Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-23
THE PACIFIC RAIL ROAD.

pOndent IN MS letter to-uay, respecting lilo Uiii
for the construction of great railway commu-
nication between the Mississippi and the Pacif-
ic, naturally induce some reflections upon sub
iect of so much interest to the American peo-
pie.
No proposition within the past ten years, has
10 our knowledge, been received with such gem
eral favor as this, and none, rs We conceive con-
tains within itself so many elements Of utility
Indeed, it may almost be said, that the people
of the Union are unanimously in favor of the
measure in some shape, and will be deeply dis
appointed at the possible failure to carry out
their wishes in its behalf at the present Con-
gressional session.
The means for its accomplishment are GER
tanly ample, in the boundless public domain
which stretches away from the valley of the
Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains, and be-
yond, even to the shores of the Pacific, and it
needs therefore only to devise feasible plan of
operations to ensure the completion Of this
magnificent and truly American enterprise with
in the next half dozen years.
The people of the Northwest, whose stake
in this vast project, is at least equal to that of
any other portion of the Union, as the road
when completed, will inevitably connect with
the great thoroughfaros, spanning the States of
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconson and Iowa
careless, we imagine, about its eastern terminus
than about the prospect of its speedy compile
tion In the language of prominent western
Senator, they feel that I" sooner or later the
road must be built, and the sooner the better
for their purposes.
It is to be hoped then that Congress, over
looking the contentious of interested parties,
their own selfish and rival projects, will earnest
ly set to work to enact some judicious plan for
commencing this work at the point which in
their better judgment shall suggest itself, with
out further delay.
Let the members Of our National Legislature
approach the consideration Of this subject with
an unselfish and patriotic spirit determined to
do justice to its magnitude and Importance, and
as far as possible to the interests of all sections
of the Union, and we are sure that a plan may
soon be adopted which will secure the rapid
accomplishment Of this work.
With proper restrictions thrown around the
grant, we can see no evil to proceed from the
disposal of the public domain for the benefit of
the Pacific Railroad, by which the paramount
interests Of the republic may be endangered, al
though it has recently entered into the heads Of
some of our wise Legislators that q vast mon
Of land in aid of this enterprise, and that i'm
the government.
For our part, we fail to discover in such OBJ
jectons,any thing which should preclude any. ac-
ton in the premises. We agree with cotem-
porary, that there need be no jealousy lest some
men make immense fortunes by the enterprise.
Great fortunes in this country, not being pro-
tected by laws Of entail, soon become distrbu-
ted, and the country gains by the energy and
sagacity of its self.made millionaries. But the
Railroad to the Pacific, no more than auy other
vast measure Improvement, cannot be carried
forward, without the country being enriched an
hundred fold,while the private Spectator makes
his comparatively Insignificant lprofts. A rail-
road communication TO the Pacific would en-
rich this country more than would gift Of five
hundred millions of dollars. The road would
add more to the military and naval power Of the
country than would an expenditure Of FIVE hun
bred millions of dollars upon Notifications, ar
mics and naves. The latter would be perish
able, but railroad communication, once opened,
would last as long as civilization and liberty re-
NAMED in the Republic. Free Press.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ST. MARY CANAL
1t gives us pleasure to announce the nomina-
ton, by the Governor, of Capt. A. Garfield, Of
the U. s. Typographical Engineers-who has,
for some years past, been stationed at Detroit
in charge of certain government improvements
AS Engineer in Chief of the proposed Ship
Canal around the Falls of st. Mary, under the
provisions of the act recently passed by the
Legislature for its construction.
Capt. Garfield is reputed one Of the most ex-
perienced engineers in the country, having had
charge of numerous public works in various
parts of the Union, and more recently of the
Waugooshance Light House on the upper lakes,
work of more than ordinary magnitude and
Importance He has also acquired large share
of information from tour of several years in
Europe and personal inspection of the various
Notifications, arsenas, dry docks, &C., of Eng
land and the Continent, which will be of mate
rial aid to him in the construction Of our Ship
Canal.
This selection, in our opinion, cannot fail to
be as beneficial to the public interests as it is
creditable to the sagacity and discretion of the
Executive. Det. Free Press.
A Private letter from Keweenaw Point, Lake
Superior, mentions the death of VIM. Schlatter,
whose name is attached to so many of the maps,
plans and sketches Of that mining region. He
had started from the northern extremity Of the
point to walk through the forest to the Quincy
mine, on Portage lake, and evidently had lost
his way. After wandering for time he became
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