, 1853-02-19
a Highway to the Pacific-ShiP
Canal-Railroad from the At
tio-Pacifio terminus, &c.


and take pleasure in giving it place in the
ColnnJiaa. We have always regarded a
contamination of the subject matters treated
Of as removed some distance in the future,
and have heretofore found ample subjects Of
discussion Of more iRNediate interest TO the
people Of northern Oregon than those Of
atiaafe high importance to the Paclhc
coast generally. The extract here present
ed is well worthy Of an attentive perusal,
in conn 'ction with which it may not be
deemed inopPonune or supereOgatIon IN US
to indulge in a few comments:
"Wbai the Mediterranean sea was in the carly
ages Of the world, The Pacific Ocean promises to
become in future. On every side Of that vast
ocean, new empires are rising. They are nsing
too, with eelsrity that deaes history and almosi
supereodos speculation. Fifty years ago the Pacific
was the ocean Of pastoral romanee-lhe waiery
girdle Of . thousand Islands Of the Blest. The
great continents which looked down into these
mighty end tranquil waters were either barren
wilds or aneient and mysteiious empires. Enter
prise there wss none-signs Of life there were few.
Bot now Sydney and San Frsneiseo stretch
empires already sway the shores and Islands Of the
Pneifc; while their fleets ill its ports with the
commodities Of nations, and carry thence to colder
lalitudes Of the north the golden produce Of the
tropics China and Japan, sealed for centuries
against the inrolds Of commerce and civilization,
are about 10 be forced open by the course ofeyens
Bot thst which adds most singularly TO the impor-
lance Of the Pacific Ocean, is the fact that on al
sides il seems to be enclosed between most prolific
gold fields Of the earth The desines in store for
this mighty sea and its glittenng coasts is a sub
jeet Of poetic speeulaioni but the great material
want Of the old world, every day growing more
imperative, is ready access by way Of the 18th
mus Of Panama 70 his highway Of the region Of
gold and eolonization. Thus, every item Of inteh-
genee from the Isthmus has for Europeans pro-
found interest; and already there sre schemes
shroad for seizng BY force the narrow strip Of land
y which divides the two oceans in the centre Of
America, and holding it In lhe name Of nations BY
Joint occupation Of the Great Powers. Mean
time certain wel-known parties sre pushing on the
scheme for ship canal and the last number Of
the Panama Star contains the particulars Of con-
cession, for twenty nine years made to them by
the Government Of New GrenSda The date OF
this new privilege, given Of Bogota, is the Ist of
June is52-and the canal is TO be completed
within ten years, and prorogalon OF four years
longer, II required should one third Of the work
be then finished. The company receive with the
grant 100000 fanogadss Of land to be selected by
them in any part Of the Republic. The harbO6s
on both the Pacific and Atlantic are to remain free
and neutral The New Grenadian Government is
10 receive three per cent. Of the profits for ghty
yean, and Eve per cent for the remaining nineteen
years. The company are to make deposit Of
24,O0Ol a guarantee, within twelve months Of
the day Of the grant. The parties receiving this
grant arc DR.. Edward Cullen, Sir Charles Fox,
John Henderson, and Thomas Brassy. Before
these parties proceed with their plans, however
the consent Of the Panama railway company must
be obtained and from the rival character Of that
design this is not unlikely to prove the most diff,
cult part Of the negotiation"
In connection with the above great high
ways connecting the Atlantic with the Pa
cihc oceans, there are other and innumga-
bic projects for the construction Of railroads
from different points on the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers, 10 points on the Pacific
from San Diego, the southern boundary of
the United States with Mexico, to Puget
Sound-47lh parallel Of north latitude
VIII ALL those various routes ever be con-
siructcdi viii ANY ONE be completed
within the ncxb6ve or twenty-five years :
Time will answer IH
In the determination Of practicable
route from the American frontier to the
Pacific coast for the construction of a rail-
road, we do not conceive it necessary that
the wisdom Of the statesman, jurist, or schol.
ar be consulted in its LOCATION. The ex-
porienced eye Of the mountaineer, who has
iraversed the rude mountains and dreary
PLANES that intervene between us and the
far west of the Atlantic-vho has familiar
lied himself with the various streams and
mountain passes, is better able 10 afford cor
rect conclusions as 10 where such work
could be located to the best advantage, than
a dozen projectors. In such an undertaking,
the opinions of Kit Carson OF Bill Will
liams would successfully offset and weigh
down the most lObofcd conclusions Of an
Asa Whitney, or even Colonel Benton
OF the combined wisdom Of congress and
il is to the judgment of such persons as the
first named that we are induced to submit
our views in reference to the great project,
contemplated for a number of years, and
now 50 seriously demanded to strengthen
the bond of union between the east and
west, and for the Commercial advancement
Of both Europe and America.
Neither the starting point or the iermin.
US of this great national work should be
matter of as much soliciiude as the selection
Of country~adaPted to lis wants in passing
through (afording water, timber, &c, J