Litchfield enquirer., 1853-02-03
From the New York Evening Post.
Railways TO the Pacific.

Three several plans are now pending
before Congress for the construction Of
q railroad from the Mississippi Valley to
the Pacific shore. One, presented by
Senator Gwin, Of California. proposes a
route from point ON Red River. at or
near the southwest corner of Arkansas,
and, if practicable, a branch to the gulf
coast, and through the state Of Texas,
TO point on the eastern boundary Of
the state of California; and from points
on the western boundaries Of Missouri
and Iowa. mot within the limits Of ex-
isting state,) on the most direct and fea.
able route to iaterseet said road, runs
ping from Red River as aforesaid, to the
eastern boundary Of the State OF Cali
fornia, with track departing from this
line at some point west Of the Sierra
Nevada, Or Rocky mountains, and rum
ming on the most direct and feasible
route, to some safe and commodious
hsrbor in the territory of Oregon, which
ehall be at all times accessible to the
g largest class Of sea-going vessels navi'
eating the Pacific ocean,
The bill likewise provides for right
Of way to be granted by the govern.
pnent. without charge, two hundred feet
VIDE. and ailnantity of.laud equal to al
terDate sections for the space of forty
miles be set apart on each side; also
gratuitously. for the construction Of the
road and its branches. To facilitate the
construction Of the road eastward from
IFS Red river terminus, and its Missouri
terminus, a like quantity Of land is ap-
propriatel through the states of Arkan-
sas. Louisiana, Missouri and Iowa.
The bill asks nothing but land, but pro>
vides that when finished the road shall
belong to the contractors for period Of
thirty years after its completion.
Mr.. Rusk's bill il similar in principle.
It, however provides for the construc-
tion Of two railroads to suitable points
on the Pacific ocean. one to start from
some point on the Mississippi river.
which shall not be north of Memphis,
in the state Of Tennessee themes by the
vicinity Of FL Paso, on the Rio Grande,
10 port ON the Pacific ocean suitable for
seagoing vessels Of the largest size the
other to start from some point not south
Of St. Louis. in the state Of Missouri,
and from thence to some port on the Pa.
clhc ocean, suitable for sea going vessels
Of the largest class
The government Is asked to appropri>
ate land. in alternate sections, equal in
smount to tract thirty miles wide on
each side Of the road. The contractors
are to finish one hundred miles annually,
and keep them in repair for fifty year:
ftom the time the road is opened. Upor
these and other conditions. Of detail. thu
road is to be theirs ia perpetuity.
The third plan is one in which thu
atate Of New York has more direct IN
tereat in one respect il no other, than il
either Of the two plans we have referred
70. That interest springs from the fac
that most OF the. parties interested in
gre residents Of this State. A memo
sial Is now before our State Legislature
praying Tor their incorporation, and tn
following persons are therein named a
lhe grantees: Sa
se Levi s. Chat6,ld, Frederick Folleti
W. ]. McAlpine. Erastua Corning, Dea
Richmond, Qrvlle CLARK. Peter Coope,
Abram Hustt. Simeon Draper. Sanfor
:. Church. William w. LELAND, Andre,
g. Chatnsld. Ebsnezer Allen. Samut
Merrill, Noah Allison. David Newcomt
Clark Rurnham. @. w. Smyth. Fra p
Barnes Ezra hineola. Dudley s. GREGG
~. John Wilkinson, Michael Burke. an
such other persons as shall or may b
associated with them for constructing
railroad from the Mississippi valley o
from the Gull Of Mexico to San Eancis
GO. Or some other available point on Oh,
Pacific ocean--reserving, also. to III,
company the right Of branch to Ore
Con.
q Last week Senator EIamblin offered al
an amendmentato the bill proposed b.
Senator 9win. the plan Of q road which
these gentlemen propose 10 build. aud