The Nevada journal., 1853-10-07
Pacific Railroad.


of other matters of public moment, without any
decisive measures being taken at last The
principal foes to the road are unfortunately. the
sectional views that various parties are attempt
ing to subserve. Were there but one practica-
BILE route for the railway the enterprise would
unite the fragments of parties that now favor it
if their route is selected, and oppose it If any
other is taken But as it is there is little pros
pect of compromise, and by division among
the friends of the road, who united are certainly
majority, the project is at the mercy OF its
foes.
The controversy will wax warm first on the
question shall road be built, second how shall
it be built, and third, through what section Of
the country shall it be built. Already many
antagonistical interests are at work, and we
have at the South, party opposed to building
the road at all another party oppose the gov
ernmcnt building it, but is willing to grant
lands or government aid in some other way, to
a company of individuals to accomplish the
work. Then there is a party in favor of the
southern route, through Texas, making New
Orleans and that section of the country the nu-
clcus party in favor of the middle route
across New Mexico aud Utah, making St. Lou
is the great collecting and distributing reservoir;
and party in favor Of the extreme northern
route, through Wisconsin, Minnesota and the
north branch of the Columbia to Puget Sound.
This last named route would most benefit the
most northern seaports.
All these parties will have strenuous adhe-
rents, and probably others will arise before the
contest is ended. The advocates of the south
ern route, though they have made but little
noise, have been actively at work, and have 81
lently been enlisting the influence Of New York
ard New England men in their favor. The
late Gov Paine at the time he died was looking
over this route. Phillip Greeley, the late col
lector of Boston, was in his company, and some
of the heaviest New York capitalists are al
ready committed to it. When the South finds
that it must be built, and built with govern
ment money, it is quite probable they will go
for this route, nearly unanimously, and perhaps
carry majority with them. Mr.. Benton will
push vigorously for the middle OF St. Louis
route, and with his parliamentary tactics, his
signal ability and his indomitable courage and
perseverance, conjoined with great statistical,
typographical and geographical knowledge, he
is a host in himself, and may possibly turn the
tide Of battle. The advocates Of the northern
route are not yet either active or numerous, but
there are not wanting men who believe that
this combines the advantages of abundance of
timber, shortncss, the best agricultural and
manufacturing facilities, as we'll as the most
healthful climate.
To decide which is the proper route on which
to construct this great work, will require care
full surveys and knowledge of the character
and resources of the country through which
the surveys are made, which in the conflicting
evidence which will no doubt be brought for
ward, will require rigid investigation and sound
Judgment.
The Secretary of War, in a speech at the op
ening of the Crystal Palace in New York,
was understood to avow this project as an ad-
ministration measure, and that the surplus rev.
enues of the government would be applied to
build it. Since then much opposition has
been manifested to the views promulgat-
cd by the Secretary, and it is evident a great
battle is just commencing, and that the admin
stration is alarmed at the premature adoption of
its policy and the hostility which it may en-
counter, some Of the most powerful opposition
coming from unexpected quarters.
The Secretary of War, himself alarmed at
the effect of the speech, has given a corrected
and amended report of his views. In the new
version he cnforces the idea that the road, being
a military road, is therefore constitutional but
he qualities his former remarks thus
"But if it could be shown, and he always held
his opinion open to correction from any quar-
ter, that these means were not required, were not
necessary-and by necessary he meant abso-
utely required-or if any one would show the
other means which would answer as a substitute
how the duties of the government could be per-
formed without this auxiliary, more effectively
more economically, with less exercise of the
general powers of the government-then, as
Democrat, he would accept
the proposition
The organ of the President and his Cabinet,
the Washington Union is busily engaged in
feeling its way cautiously, on the question of the
Pacific Railroad It first establishes that as