Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-27
NUMBER 80.

was the pei child Of JeuersohS OLD aees
so the Pacific Railroad may afford an
all absorbing thought for the mighty
mind Of Benton, during the last days Of
his earthly pilgrinase AS clinton built
up the commercial greatness of New
York, so did Jefferson the educational
interests Of Virginia, and so shall Ben.
ton the railroad interest Of the widely
separated sea coasts Of this nation.
The Importance Of railroad, which
shall connect the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, is not now denied by any one.
But where-between what points
shall this connection be made?-
We would answer, between such points
as shall be most conductive TO the in.
terest Of all sections OF the Union. The
connection should be made at three
points, viz: across the isthmus, between
Missouri and San Francisco ,and branch
from this latter line tapping the Pacific
at Pugct's Sound. Thus we should
have two great centralizing ports on the
Pacific coasts, and one opening into the
South Sea, and commanding the trade
Of the Southern States and the western
coast Of South America. The route
across the isthmus will soon be compile.
ted. But the central trunk has scarce.
begun. But hear what an intelligent
statesman says respecting this main
trunk:
THE route is central to the Union,
and embracing the business cehters OF
the Atlantic and Pacific, and the Mis-.
sissippi Valley States; on straight
line with San Francisco and St. Louis.
and connecting al this latter point with
the concentrated steamboat. navigation
Of the Great West, and with the entire
railroad system from the Mississippi to
the Atlantic; straight and smooth; not
y mountain to be climbed, river OF
e swamp to be crossed, hill TO be tunnel.
ed; wood; water, and soil for continuous
! settlement; coal known to be on many
j. points Of the line; the whole tratersable
i in winter and all south Of 80, 3s, and
j. 81 degrees. Such is the character OF
'e the central route, and which now claims
= q share ofthe public attention. and Of
ls the congress appropriation. shall ask
Is for it that justice, and that it may be ex.
u amined by some practical man whom
. can commend, and who will have
stomach to the work, and do it without
III talk or delay.
- Regarding it as certain tho road is to
be made, l now add somo observations
~ upon its character and construction =.
~ believing that erroneous ideas prevail
upon these points, which the public
good requires to be corrected. l am
| opposed to all schemes Of making job
Of the work, against mixing public and
ID private interests, against furnishing the
bs means of making the road to jobbsrs,
b. and then letting them own it. and charge
90 the people double upon condition Of
If carrying for the Federal Government
oe free. hold that it should be made
ant by the United States, so far as their ter
me ritory extemds, (Which would be almost
vs the whole distance on the central route, }
blc leaving the two ends, where it would
ans 90 through States, to the operation o
,r; State laws and State authority. Thi'
oc would be from the Missouri State line
hls at the mouth Of the Kansas, to poin
Nh. at California State line opposite tn
h 9 end of the Sierra Navada, at Walker
"A Pass, distance of twelve and halfde
,.rr grees of longitude, equal to about twelv
L.. hundred miles, (ffty.six miles to de
."u M gree in that latti,ude.) with souther
49, 49, detection, as it went west, of three ant
,;on a half degrees. This would be tn
main body of the work. leaving the tw
r.. ends to roads to bs made under Stat
. oe authority, and which are already Pre
~. " iccted, and in some degree commence
. both in California and Miss ouri. ]
T.. tho mean time, and as a permanen
still help and rescourse at each end 'of tt
49,. road, there is now steamboat transpo
wos ta,ion Of seven Hundred miles at ea'
end from San Francisco half the way ,
ion the San Joaquin, or more; from
- IN Louis to the mouth Of he Kansas, al
more up it (os soon as the new territory
- ,hs es.ablished) several hundred mil
further. Stages, also. all the usual Ia
. ,os, conveyances. would be at each end
~, the national territorial road,
. the INV idea is, the road should be b
=, IN, Nv the United States by the creation
, mar stock, hypothecated upon the pul
steps lands. payable at fixed period at
,es 10 Federal treasury; and that an adequ
,turer force should be pnt upon u 70 40
mp, a WORK at once. We think nothing
Of an ,evvine an army Of ffty or an hun'