The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-11
CITY OF WASHINGTON, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY IL 1854


dred and fourteen which have been constructed at cost OF
The number of miles in of
average of the railroads the United States mile has
been only fraction $28 000 There opened in the
seventy eight miles 1852 thousand hundred and
eighty mes and 1858 three thousand nine hundred
and sixty -four miles"
These facts Mr. Chairman presen, matter for reiec
ton They exhibit in the exalted position of having
constructed greater number of miles of railroad than all
the world beside All this has been accomplished within
the last few years. and almost exclusively by private cap
tl and enterprise The work still goes with unabated
rapidy and foresee when or where it is to
stop. The human mind scarcely comprehend the
change this system is working in the trade business
and solid wealth of the country. Communities hitherto
of the way and secluded from the advantages OF trade
have been approached and for travel and mar
for the surplus products secured The value OF real
estate immensely enhanced Public lands here
tore worthless to the government have been penetrated
by these horoughaes made valuable thereby and readily
sold thrifty and industrious citizens The price OF pro-
duets increased and the expense OF transportation dnr-
shed The of the Union have been brought to-
scther neghbors Deepsea,ed prejudces OF sectional
character the result of of correct knowledge OF
the habits feelings and Institutions of each other have
been removed from the minds of people, and us con-
sequence commercial and social relations strength
ened Sir this system destined to exert more po-
tut influence in binding the union of these States together
in bonds of eternal brotherhood than all the speeches
which have been delivered from the formation OF the gov
ernnent down to the present day
Sir, can well remember, and | am comparatively a
young man. when members of this House came here from
"A
cupyng several weeks In those days western merchants
had adopt the tedious method Of travel to and from
the Atlantic cities while they compelled to transport
the West their stocks of ofmerchandse by the still slower
process OF the wagon and the atboat But what change
has been wrought by the construction of railroads i'll
few years. in the facility and apidty of travel and inter
communication In fifty hours this Capitol can be reached
from the most remote parts of the country east of the
Rocky mountains Construct this road to the Pacific ana
the journey from the Atlantic cities to the city of San Fran
cisco can made in less than DAYS. and the entire cir
of he
These facts sir, which must commend themselves to
our favorable consideration. u
But sir permit in this cOnneyon, to refer to my
State Indiana is geographically speaking the smallest OF
the northwestern States containing OF abont thirty
four thousand square miles. She into the Union in
1876 with sparse population confined to the borders Of
the Ohio All beyond the settlements the banks Of that
river unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by the
red of the forest Whaa contrast with her condition
o-day She has within her borders million and quar-
ter of people--the fifth State in the Union in point Of
wealth, population, and improvements more than fourteen
hundred miles of railroad in operaton to which will be
added thousand in less than three years from this
time her scat of government the greatest railroad centre
the connent schoo-houses, churches towns villages
and cities thickly dottng her entire surface To what
shall trace this unusual prosperity answer
the Intelligence industry and enterprise of her people
of which her vast railroad system has been the offspring
And what is true of Indiana and her improvements is true
of and applies with equal force to- all the northwestern
States of the Union. t+
Sir the construction of the proposed road is required by
every consideration of duty and interest 1t will give em
country who engaged in pursuits less profitable
Settlement and cultivation will follow the work, and
that vast belt of country either side of the road from
the Mississippi the Pacific WILL its complexion be
dcnsey settled with industrious, hardy, and
terprising population Our agricultural and mineral re
will also become developed and civilization enter
prise and wealth will rise up in that country which is
a wilderness and waste.
1t will open outlet for the surplus productions of The
interior to the markets of Pacific States China, India
&c, on the one side, and Europe on the other.
II
power (nnd such may be the fact at very distant pc
riod there be any truth in the signs of the tmes
interest duty and national honor alike require
to protect and defend possessions the Pacific
from attack and invasion How could this best be done
BY transporting your men and munitions of war by thu
slow and ady way of Panama Tehuantcpec exposed
the hostile attack OF the enemy and the expense of mil
lions of money and the sacrifice of comfort and life? By
the overland route most of the way through wilderness
country requiring four five months to perform the jour
ney at like sacrifice of money, health comfort and life
No. sir construct this road through territory belonging
and under the control of citizens and your armies
from the Atlantic and western States reach in safety
the city of San Francisco in six days. healthy
fresh and vigorous for duty, and with but comparatively
trifing cost to the government Sir, with present
means OF communication and intercourse with them, II
wond cost this government treasure to defend and
protect Pacific States in warof two years duration
strucng this road from the Mississippi San Francisco
Again such road would not only facilitate our mai
communications with the Pacific States, but reduce tho
time between the Atlantic and the Pacific from thirty tt
six days. and enable the government to dispense with h
present odous and abominable oceanma service so dan
gerous and destructive to human life and which is costing
the country millions of dollars annually.
1t will also afford easy, safe and rapid facilities fol
visiting kindred and friends in that distant country
and bind the States of this Union East and West in bond
of raernal brotherhood enduring the sDowcappet
mountains which now separate them, 81 iHlat
This road when completed, is destined TO become th
great thoro~shtare of nations revolutionzng the
merce of the world IT WILL sir enable the United State
to command the carrying trade between Europe and China
with all its resulting advantages 10 citizens Thcs
declarations merely, but careful examination Of ma
of the world and geographical position, with knowl
edge of the time cost and risk of the present mode of
convince the Judgment of any gentleman who will taxi
| the time and pains to look into them. But sir mus
leave these important facts and deductions to the prol
BILE effects OF the completion Of this road to ADLER and
learned stasticians who may follow in this debate
and will pass TO the consideration Of my second inquiry
ant why this road demanded by the best inter
OF the country and have searched in vain for
why it should not be constructed.
The second inquiry is where shall the road be built?
Mr. Chairman Congress, at its last session. fully rccog
nised the necessity and expedoncy this great ntern
act authorizing the Secretary of War; under e direction
of the President to employ such portion of the corps
typographical engineers, and such other persons h
might deem necessary to make such explorations aud
ycys he might deem advisable to ascertain the mos
practicable and economical route for railroad from tn
Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean and the
S1500O0 appropriated dcay the expenses thereof
In pursuance of this act the Secretary of War inform
that parties organized and sent out without delay
examine three principal proposed routes but that 9Th
time allowed and money appropriated will il is feared
prove insufficient for the complete solution Of this import
ant problem and that il Is hardly to be hoped that suc
data can be collected will satisfactorily the ques
ton proposed Snce this report Of the Secretary of Wa
| g <, =.