Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-11-25
The Greatest Enterprise of the Age.
The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad

The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad.
Senator Gwin, of California has already reach
ed Washington. He is one of the ablest cham
pions ola railroad to the Pacific and he returns
to the Senate determined to employ all his ener-
gies in an effort TO induce Congress to sanction
the measure, and at the earliest moment possible.
During the last session he made powerful
speech upon the subject. 1t was widely circula-
ted, and well received throughout the whole
country. Senator Rusk, of Texas will also be
found one of the most jealous and untiring advo-
Gates of great iron highway to the Pacific,
while Mr. Benton will doubtless lead the move
nlent in the House. This subject will, indeed.
constitute one of the most interesting and impor-
tant that will be discussed by the new Congress.
1t Will find many advocates in both Houses, and
not a few outside but we have reason to believe,
nevertheless that there will also be active oppo-
ncnts. II is rare, indeed, that great enterprise
of the kind is discussed, that croakers and fault
( finders do not start up. \ hope was at first in
dulged that the Administration would lead all its
aid to the undertaking. an would epdeavor to
make it Government measure. But this has
been abandoned. President Pierce wilrecom-
mend road in general terms, but he wipnot en-
! uSeNoi W ilidhC IL bONtIlllilCllI lnGaSuGN IHc
opposition that has already been manifested in
the South has alarmed and intimidated him.
The REPRESENTATIVES of the Western Sts,es, and
especially of California, will exert Themselves to
the utmost.
The road is regarded as one of the grcit essen
tials of the time, and it cannot be commenced
too soon. Without being pledged to any partc-
/ ular route, and having no interests to sbServe
except those of the nation at large we promise
to lend our humble aid to the furthcrauc@ and fl
nal completion of this immense enterIrise and
this, as we doubt not, is the dspositiG of the
press generally. The road must be bilt, and
its commencement should not be delayd mo-
ment longer than is necessary. The n:v Con-
gress should not adjourn without adopting the
preliminary measure with reference to this great
scheme of internal communication All the lea
ding facts will doubtless be at the command of
the gentlemen we have named above Messrs
Gwin, Rusk and Benton. They have pid great
attention to the subject, and are prepared to
speak advisedly. They are, morcovg, from
States that have, perhaps, deeper interest in
this vast scheme than any others in TIE Union
yix California, Texas and Missouri Several
Surveying Expeditions are now out, asauthori-
Zed by the last Congress- and it is to ,e hoped
that the reports will be ready carly in thesession
The fact that thousands of adventures with
teams and cattle in great numbers, PISS from
Missouri and other points to California every
year, is conclusive, not only as to tie neces-
sty Of such road, but as to the feasibility of
the enterprise.
Indeed, 1t is conceded that several routes have
already been discovered that are altogether avail
able. The difficulty will be to ecideupon the
best, and in discussing this point mucl precious
time will be lost. 1t is to be hoped, however,
that the master-spirits of the movement will get
toeether. rnmr"'Nn notes decide upon some fair
/ and liberal plan and determine upon corporation
in urging and advocating it before the ,epresen-
tives of the people. Such an understanding
would not only prevent unnecessary delay, but it
would secure the completion of the measrre at the
earlist moment possible. At best and under the
most favorable auspices, the work will be one of
years, and hence the necessity of prompt decis-
ION, as to plan and route, and early beginning.
Our possessions on the Pacific are every hour
increasing in value, and extraordinary as are the
results at the present time, they are as nothing
compared with what we NAV anticipate twenty
! or thirty years hence. At this moment the an
neXatiOn Of the Sandwich Islands is yeriousIv
/ contemplated, while Commander Perry has had
his first interview with the Japanese authorities.
and will in the Spring cndeayor to procure favo-
rable commercial treaty. 4 line ofSteamers be-
/ tween San Francisco, the Sandwich Island and
China, or Japan, or India, or, peradventure. all
three, may be considered as among the probable
enterprises Of the day, and hence, we repeat, the
immediate necessity Of an early commence
ment of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad The
subject is vast and involves interests so vari-
GUS and of such magnitude, that it is impossible
to discuss it within the limits of a newsnaper ar
ucle. The effect upon the western country If
self will be magical. Whole regions of lind that
are now comparatively deserted and useless, will
pc dotted with cities, towns and villages, and
become the abodes of thousands and tens of
thousands Of human beings.
Invaluable mineral and othor resources will he
discovered and impulse will be given to en-
Igration, industry, and enterprise. The masses
4' the Old World viii be re-awakened to the Won
ocis OF the New, and the living tide that al
ready pours forward to the extent of more than
one thousand human beings a da,- will ;,creaSo
in volume, and still further contribute to popu-
late the forests and prairies of the fertile and
mighty West.-PhH. Inq
Territorial Extent of the Unied States