The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-24

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as nose oi route, survey or eosl, which, although i'm
pofani, are OF minor consequence III we are defer.
mined TO have the road, these matters Of detail are quite
as well 10 follow, and IN this instance for the reason.
slated, think had better follow than pfeeede The bill
bill that determines the aie OF the first and CREATES,
ure OF the daythe thorough ghiare--whch is the cues
tion. as religously believe, involving the brightest
hopes OF our nation and people, II not the perpe,uly
the Union itself For who that will contemplate the pres
ent long and circutous route, through foreign govern
mens and countries--the Rocky and Sierra Nevada
mountain barrers--the scarcely less formidable desert
pralries, some OF which are even denominaed " Js1na
da del nuero the journey of deaihcan doubt that such
gament is necessary 10 bind in consntmen and peace
the mighty States which are 10 grow up upon our Pache
borders, and having those local and sectional attachments
and pTeJud,ces which ever surround the spot called
home" Sir. without this rapid overland railroad con-
nexlon. we must in the lapse Of time the god Termi
nus driven back from his present boundary, and
seated upon those stony mountains beyond which it
thought he ought have been removed though
was never OF the number OF those who so thought
am Us much averse any senator in this body to in
but the objections made 10 this bill upon the grounds
that dos either are not. in nay poor judgment, well
founded He is TO officers OF the regular corps OF
engineers, Just as they are now every day and year,
poyed and when he gets. through he the information
necessary 10 enable him to do he decides where the
contemplated road shall run. and where terminate. Il
does not give him the appointment of single new Off
GER Congress often passes laws Tor the admission OF
new States, and provides that when certain things
done by territorial ocersas this does for certain things
TO be done by eng'neersaDd certified TO the President
that hereupon he shall issue his proclamation and the
State be admitted without further proceeding the par
! of Congress In high party times, remember, when
such power conferred upon the President, with
the view OF facilitating the admission oil STATE the
then opposition grayey asserted that was giving 10 ihe
Executive the power OF admitting new State; that II
was bold increase OF executive power and patronage
&c. Time has shown how unioundsd these apprehen-
ions were; and il this bill should pass, feel that
hazard but little in saying that the great arblel
will IN like manner ialsily the lugubous predictions OF
| lis opponents
Mr. Pes'deat, after the able expositons given by the
"A.
IMr. BELL,l and Texas, Mr. RysK OF all the provisions
OF the bill, aud ihe mastery defence, both OF its consiiu
onaliiy and expediency by the senator from Illinois
mir. DOUGLAS, there remains little for humble
myself TO add in The way OF its support. But having
been member OF the select committee whose chairman
reported this bill and feeling as do the deepest neres
IN the construction oil this great national highway the
Senate will pardon for further aspassing
upon lis time. No other government than one which
like ours, waits for the people 10 do or prompt every
thing, would hesitate delay for single day work SC
absolutely necessary to bnd in everlasng peace State
after State, mighty throng, as this is TO bind together
| our confederacy
Look at what the ever igilant government of Grea
Britain rs dong even upon this continent and IN cost
proximity TO U.s. IN that great commercial race which th
Two countries running for the trade OF Eastern Asia
see il stated in the London Daily News, OF Januar.
18Th, OF the present year. that the project of connecting
the Atlantic and Pacific, by shipcan across the 18th
mus of DarieH seriously entertained and that consd
eable progress has already been made in the REQUESTS
arrangements. full preliminary concession has beef
obtalned from the republic OF New Granada. prem
mary survey oil The proposed route mas been made o.
civil engineers, whose report is highly favorable Tn
documents and plans, with an interesting pamphlet OF
the subject have been it is said in the News, privately
circulated amongst the most influential merchants o
Great Britain
The proposed route is between Port Ecosses and Sal
Miguel, and is only thiTty-nine miles long. Thre
modes OF iniercommunication presented; the mos
expensive and most efficient one is by cana OF thr
ieei depth al low water one hundred. and forty lee
broad at bottom, and one hundred and sixty feet at low
water surface no lockage would be required; The ma
teral to be cut through being described chiefly rock
stIahed shale with thin BEDS which said to fom
an excellent side lining 10 the canal and render the cos
OF lis maintenance merely nominal The estimated cos
is fl2 900 o00 (neary 500, 900 oo0 BY this canal, III
transit OF The largest vessels from sea to sea could be ef
iected in fue hours.
Such canal in the hands OF Great Britain, unless W
make some movement TO checkmae IT, would give be
the control OF the OF the world at least OF tina
portion OF il which has for centuries been the object
merchants and monarcbs comforting prosperity and powe
upon lis recipients.
For more than fifty years The United States have beer
engaged in commercial contest with England, and rap
idly gaining that avsricious and ambitious power
The second OF independence was fought for free
trade and sailors rights" The appeal TO arms taugb
our ancient foe and present rival that we were neither
be jockeyed tramped on Since the war OF 1912 ",
have been gaining her with constantly y-increaslnl
speed, and at last the race has become so close tha
England is hardly neck ahead Of us. Construct ,hi
road, mount Broher Jonathan the iron horse. and h
will thus be enabled TO turn the corner, and not only L
beat John Bull but TO distance him. Instead them OF meet
ing in India, China and even on our own Pacific coast
as he now does, with the advantage of ten days
sail, more, the scales will be turned, and we sba
have the advantage the English OF twenty-five o
thirty dave, which, in commercial and business trans
actions, is conclusive and overwhelming
call the especial attention OF the Senate 10 lette
which have received iron Lieutenant Maury
National OBSERVATORY,
Washington February I6 1883.
DEAE SIR have this morning before me your note
Yesterday asking for approximate estimate IN answe
10 tho question aWirh the railroad finished San Frar
cisco, how many days will beat the English In reach
ing the OF trade in Eastern Asia y We shall be ab
the English by about two-thirds the time that
takes TO from Eng here, with the addition OF tn
instead Of performing distance in
The distance from England, via the straits OF Gibraltar
isthmus OF Suez and Red 10 Shanghai in China III
OF the district, Is very nearly equal 10 the dts
tance from England, via Halifax, California railroad. an
steamer thence Shanghai The distance by the forme
route six eight hundred miles less than by III
latter. On the tomer route there II railroad uanspo
taton TO speak Of the only land travel being across IN
route by European railways the Mediterranean out
the question commercial route, that would requir
100 much loading and unloading Supposing, then, tha
each route be in operation, with steamers connecting
favor by California railroad would be from 6feen to twen
~ days; perhaps more, because our steamers would onl
have stop coal, and would have no way or
touch whereas from the head OF tho Red a, bJ IN
shortest steaming route possible !. not less thsn egn
sand miles II your question applies 10 the English route
they are aud the California route as u pfoDapy WI
be- with road hence California, and line oil steam
ss thence Shanghai, the difference thfn IN our 'aN"
would fail .bo,. q .weayhs or 'hriy dfy'M fy'MAURY
Hon. A G, bopos, Senate Chamber
Il come now 10 speak briefly OF OF the vast ana
inanoreoabe benefits which think Will Inure 10 man
kind here and the world from The construction
ba road and the consequent dense settlement OF our DIS