, 1853-04-02
The Pacific Railroad.

Inc w hashlnStOn correspondent OF lne |
San Francisco Herald, writing under date
of Feb. a, 1888, says;
"Tho Pacific Railroad project still hangs
in the Senate of the United States. Some,
of its friends begin 10 despair Of its success
at the present session. am not among the
croakers. On thc contrary, my hopes are
still high that ere Congress adjourns, some
initiative in this good work will have been
taken. DR.. Gwin's bill, IS expected, has
been abandoned The scheme certainly en-
bodied some inherent elements Of strength
which have not been prominently presented.
II placed upon the States the duty of con-
stIueting all the work except about six or
seven hundred miles through the territory
Of the United States, and thus left n com.
paratively small portion of the enterprise to
the care Of the general government But
the scheme has been laid on the shelf, and
it is useless 10 comment upon its virtues or
frailtics. ln the upper house the great bat
tie is being fought. The House Of Repre-
sentatives will probably accept any measure
of this character which may be sent to ii by
the Senate.
Mr.. Rusk, from select committee on
the subject, has reported " A bill to provide
for the construction Of a railroad and tele7
graphic line from the valley Of the MiSsiS-
sippi to the Paei6c ocean p which is The
project now especially under discussion in
the Senate. II authorizes the President 10
select the general route for the railroad and
telcgraphic line, designating the mountain
passes between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans through which they shall be con
hrueted but leaving the intermediate por-
tons 10 be located by those who undertake
the construction. To aid in the construc-
tion, the bill provides mixed fund, of al
tcmaie sections Of public lands, and dOna-
ton Of twenty millions Of money from the
public treasury, 10 five per cent bonds. The
work is to be performed under contract, 10
the lowest bidder. This measure viii not
pass in the shape proposed BY Mr.. Rusk.
The Senate will not give the President the
exclusive power Of selecting the parties 10
do tho work under The bids which may be
sent in. l am of the opinion that Mr..
Rusk's bill will be 80 modified as 10 CON-
bine with lis Authorization Of survey, un'
der direction Of the President, tho essential
FEATURES of the New York scheme, Of which
have heretofore advised yon and that i
will pass in shape which win place the
work Of construction to be carried on BY
that company II such be the result, you
may look out for The snort Of the iron horse
in the great plains of the interior, and in
the passes Of the Sierras, in time 10 welcome
the Inauguration Of General Pierce's success
sor IN 1857. .if5rru DIDO r5+.i 81 '-1o"
While on the subject of railroads, lei me
nolicel the fact that Mr.. McCOrkle intro
duced into Tho House a bib donating alter
nate sections OF The public lands to the Be.
nicia and MarysViilc Pacific and AtlantiC
Railroad Company, 10 aid in the eOnslruc.
iiou Of said road. oAlso, alternate secGonl
Of land for an extension Of the road 10 the
Columbia river, in Oregon and the same
aid in the construction oi railroad from
San Jose, and thence through Walker'I
Pass toths State line--to connect with the
railroad from the Atlantic border. II the
bill can be reached this session, little oppo-
siiiOR 70 lis passage is expected"
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