The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-11-17

gress. The facts alluded to above were set
forth in preamble introduced by Mr.. Arm
strong, accompanied by resolution instruct
ing our Senators and requesting our Repre-
sentatves in Congress "to use their utmost
exertions to procure the passage of a law by
Congress, favoring the construction and the
location of the great Pacific railroad along
that route, known DIS the " Southern Route"
through Texas, and apprOpriating to it all the
patronage and means consistent with the poll
cy and power of the General Government"
Mr.. Brown, OF Madison, the Chairman of
the Committee on Internal Improvements, to
whom were referred the subject, submitted to
the Houseof Representatives on yesterday the
following report:
Mr. SPEAKER:
The Committee on Internal Improvements, to
whom Resolutions "Instructing Senators and
requesting our Representatives in Congress to
favor so far as it may be in their power, the
Southern Pacific Railroad route through Texas,
were referred, would beg leave to state that they
have had the same under consideration, and concur
in the opinion of their correctness.
The Committee would submit the following brief
compilation of facts, figures and opinions, connect
ed with this subject:
This road should be built; it is an undertaking of
the greatest magnitude continuous line OF two
thousand miles in length-ata cost of one hundred
millions Of dollars. IL is the greatest enterprise OF
the age, and a National scheme should have
appropriated to il, in the language OF the Resou-
TONS "all the patronage and means consistent with
the policy and powers of the general government"
The United States have coast line OF near
twenty-five hundred miles on the Atlantic ocean,
and on the Pacific about fourteen hundred miles,
with of near three millions OF square miles
of territory spreading out from ocean to ocean, EN-
bracing twenty degrees OF latitude, and containing
about twenty millions of inhabitants, with wealth
unbounded and resources inexhaustible; yet be.
tween the two extremes Of the Union, the old At
lantic States on the East, and the young Pacific
States on the West, there is no National highway
or thorOughfare on our own soil. Between these
States there is a wide, unbrOken territory lying IN
one grand and almost trackless wilderness. The
travel commerce and mails passing from one OF
these States to the others, must pass through for
eign lands to reach our own shores aud continually
be subject to the exactOns of friends or foes, as
these foreign nations, upon whom We are depen-
dant, may be.
The road should be built as a connecting link in
the great systems OF railroads-the arteries OF
trade and commerce-elements Of this Nations
greatness-and these lines Of road should be ex'
tended and distributed throughout the whole body
polite so as to vivify and connect the whole.
This road is not only necessary means OF travel
and commerce. but is essential to the perpetuity OF
the bonds Of union between the East and West, and
to the cementing our nationality. The peaceful and
political relations between these widely discovered
States, will in a good degree depend upon the
blending of interest," commercially and socially, by
railroad commanication-the linking the States to-
gether with interest aud patriotism. This road will
bear upon its bosom a million tons of freight and
trade to invite the pecuniary, while twenty millions
of passengers will fix the social interests of the cit
liens Of this great Republic--so that these iron
bands of rails, thrown across the continent, will
lead to a lively intercourse and advantageous com
merce to the States and be stronger and tend more
70 render our Union ndissouble, and perpetuate
our national blessings, than compacts and consttu
tons.
IL the intercourse between our States is mpeded;
If one portion is taught compelled to seek asso
cates and business companions abroad and the
Government fails TO make the approaches TO oil
parts of the country accessible estrangement 20 the
Government is the consequence-the national ties
are weakened and desire is begotten if an effort
is not made, TO sever the bonds OF union. The com
pletion of this railroad would remove all these diff
cuties and be an important step preventative OF
great Pacific Confederacy in the future of this coun
try.
Nature and the Engineers instruments have both
pointed 10 the Southern route the nearest and
soil timber rivers and productions. The instru-
ments mark the distances, elevations and depres-
sious on the route-showing the cost to be about
one half of the other routes while the distance is
about one-third less. Free from the cold Of the
North and the diseases Of the extreme South, and
with the certainty and safety OF the route, evil
denced in these characteristics this route will COM
mand and receive the travel and carrying trade be-
tween the oceans.
The Secretary OF War after a review of the sew
eral routes, distances cost character of the work,
says:
e comparison of the results stated above, and
of those exhibited in the tables referred TO- concu
svely show that the route Of the sgd parallel 1.-THE
Texas route is Of those surveyed the most practi>
cal and economical route for Railroad from tho
Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean"
This is the shortest route and not only is lie es-
timated cost less by third than that OF any other
Of the lines but the charcter Of the work required
is such that it could be executed in vastly shorter
period"
Aud again: "Not only is this the shortest and
least costly route 10 the Pacific but is the shortest
aud cheapest route to San Francisco, the greatest
commercial city on our Western coast while the
aggregate length Of railroad lines connecting it at
It's Eastern terminus with the Atlantic and Gulf
seaPorts is less than the aggregate connection with
any other route"
How Is this Road connected with Tennessee, and
why Tennesseans more deeply interested m tins
route than mos, Of her sister Statesf The Eastern
terminus Of this road is properly at Corsicanha,
Texas as that is the branching point for either
New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis or st. Louis.
From CorsicannA the road runs 20 Fulton, TO Little
Rock, and from thence % Memphis-these connec-
lions Gre not only contemplated but are being pro
vided for and built-by the Fulton and Memphis
and Little Rock Roads we are borne from the trunk
of the Great PaciGc Road 70 Memphis, the great
cotton emporium OF the Southwest-thus making
the principal branch practically the terminus OF
this Great Natural Ihoroughiare, at Memphis in our
State and there connecting with the entire system
OF Railroads in Tennessee, aud running through the
State, connecting with the Roads North, South and
East, gathering within is influence the Roads from
Georgia TO Maine,-the Lakes and the Atlantic
ocean.
This route connects Memphis, Jackson, Nashville,
Aurfreesboro', Chattanooga aud Knoxville, the
great cities Of the Sta,e-and from Memphis by
great leading roads 10 Louisville and thence 20 the
cities on the Atlantic coast, TO Charleston aud New
Orleans. From jackson, the capitol OF the West,
u New Orieans IN Mohfla N ta1ro I.ofis and