The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-15
Railroad to the Pacific.

BY the report OF the proceedings in the Senate ON
Thursdas LAST which appears in another column, our
readers will perceive that this great proposition is upon
the motion OF the distinguished senator from California
fairly before the Senate the FIRST OF its special orders
apparently with the general understanding and determ
nation 10 hold II under the consideration Of that body
until some defnitive result upon the subject shall be
reached The bill introduced by Senator Gwin is under
stood 10 be based in it's general principles upon that re.
ported at the last session by Judge Douglas from the
Committee on Territories with certain notifications
either adopted from the other plane submitted 10 the
Senate. originated BY the senator himself, with the
view OF rendering the project more comprehensive and
practicable. With the view OF connecting the Mississippi
nveI with the Pacific ocean. Senator OWNS bill pro-
poses the construction Of main railroad from point on
the Red river. the southwest corner of the State
Of Arkansas, to a point on the eastern boundary
line Of the State Of California with branch diverg
ing from the main line of the road at some pon,
west Of the Rocky mountains and terminating al some
commodous harbor the Pacific coast OF Oregon This
part of the road running through the Territories of the
United States, proposed to be constructed by contract
upon proposals issued under the superintendent Of the
President; The road 10 10 be continued wes,wardly
through the State OF California, to the Pacific coast By
States Of Iowa and Missouri on the northwest, and Ar
kansas, Louisiana, and Texas 10 the Gulf coast on the
southwest it is TO be connected westwardIy with the
northern central and southern lines OF railroad now con-
s,rusted, process of construction between the Mis-
sissippi and the Atlantic
The plan, thus taken in the whole of its extent anc
grandeur coniemplaies nothing less than complete rail
road communication, rather series OF such commnn
cations, between the whole sweep Of our Atlantic and
Pacific seaboards The proposed basis for this gigantic
undertaking is 10 be grant of the public lands
10 the line Of tho road This grant, in 80 far a. the road
lies viAout the limits OF any State to be made directly
to the contractors Widix the limits OF the State.
the grant 10 made, OF course, 10 the States
Tor the purposes specified AT the expiration of period
Of thirty years. sooner the road within the Territories
becomes the property OF The United States. and in the
meantime the road within the Territories TO be used
without charge by the for the purposes Of mail
and other public transportation The government is also
within certain specified limitations to hold supervisory
Authority over the OF charge upon the road
tor the transportation OF freight or passengers Such are
some OF the more prominent and leading features of this
colossal and danzns enterprise In presenting hi. plan
and pressing unpon the favorable consideration of the
Senate. Senator Gwn brought TO his task all his ac
cuaomed energy and ability, and his opening speech
was received with high sncomum from all parts Of the
chamber in every respect worthy Of the grand topic
which !, VISA dtsiTnerio siocitste aud urge We hope
to lay the speech il full and 10 revised form before our
readers IN our next The mportanee Of tse
subject i,s many jtcabss. the variety OF views in re-
gard TO in an tcts. and the intense interest which
il s now exciting in the public mind, will commend the
whole debate 10 an unusual share of public attention.