, 1853-03-19
From the New York Herald, Jau. Goth.
telegraph 10 the Pacific.

Telegraph 10 The Pacific.
A memorial was presented TO Congress
on wednesday, asking for giant Of J., ,10O,.
900 acres Of land, TO be located along tn,
line Of telegraph, which the memorialists
propose to build between ST Louis and San
Francisco, by the way Of Salt Lake City
We have seen the plan and cstimal. or the
above project, and are acquainted with the
individuals who are now engaged in the en-
tcrprisc, as well as with thyir means, and
feel convinced that not only Is the plan per-
fcctly feasible, and the best that could be de-
vised, but also that the projectors have the
adequate funds, and arc the very men to put
ii through.
The proj ciors contemplate the coastruc-
ton Of a subterranean lin, with testing tubes
every FIVE, and working stations every one
hundred miles, throughout the route. The
distance trom 81. Louis 10 San Francisco,
by the way Of Salt Lake City, being about
,, 100 miles, there will consequently be
twcnty-four Of these stations on the route,
each settled by several families, furnishing
a nucleus for so many towns at no distant
day, and serving, from the first day of their
occupation, as halting places for the innu-
merablc caravans Of emiTants that are con-
siantly traversing the great prairies Of the
West between St Louis and the shores Of
the Pacific. The advantages of the under
taking, even from this point of view, can
hardly be over estimated But it will also
open to the market an almost unlimited
amount of land along the line of the pro-
posed grant, which is now lying waste and
trodden only by the foot of Indian in pur-
suit of game, Or the hoof oil lhe wild buffalo,
and thus be the means Of adding a large sum
10 the revenues of the country The me
mcrialiSis propose to give 10 the govern
meni, in return for the grant, he right, for
ever, 10 transmit, free of charge, over their
line, all official dispatches and communion
Iions, with a preference over all others and
they stipulate, in addition, that if they, or
their signs, shall, at any time after the
line il opened, cease to operate it for the
space Of six months, said line, with all its
appurtences, shall be forfeited 10 the gov
eInmcnt.
The protectors Of this vast enterprise ask
for no money, but simply for grant of land
land which at present is worth nothing,
aud probably will moi be for a century TO
come, except through the agency Of this, or
Of some similar undertaking. Ard this boon
is asked for on conditions and stipulations
that make it not only safe 10 grant it, bui =,
IN vl,w Of all the accruring immediate and
prospective advantages, absolutely a profta-
ble investment for government. Among
these Advantages, that Of having at all times,
but especially in case of war, a channel of
instantaneous communication between the
Atlantic seabcard and the shores OF the Pa
clhc, are too obvious to need an arugmcnt,
aud It's importance is too great TO be meas
sured by the value of few acres of worth
less land. To the merchant and business
man-to every one who has business or
friends in California or Oregon, lis impor-
lance will be equally obvious. The mode
OF construction of the proposed line will
give 10 II permanency, comparative ex-
emPtlon from interruption, and an efficiency,
at all times, and in weeiheYs, that can be al.
tancd in no other way. The men who are
ready TO build it, and risk their money on
its success, are no theorists, but practical
men, who are already engaged in the telc
graphic business, and thoroughly acquanint-
ed with its operations, as well as its pccunia-
ry affairs; and, having counted the cost
carefully and closely, they are willing TO
risk their own fortunes and regulations on
the result 1t is hop1d that Congress will
look favorably on the petition OF the memo
rialists, Mess.s. II. o. Alden and James
Eddy, and, if consistent with their duty,
grant the prayer of the memorial.