The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-22


subject was last under consideration and which thought
emlnenty worthy OF attention desire simply TO pre-
sent the question between the complex system of roads
presented by this bill and single road And for the
purpose OF presenting that question, am quite willing TO
adopt IN the main, The suggestion which that honorable
senator has just presented 10 the Senate perhaps pre-
sents III beef shape than my original amendment the
precise question which myself desired present. The
only modification which propose make to my amend.
men y TO genefalze II ltlle IL can have the aen
ton OF my friend from Tennessee-not TO specify any
point upon The Atlantic side OF the mountains but gene
ra1e H. so as 10 leave this section OF the bill provide
Tor connexlon with The Atlantic railroads in general
terns, so as TO leave everything open upon this side IL
aceompllshes The precise object had in view.
Mr BELL. VIII you not say . Tne Atlantic and Gull
railroads."
Mr.. CHASE. have no objection to that.
Mr. BELL II accomplishes the object
Mr. CHASE. Before send my amendment 10 the ta
Bile. as propose 10 modify il, wish to say word or two
IN reference TO wha, fell from my friend from Louisiana
lMr Dowrsl certainly cannot be thought 10 be gov
eraed by any sectional motives IN offering this amend
men since have declared, in The remarks which made
lew moments since, that in my judgment, lar
have cen able to form any acquaintance with the geog
raphy OF this country. the most practicable route for
freight railroad will ultimately be found to be between
some point in the southern portion of Cafonia-prob
ably San Diego--aong the Ga river crossing the Rio
GIande, and terminating, at Maagoda in Texas. And
have said that would be perfectly willing the proper
time, SO far as the power OF this government be eg-
imatey extended TO such object 10 give il the fullest
and most cordial support that am capable OF giving to
| such measure.
Now, word further in respect to the praccabily of
this northern route and comparison point of advan-
tage between that route and the southern route, what
is commonly known as the Memphis route do not
profess to be as thoroughly acquainted with this subject
as could wish, but yet have perhaps given much
attention to il most of the members of the Senate
And the results of the investigation which have made
have fixed in my mind The conviction that the shortest
route and the most practicable 10 the Pacific is through
what is commonly known as the " South Pass"
think that is the shortest, because have already made
appropriation for railroad the State OF Mis-
souri, from Hannibal to ST. Joseph's, and by avaing
ourselves OF the terminus OF that road, of any point in
proximity to il, we reach San Francisco upon the
Pacific coast by shorter route as far distance is
cerned than the route would be between Memphis and
San Francisco And, so far interruption from snow
concerned ii must be remembered that the latitude,
after all OF the route propose is only about 42 degrees
north, as is shown by the map which has been placed
upon tables this morning-a little above the latitude
OF the South Pass and runs nearly upon the par
alle with the Michigan Central railroad, which is
doing large business perhaps as most any other rail
road in the country, and is little liable TO be inter-
rupied by any circumstance such the honorable
pator from Louisiana alluded to any other road and
when interrupted, the interruption is temporary,
casual, and easily removed therefore argument OF
that kind need not, in my opinion, affect this subject
Again the sohemal lines across this continent tend
towards the north you proceed westward. and there
fore there be objection upon that score And when
this question to be solved, AS am perfectly will
ing il should be solved, by the Executive rather than
by Congress, am quite confident that 1t will be found
that much better connect this system OF raIlroad
and the OF The population already IN existence
upon the Atlantic coast, with the population already
routes where there is comparatively little population
present.
will speak few words upon one other point, upon
which should be glad to hear the honorable senator
from California, Mr. GwIs The mos, recent explora
ton OF the track OF this road, land down in this BILL
from the Colorado TO Zuni, west OF the Sierra Madre,
and then across that range to Albuquerque and the
most reliable account that we have had far as am
aware, is that OF Captain Siigreaves; and, II am not
much Mistaken the report OF that officer shows that the
road upon that is quite mpraccable. do not pro-
pose however, TO go into that matter at present | am
quite willing 10 have the question taken upon my amend
ment, modified according TO the suggestion OF the honor
able senator from Tennessee, and that will be test
question between those friendly to the construction OF
single road, and those who friendly to the branch
system
Mr. GWIN In regard to what the honorable senator
from Ohio (Mr CHAsEl has said about the report OF Cap
tain Sgreaves 10 reference TO the Sierra Madre range,
leave say that honorable senator Is mistaken Here
his report in which he points out various passes here
and says that this entirely practcable and he says
more-tha this is the most practicable route TO the Pa
cifc. prepared 10 show the fact that this is the
best route through The mountain passes IN this portion
of the Sierra Madre, or Rocky mountains. There Is
really no chain of mountains where propose to cross
the Sierra Nevada This is the best route across these
mountains because they have sunk there low that
there is nothing there worthy the name OF mountains
Now, in regard TO going west will say TO the honorable
senator from Ohio, that that is the only place, lar
we have asceraned the fact where get through
with railroad is situated about IS degrees north lat,
itude and is known as walkers Pass" We have no
information Of any other pass north OF that by means OF
which can reach the Pacific by railroad. The
object of this bill is TO get this pass. have no local
partiaty at all in this matter IL could have this
road enter the OF the State of California, il
would suit me and my constituents much better. Now,
as TO whether there Is a practicable route there, will
say the honorable senator from Ohio, that has been
that the route designated by this bill is
fecty practicable prepared to show that one OF the
celebrated rapper upon the Pachc coast has passed
five times this route and prepared to say, he
has already said that IT is the best route between the
Rio Grande and the Pacific And that is the best
evidence that that is the best pass he would not have
travelled il 40 often.
Now in regard to this striking out, as have said be-
fore, am in favor of having road to the Pacific
have examined this question with all the attention and
that bring TO bear upon any one question, and
can convinced that the plan propose is the best one
However, will leave 10 the Senate to decide, and will
no, interfere myself in regard TO this question at all
MIR. SHIELDS. take il for granted that the main OBJ
ect is TO get road upon the most practicable route
That is the object have in view and desire TO accom-
plsh II can, without reference to different sections OF
the country. From all the invesga that have given
this subject, my impression is that il able TO gel
one practicable route anywhere, we ought TO be very
thankful; that is the result Of my Investigations Now,
the honorable senator from California Mr.. GwIs knows
well any other gentleman here that the practicable
y of does depend much upon the latitude
upon the physical character OF the country he s
perfectly aware that might perhaps get good prac
cabe pass through the mountains in latitude AZ deg and
fail to get down is low the latitude OF Texas Inc
practcaby OF the route depends upon the charace, OF
the country over which the road is destined TO pass For
my own part, confsss that have seen the account OF
no exploration reconnaissance and! have opainea no
information that would enable me, VI were capitalist
advance capital judicously and satisfactorily 10 mysei
upon any already designated route
"a ~. q