Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-08-17
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.

mOSt VeTScveIiHS anu ciOquoUL CuahlPion. ito
is now far advanced in life, but his rational mode
Of living, his regular and temperate habits, leave
him in full possession of his great mental and
physical powers, and of all the vigor and fire of
manhood. He is the only survivor of the noble
band of senators on whom the admiring eyes Of
the nation have rested for more than quarter
Of century; and he is singularly fortunate in
living to see his long.cherished hopes of rail
way to the Pacific likely soon to DO realized and
his own name indissolubly connected with the
grandest enterprise now contemplated in any
part of the globe. In letter. written by him
to the people of Missouri, on the 4th of March
last, he says:--"It is thirty years since first
began TO write and speak on this subject Of
American and Asiatic Communications, and in
favor of North American road to India and
then declared, with the confidence which belongs
10 conviction, founded on evidence, that the road
would be made Immediately, if aided by the Fed
eral Government, eventually, by the progress of
events and the force of public opinion, even with
out that aid. The time has come for the fulfill
ment Of that confident prediction Events have
advanced beyond my foresight"
The American people have unanimously, We
believe, arrived at the same conclusion with Col.
Benton, that the time has come for building this
road. The Congress, at its last session, so far
responded to the demands of public opinion, as
to appropriate $l5O,OO0 for the examination of
the route, and that part of the work has already
commenced. Several rival routes are claiming
the preference; but the vast amount of nforma-
ton which has been collected and published by
Col Benton together with the actual examina-
tions made by Col. Fremont, on his several ex-
petitions, leave scarcely any room to doubt that
what is called the central route is true one
This pursues, in nearly straight line, the thirty
ninth parallel of latitude from st. Louis to San
Francisco, possibly diverging two or three de-
grees TO the south on passing the Sierra Nevada,
although this is not considered absolutely nec-
essary.
Col Fremont has demonstrated, by actual OBJ
ssrvaton, that the difficulty ofpassing the Rocky
Mountains is not by any means so great as has
been usually supposed; and, in fact, that rail-
way may be built through them with great facil-
ity and ease, as they are not continuous range
rs they appear at a distance, but are detached
from each other, with open valleys between
them. The advantages Of this route are, that it
is through remarkably healthy region-that
there are upon it abundant materials for making
and preserving the road-that most of it is thro'
fertile country-that it is direct and nearly in
straight line through our own territory-that
it is central to such territory ms great nation
al road should be-and that it avoids the cross
ing Of any large rivers. Many difficulties are
urged against the route suggested. Among 9TH
crs, that of the depth of snow which would be
encountered on this route, and to avoid which Il
more southern line is advocated, running along
the ella river, and going into California near
San Diego, then north to San Francisco. 1t is
urged that this southern route would be in so
much more warmer ATTITUDES that the immense
drifts encountered farther northward would be
almost entirely avoided. Ifcorrect it is weigh
ty consideration.
But it is too early as yet to enter upon dis
cussiOn of the particular route. We trust the
proposed routes will all be fairly and thorough
ly examined so as to be reported upon at the
next session of Congress, and their respective
advantages fully developed. There will be pow
orful interests, undoubtedly, urging this or that
one, from selfish motves but it is a matter in
which the whole country is interested, and the
people will not tolerate any sectional or selfish
views in regard to it, So also in reference to
the mode and means of constructing the road
it will afford to jobbers and spectators, if they
can get hold of it, prize too splendid to be neg
lected; but all such must stand back. The
work is to be grand and magnificent national
enterprise, and must be undertaken and carried
OF in patriotic spirit. 1t will do more for the
solid glory of the country, and for the happiness,
and prosperity Of the people, than hundred
wars and the conquest of The world, and all the
more glorious from being bloodess. 1t will
lay both Europe and Asia under. tribute to Amer
lea.
Such work must never be committed to any
company Of spectators and adventurers. The
organization of the enterprise should so include
our government, as its largest stakeholder, that
the whole people of the United States, through
their representatives in Congress- may exercise
controlling influence in its management. Ma
tional assistance must be granted or it cannot be
built but private interests being also united, will
secure the most judcious expenditure and the
best management.
When tho road shall be completed-nay,
wlisn it shall be fairly commenced, who can i'm
aginc tho full extent Of the results which will
flow from it !! A mighty army of settlers will
set out with it; at every step fits advance into
the wilderness, population, wealth, civilization,
Christianity, and all the arts and refinements of
life will accompany it; new world will spring
up along its whole line, sending out its influen-
ces, subduing and making glad the now desolate
regions on the right hand and on the left and
when it shallb put into full operation, the CON-
merce not only of America, but of Europe and
Asia, will be carried upon it. In the letter be-
fore referred to Col. Benton truly says:
at is work for pesterity and for three con-
tinents; and we should elevate ourselves to the
grandeur of the OCCASION" And in recent