The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-10-07

ury without money, land Offices without lands and debts
only limited by our capacity 10 borrow and SPEND -,
r. H. GILLET
Pacific Railroad.-Thc Platte Route.
To The Editor Of the Nsw York Tribune:
Sin: Ia every quarter OF our widely. extended Union
the opinion is expressed that great highway OF iron
from the valley OF the Mississippi TO settlements
the Pacific is even required; and that the great
Ihoroughfare will in its construction, obtain the foster
ing support of the federal government we feel the full
est confidence
way in order 10 the brotherhood of the States
almost universally conceded. the exceptions being limited
to very insignificant clique OF constitutional croaksr
and "noonshine philosophers"
Socially and CONNIE REALLY. aside from political coneld
eratons The speedy construction Of railroad from the
Mississippi valley TO San francisco is absolutely neces
sary.
Our growing trade and intercourse with China India,
and the isles of the Pacific together with
increasing commercial relations with the various States
on the western front OF our continent extending trsm
the Russian possessions TO the southern verge OF Chill.
render the speedy construction oil railroad 10 The Pacific
positively necessary.
gard should be observed to the geographical ne that may
be selected; and great should also be observed 10
have the road constructed scale worthy OF the mag
nude and of the republic, and the enterprise,
industry, power. and wants OF people.
Several available routes for the proposed great high
way have been submitted to the public. We refer to the
southern trace advocated by Senator Gwin, Of Cal
iiofna.
The extreme northern route, commencing at St. An
ihonys ias," the Upper Mississippi, latitude As deg
north, regard utterly imprsctcable Our inclina
ton and judgment oblixe favor and advocate the
line OF Platte valley latitude Al deg north, The most
eligible trace for the Pacihc railroad and Tor the follow
ing reasons:
msjory Of the population Of our republic, re-
side between the parallels OF IS and a. deg north la
iude and within the limits mentioned. extending west
ward from the Atlantic ocean TO 100 deg west longitude,
embraced much the larger portion OF the ganafy OF the
Union and aside from It's great agricultural wealth, It's
mineral resources OF ncalculabe value
The egio have described Is assuredIy capable OF
furnishing subsistence eighty millions OF human beings
As this portion OF country, owing 10 the fertility oil
its soil and nexhausibte mineral wealth. il destined 10
support immense population, interest as well as pro-
pety woud sugSest that The trace OF the Pacific railroad
should be selected neatly central as practicable 10 the
casual examination OF the various charts exhibiting
the railroads now in being constructed
in the New England States, New York, Pennsylvania.
Maryland. Ohio. Michigan, Indiana. and Wisconsin.
will shoS q direct with other iron highways
leading 10 the South bend OF Lake Michigan lat Al deg
81 min morrill, IRON which point the cham 10 being con-
siruc,ed through Illinois and Iowa, westward 10 Council
Bluffs, on the Missouri rver la Al north. long IS west
The distance from the South bend OF Lake Michigan to
the Bluff is $50 miles
More than a moe,y oil the road designed To connect
the South bend OF Lake Michigan with the Miss,sspp
al Rock island is already hnished, and the residue
will be completed in few months.
Westward OF Rock island, the Iowa side oil the
Mssiss,pPi, railroad 10 Council Bluffs has been com
rnenced and will be completed in very few years.
AT the western terminus OF this great chain oil iron
highways, running through The most opulous and Hour
isbine States OF the Union, would respectfully sug-
ge.i The commencement OF The Pacific railroad.
The fertility Of the region westward Of Council Bufs
extending 10 i0l west Longitude, Is universally admit
led II beyond compare ibe best pastoral region in the
Union, and its climate is sslobrious and mild
Through Tie geographical centre OF ihis besutIul region
we would locate The trace Of the Pacific railroad. CON-
meBcing ITS eastern terminus Nebraska Territory, n
Council Bluffs, and thence following the valley OF Platte
river westward to Brdger's pass IN the Rocky noun
laIns-lat- al north, long. $50 west
The distance from the Bluffs 10 the pass about $50
niles The elevsiion OF The Missouri river at Council
Bluffs is ,03t feet above The Atlantic ocean. and the
sumnit oil the pass in the mountains is 800 feet above
the ocean.
Respecting the topography face Of the country
which we propose to locale the trace OF the Pacihc rail-
road from the Missouri TO Bfdgers pass, need
only remark that the entire region ~ an immense PLAIN.
and therefore the grades will prove extremely moderate,
averaging IN our Judgment less than ten feet per mile.
Ihe distance from The South bend OF Lake Michigan,
via Ottawa, Rock island. Davenport. Council Blufa.
and The hoe OF The proposed Pacific railroad, to Bfidsess
pass, will reach one thousand two hundred mes. and
on the entire trace the line would defect more than
thirty miles IRON due west course.
Westward OF the "pass the trace OF the proposed road
would follow the valley OF Buer creek 10 the Colorado
rver and cross said river al elevation Of 5000 ieet
above the Pacihc. The distance from Bndgers pass
the Colorado hundred and forty miles, and the Dr.
scent will average about ten feet per mile. After
ley OF Blacks Fork 10 Fort Brdger distance OF fifty
miles, and this portion of the also the grade
would present no impeachment 4
Fort Bridser s in latitude II deg is min north, I0l
west longitude, beyond which point The would fol-
low the line recommended by Captain Stansbary, via
Bear nveJ Weber river Csmass prsirie, and Tmpano-
river, Utah lake, in the Great BasIn latitude 40
deg north, liz west longitude.
captain Siansbury carefully iraversed the trace men
noned from Bridsers pass to the right bank OF Timps
nogos river, and OF lis feasibility for the route oil ra
road be speaks with great confidence.
From utah lake, southern route to San Francisco Is
entirely feasible BY following The western base Of the
NAhsaish mounlsns pass,ne through The several Nor
non se'ements TO latitude 35i norh, ia west longitude,
neeoe otoss Inc lower section oil the basin TO Walkers
- IN ine sierra Nevada, and thence north ardly dow
me valley OF Tulare and San Joaquin
from bfagcrs pass, in the Rocky mountains to the
valley OF besrnver, in the Wshsatch chain distance
OF ~" miles buuminous coal abounis II 10 found in
vens cropping 10 the surface. and varying from four 10
twelve feet 10 thickness.
OHIng to the great scarcity OF timber bel the Mis-
sour rver and the Sierra Nevada railroad 10 ,he vest,
srn oeean would in our Judgment prove utterly unavaiI
able. unless coal could be obtained The mo,,v.
power and we feel confident that coal viii be found IN
greater abundance in the Pise Valley route than upon
the Kansas southern route.
Mach OF the country lying between the Missouri river
and The Pschc ocean sterile and irrecaimabe Prob
aoy Tor eight hundred miles OF the entire distance The
country viii be ound wholly nnprodacve and therefore
any attempt 10 carry railroad from the valley of the