, 1854-02-25
The Lsgislature--RallrOad TO the Columbia.

We have heard it intinated from vari-
Gus quarters that one or more petitions
will be presented to the approaching leg
islative assembly, asking for the charter of
companies for connecting the Sound and
Columbia river by railroad.
However much we may be opposed to
the granting of charters, or the spirit Of
eRdOwing special privileges to corporations
such as the establishment of banks
(which is strictly prohibited by our organ
ic act) or the creation of any other monop-
oily or institution, which is productive of
nothing but taxation to augment the rev.
enue Of the capitalist, yet we feel quite con-
6dent that large portion of the people
Of the territory will agree with us, that the
character of the charter in question would
not present the Objectionable features emu
merated, but in the completion of such a
work, prove of almost incalculabIe benefit
to the territory.
W. oAO hHhiB III q ioob ASOt ah oBS vi
p steam and electricity-wheu the car, in
many instances, supplants the steamer, and
when, for the transmission Of intelligence,
electricity supplies the place Of steam;
when private capital and enterprise is step
ping forward to accelerate the tardy move
ments Of national and state governments
in works Of improvement-taAing the lead
when found expedient-thus relieving the
masses from that enormous taxation levied
by many Of the states for the construction
Of railroads and canals-almost resulting
in public and private bankruptcy, and fill-
ing the purses of few heartless specula-
tors, and corrupt irresponsible contractors.
We are living in railroad age-when,
even now, Congress is deliberating upon
the propriety Of connecting two oceans with
an iron bond, one end Of which, we trust,
viii be securely riveted on the shores Of
Puget Sound; and for good and sufficient
reasons, II is important that Oregon and
Washington territories should be bound to-
[, gether by similar tie, and if application
be made for charter for that purpose, we
a.. hope the legislature will see the propriety
Of granting it.
It would be needless for us to say, that
in the infancy Of our territory, its finances
are not ina condition to even mOUs in the
work Of the railroad suggested; and if it
was, It would not be our province to dis
cuss Its geographical position by way of
recommending q practicable route for the
location, as the good sense Of the assembly
Eould at once, we think, determine that
question. But for general information, we
would remark, that VIC have heard three
routes spoken Of-Aone to connect the head
Of the Sound with the Columbia, near its
mouth-another to join that river near the
mouth Of the Cowlitz; and another to strike
direct from the head Of the Sound to the
neighbOrhood Of Fort Vancouver. As to
+ exact distance, or practicability Of the first
q two named routes we are not fully advised /;
, but from point to point on the one last
named, we are informed by gentleman
connected with the surveyor generals Of
fee, who was assigned this territory as his
: field Of labor the past summer, and estab-
lished the meridian line, that it Is about one
hundred miles-and that he had no doubt
but railroad might be constructed over
the ground much more advantageOusly, at
a less cost, and with much easier grade
than had been generally believed.
This route would afford favorable ter
minus for Oregon, II that territory SO de-
sired, to continue the road from Portland
or St. Helens, up through the fertile valley
Of the willamette e-on through Umpqua,
where the capital Of California might meet
It, and unite and conduct it through the
Rogue River valley, to the great emporium
Of the golden State thus opening up a
magnificent railway communication between
San francisco and the Sound, TIA the great
northern gold region Of California, through
the heart Of Oregon.
But, should not Oregon see proper to
continue the road one mile within its bor-
deEs, the connection referred to will sooner
or later be brought about, not only as a
matter Of local necessity, but as means Of
transacting, between Oregon and CaliEor-
MIA, vast amount Of mercantile and other
commercial business.
The number Of vessels wrecked at or
near the mouth Of the Columbia river with.
in the last few years, has sigually admon.