl committee was APP o'nted, con,
sisiing Of Messrs. Rusk, Of Texas, Gwin,
Of California, Dodge, Of Iowa, Davis, of
Massachusetts, and another not now re-
collected, 10 which was referred bill
and a memorial relating 10 The railroad
for the purpose Of giving Jurisdiction
over the subject. The committee re-
ported bill providing for single road,
TO be constructed by corporation, aided
by grant Of alternate sections 10 the
quantity Of abou, fifteen million. ofacres
and BY the advance Of twenty millions Of