The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-09
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
TUESDAY MORNING. AUGUST .. 1858.
! he JeurnaI or Commerce and the Pacinc Rail-


road,
The Journal OF Commerce is wagng vigorous war.
fare upon The Pacific railroad enterprise. but with much
less OF ability and force than usually characterize The
discussions in that paper. The motive by which the
friends Of the enterprise acua,ed is regarded by that
journal antsgons,c 10 the commercial interests Of the
cities OF the Atlantic sesboard II says There is IN
quesonably strong tendency prevailing in various
parts of the country establish railroad TO the Pacific,
in the vain hope that il will divert trade from the All
lanc seaboard to the INTERIOR II any such hope IN
duged by those who advocating the road, concur
with the Journal of Commerce in The opnioa that is
"van" one On the contrary. so far commercial ben
efs to result, we regard the enterprise promising
equally much 10 the Atlantic cities as TO the interior
county and cities II. therefore. the Journal OF Com
mpelled TO its vigorous opposition TO the road
in any degree by local that circumstance
may furnish explanation OF the absence OF its usual
strength and dignity in discussion. brief analysis
of its last and most elaborate article on this subject
will fully illustrate our remark.
The Journal sets out with an impeachment OF the mo-
ves Of COL Benton in his jealous exertions in behalf
OF the road which strikes Inconsistent with its own
proper selfrespec II says: The country might natu
rally expect that those who have deep interest in Cali
fornia gold mines and land-such Col Fremont the
son in. law Of Col Benton-woud press this matter
in advance Of those surveys, estimator and close
amnalions which alone are the guide of prudence !;
but no such folly is expected from any regularly
constituted government" ii this mode of discussion
were consistent with the importance of the subject it
might be retoted with equal force upon the Journal
with full as much pausibily it nigh, be said that hos
who have large interest in preventing the trade from
being diverted from New York to the interior, and who
are apprehendng such result, wsuld naturally De
pected oppose proposition which threatened to inter-
fere njuriousy with their private and local interests
But the motives of Col Benton require vindicaton at
our hands, and those of the Journal of Commerce are
not OF such Importance as to require our criticism. We
presume that COL Benton is indifferent TO the dicue
of the Journal he is 10 lis insnuatons against bis
motives; but by way OF showing the course of The Jour
NAILS argument well it's talent for wit, give the
following specimen The Journal says Col. Benton.
years ago, introduced bill into the Senate, having tor
its object the construction of railroad to the Pacific,
but il cannot be forgotten that the engineering which
he then relied addition TO Col Fremonrs interest," was
the march of buifaloes in search of food" We admit
that il would have been nnwise in the government TO
embark the construction of road TO the Pacific upon
no better evidence of its practicaby than that fur
nished by the engineering of butaloes" the horse
back engineering of COL Fremont but donbt whether
the folly would have been greater than that of which the
Journal is guilty in deciding. 10 advance Of the results OF
the surveys and examinations in progress, that the
enterprise 10 mpraccable 1t is natural that nhab
,an of The city of New York having local Interests al
stake should be amused at the idea OF g buffalo eng
neerng but Colonel Benton happens to be better
quaned with the habits OF the buffalo, and therefore
better qualified Judge how much importance ought 10
be attached 10 their skill in selecting the bes, roads for
travelling.
The Journal OF Commerce would deem il exceedingly
unwise in the government to commit itself to the con-
suc,ion of the Pacific road in advance of full and salts
factory surveys and examinations In this sentiment we
concur and is exactly upon this ground tina, those
members of the cabinet who have spoken this subject
are standing There is not the slightest danger tina, the
administration will act with ineonsdera,e haste in this
grea, undertaking The proper steps have been taken,
in pursuance OF the action Of Congress, ascertain all
the obstacles to be encountered in the enterprise and
when these are ascertansJ the government will be pre-
pared TO undersiandingy and vigorously Ii is true,
as stated by the Journal that there is variety OF
menious questions which 10 be considered before the
work s undertaken. and the surveys and examinations
now being made are designed 10 OBTAIN asia on winch
they may be properly considered and determined IL
may be found that the obstacles suggested by the Journal
insuperabe and If go the government will have su
hcien wisdom decline entering upon imprsc,icabe
enterprise We must venture, however, the remark, ka
we see no reason to anticipate the impraclicsby Of the
from the difficulties which seem 80 startling
10 The Journal II is certainly true that I" the enormous
quany OF timber necessary in the construction OF road
two thousand miles long, suggests the most care
ful examination OF this point" But does il fol-
low that because a careful examination may prove,
that the first growth OF The forest wood ia lily adapt
ed 10 be used superstructure OF rail there
fore the Pacific road must be abandoned for want
OF suitable timber the route This may be incon
venenee and result in increasing the OF the road
from having 10 obi ain timber at dis,anee but surely
PRESENTS such obstacle ought 10 raise doubts to
the pracricabi,y OF The road.
The next obstacle which .tares the Journal is found
Gin The difficulties in relation TO floating sand" says
that seven on the Long Island railroad it has become
necessary 10 erect walls 10 keep 1t from burying the
track but such preeauton in wide desert would b.
utterly futile" This OF the obstacles to which we
have heretofore advered max ing careful survey
and examination necessary but the Journal seems to
need enlightenment this subject from scientific in
vestg aons IL assumes that the obstacle is insurmoun
able. and tina, all attempts 10 it, as they have
done the Long Island road. would be fulis" In this