Washington telegraph., 1854-03-01
The Pacific Railroad.

The Pacific Railroad.
A railroad to the Pacific on the FL Paso
route would have several advantages over
more northern line.
1st. 1t would afford more easy and cheap
connections for all railroads now finished or
in progress. A branch from Cairo. the ter
minus of the Central Illinois road, and one
from Memphis would afford connections with
all the Northern, Eastern, Western, and
middle roads either finished or in process
Of construction. Branches from Vicksburg
and New Orleans would afford connections
for all the Southern roads.
I'd. 1t would be cheaper to construct
road on this route. The country is more
level, timber more plenty, the climate mild
er 1t has been estimated by one of the
best engineers in the United States that on
any of the more northern routes suggested
the cost Of construction would be upward Of
one hundred millions of dollars while. up
on the FL Paso route, the cost would be less
than fifty millions.
Sd. 1t would pay better when constructed.
The through business would perhaps amount
to about the same on either route. If any
difference should exist it would be in favor
of the I'll Paso route, as it would have con-
nection with greater number of roads than
any other and the travel would be more
pleasant on account of climate. The land
from the Mississippi to Ell Paso, being of
superior quality, would be densely settled,
and the productions of the country greatly
increased. These productions would seek
exchanges in the West, North and East,
which would create, large home trade and
stimulate home industry and production in
every quarter.
4th. As means to be used for national
defence. the El Passo would be superior
to any other route in case of war. Our
coast would be assailed The Atlantic coast
is now easily reached by means of railroads
everywhere except upon the Gulf Of Mexi-
co. This road would enable the govern
ment TO reach that easily; it would pass up
wards of seven hundred miles along tile
frontier of Mexico; reaching San Diego it
would soon follow the coast to San Francis
CO. and in all probability would soon be ex-
tended to Oregon A road on anv more
northern route would afford no facilities for
reaching the Gulf of Mexico and would
touch at but one point on our whole Pacific
coast
9th. The necessities Of the United States
demand that the road should be promptly
built. 1t is heavy undertaking and any
company that may engage in it must, to be
successful inspire the public with confidence.
On the I'll Paso route, the road may be
reached at several points along its line BY
water transportation, which will both facili-
tate the work and diminish its coast
What the Government of the United
States may do in aid of the work is uncer-
tain. Texas has granted on the Ell Paso
route 20 sections 12S,000 acres of land to
the mile. The distance through Texas is
500 miles. Her donation therefore amounts
to 10,240,0 goo acres of land and, to render
her donation more valuable to the builders,
the Legislature has reserved from any other
location go miles on each side of the route
until the track OF the road is located. after
which 30 miles on each side is reserved to
satisfy the grant. These lands have recent
ly been examined and pronounced by many
reliable men the most valuable lands in the
United States except for the want of facili-
ties for transporting their products to mark
ct; 50 that it may be safely assumed, that
if the lands thus donated BY Texas be held
until the road is completed, they will fully
refund the cost Of construction.
The influence which greater facilities of
intercourse between the different sections of
the Union would have upon fhe people, the
stimulant TO industry and increased produc-
ton, the increase value it would give to rail-
roads now completed or in course of con-
struction, the increase of national wealth,
and the additional power and facilities it
would afford for national security and de-
fence. are subjects well deserving the con-
sideration of all. .a r.-l Lou. JOur.