The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-18


Pacific, be provided first, for the construction OF
a broad common highway; and there was re-
served a similar provision for the Santa Fe line
This great enterprise, throughout, he proposed
TO rest upon the broad shoulders OF the govern
ment, and as a basis of capital for the work, to
appropriate the proceeds of all the public lands
TO carry il on.
The objections to this plan are apparent II
il too heavy and cumbersome. 1t will require
TOO much legislation, too much machinery, and
too much time TO get il started; after which
there would be but a sbadowy prospect of even
the partial completion of the PLAN within any
reasonable length OF ,ime.
Next we have the plan Of Mr. Gwin and he
proposes to take the following route =
The plan proposed requires that the main trunk Of
Of a great Pacific railway system shall commence at
San Francisco, in California and passing around the
southern arm of the bay of San Francisco, through
Santa Clara, San Jose, and In northeast direction
across the coast range OF mountains, through Stock
ton to point nearly south oi the source oil the STAN
isaus river; thence along the foot hills OF the
Sierra Nevada range, and east of the San Joaquin
river and lake Tulares, to point designated on the
map as Walkers Pass" thence eastwardly on, and
near the parallel OF 30 deg OF north latitude, to Zuni,
in longitude 81 deg. west across the Sierra Madre
mountains, by well known passes through which
there are wagon roads in use, to Albuquerque,
town on the east fork Of the Rio Crande, and con-
tnuing east said parallel to point about thirty.
five miles south of Santa Fe, In the meridian OF ~
deg of west longitude from Washington; thence south
eastery the of Red River and along the left
or north bank of said river TO Fulton, the south
west corner Of the State OF Arkansas From thus
great trunk railway ST. Louis branch will begin ut
a point nearly due south of Santa Fe, and taking
northeastery direction will fall in with the road from
Santa Fe to independence, Missouri at or near San
Miguel Ga town on the Rio Pecos, and keeping with
said road practicable 10 the town OF lnde-
pendence, Missouri thence by the located roads In
that State ST. Louis thus connecting at that point
with the great eastern thoroughtares OF the northern
and middle States, already made or in process OF con-
structi0n.
He proposes also various connecting branches
with the main trunk to the Pacific. as follows:-
Mites.
From San Francisco, via Fulton, in Arkansas, to
Memphis (main trunk) ............... 1000
The ST. Louis branch, from point on the main
trunk, thirty-iive miles south OF Santa Fe, to
st. Louis. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 9l5
The Dubuque branch from point on the st.
Louis branch, where il intersects the Arkansas
river, to Dubuque Observation-Disclosures. 6l0
The Texas branch, from the source Of Red river,
on the southern bend Of the main trunk, TO the
source of the Colorado river, and thence TO
Matagorda bay, on the gulf. ........... 535
The New Orleans route from Fulton to New Or
And the Oregon branch from San Francisco, in
California, to Fort Nisqually, in Oregon. $50
Total length Of railroad to be constructed. .5,l15
But what are the means for this prodigious
chain of tremendous railroads!
THE means proposed to construct this railway and
branches is grant from Congress OF public land TO
the States Of louisiana Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa.
California and appropriation for the construction OF
he through tho tor Of
ty OF l52 400 square miles, or 81 900 acres and
this appropriation is to meet the expenses OF Pacific
railway aud branches Of 400 miles because from the
aggregate length Of ll5 miles il IN be deducted the
Texas branch, nasInuch as the government OF the
United States has public lands TO grant within the
limits Of that State"
By contracts with the States concerned these
roads are to be completed in five years. except
ing the California branches, and the territorial
OF construction. are allowed an extension of ten
years-Congress to regulate freights aud fares
roads to be delivered up to government in
thirty years-all government officials and trans
portation to pass over the road in the meantime
free of charge and to have the preference of
transit &c.
The objections to this plan are the same as
those which apply to Col. Benton's, but in a
more aggravated form. The plan is too stu
pendous-embraces too many objects and
projects at the same time. and we APP
prehend, if attempted, would be found to
be utterly Interchangeable Under this impress
sion. therefore. without further argument We
are constrained to drop the plan of Mr.. Gwin.
The great desideratum, first of all. is the main
ls,a u. ii -
branch lines to take care of themselves; for,
when the great trunk is completed. or even fair
ly under way. we may rest assured there will
be found capital enough and enterprise enough
to look after the tributary lines.
We come now to the plan Of the New York
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company. A bill
is now before our State Legislature for the in
corporation of this company. consisting Of Levi
S. Chatfield, Frederick Follett. William j.
McAlpine. Erastus Corning, Dean Richmond.
Orville Clark. Peter Cooper Abram Huett.
Simeon Draper Sanford E. Church, William w.
Samuel Merrill, Noah Allison. David Newcomb,
Clark Burnham, George w. Smyth. Ira p.
Barnes, Ezra Lincoln, Dudley S. Gregory. John
Wilkinson, Michael Burke and such other per-
sons as shall or may be associated with them for
the purpose Of constructing a railroad from
the Mississippi valley or from the Gulf of
Mexico to San Francisco, or some other avail
able point on the Pacific ocean-reservng also.
to the company the right Of branch to Oregon
After making the necessary provisions for the
survey of the route. the bill provides that the
company shall finish single track to the Pa
cific in five years. and for line, also. of mag
netic telegraph. The capital stock is fixed at
hundred millions in shares of thousand dol
lars each. The maximum charge for passengers
is limited at four cents per mile. and at four
cents for two thousand pounds, or one ton, per
mile for freight, other than metals. or live
stock or animals. These, emitting the details