Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-12-23
and behold the sun GRADUALLY approacb

and behold the sun gradually approach,
then sink below the horizon, not to
rise again for many months, thus con-
signing them to all the appalling real
tiles Of polar night---oh! It must have
been horriblel But when they wit
messed a summer come and pass over
them, bringing no permanent relief, but
leaving them still in their cherries
prison house of ice, and another polar
winter approach. with its months of un-
interrupted darkness, how their hearts
must have sunk within them!l! That
their situation is now made known to
their friends, and succor and relief at
hand, their sutferings can be endured
with light and hopeful hearts. asa
As remarked, many expeditions have
been fitted out, at great expense, and
sent to search for North Western
passage around this continent; but
now, when one is discovered, it is
likely to be of'yery little service to
commerce, as the seas to be trayersed
are too much filled with ice to admit of
navigation at all, or for more than a
few weeks, at most, in the year. How
ever, the greater part Of the distance
passed by Capt. Nc Clure was through
open seas, so that channels connecting
Herewith, practicable for navigation,
may yet be found. Should such dis
covery be made, the distance for ships
from England, and all the other states
of Europe, and indeed, from the Uni
ted States, to China, India, Australia,
the western coast of North America,
and the Pacific Islands, will be very
materially lessened, besides offering
to the voyager a less storming sea for
his passage.
But this discovery has been SO long
delayed, that it will, at all events, soon
be superseded by a ship canal across
the Isthmus, or railroad from the
Atlantic ta,tbs.P acific, either of which
would Greatly lessen the value Of
North ssage. That one or
both Of projected works will soon
be finished, tliere canbe little doubt
They are Of too much importance to
the trade Of the world to remain much
longer neglected. Every political
movement in the above-named coun-
tries, bordering on the Pacific Ocean,
seems tending to the establishment Of
an immense commerce between Europe,
the United States, and them. The
revolution which is reported to have
been successful in China, the expected
treaty with Japan, the established trade
with India: and the growing impor-
tance of that with California, Oregon,
Australia, and the multitude Of pro-
ductivc islands in the Pacific, will rem
der the contemplated canal and Rail-
road OF the very highest utility TO all
nations, and especially to
the United States and England.-
With such advantages, hazard moth
ing in saying, that they cannot long re-
main unfinished. This may be con-
sidered departure from the subject
with which set out, but they are le-
connected. The greatest
obstacle TO the speedy completion of
the railroad, l fear. will be the dispo-
sition, already manifested, TO look to
the General Government for the means
Of constructing it, thus repressing in
dividual enterprise, which must be re-
sorted to, finally, ii it is ever finished
at all. If we wait for it to be built by
the nation, it will linger unfinished, as
the great National Cumberland Road
did. That, after remaining unfinished
for more than quarter OF a century,
and costing twice as much as would
have completed the work in the hands
of individuals, was at last abandoned,
when the time for individual enterprise
to havemade ithad forever gone by
This same individual enterprise will
now build arailroad connection between
the same points in afew years. Such
would be tie result with this projected
road. Private men would construct
the road, whilst Congress was discuss
ing the propriety Of appointing COM
mittee to report on its practicability.
J. B.