Butte record., 1855-12-29
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad.

/ hHlViiS9t tilc Sub]cCl WHICH VIII pt
brought prominently before the atten-
ton of the present Congress, will be
the subject Of the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad. 1t is a subject fraught with
deepest interest to the dwellers on the
Pacific coast. Politicians can no long
er make political capital for themselves
by staying off or postponing action on
the matter. The subject has been
talked about sufficiently long-the
public mind IS ready for action-and
politicians will find that popularity
/ will rest with those who set the ball
in notion"
The recent official report Of the Sec
retary Of War, prcferring the route
near the 32nd degrece Of lat.o:dc, be
cause Of the many essential advant-
ages therein enumerated, may be re
gardcd as the official selection Of the
route, and upon this route, are present
active exertions in favor Of the project
concentrated. Whether they will be
carried through to completion, by the
present company remains to be seen.
Their management heretofore, has not
been such as to firmly establish public
confidence in the sincerity Of their in
tentions; but their present efforts,
however, seem to evince a determina-
ton to not only make a commencement,
but to prosecute the work with yigor
to completion.
Certain it Is, that Texas has hereto
fore offered large inducements for the
construction of a Railroad through her
territory, and Is the only State that
has the lands to donate. Her liberal
ity in this respect has done much, ne
doubt, towards centering public opin-
ion upon the Southern route. The
policy to be adopted by Texas, is now
engaging the attention of her best cit
liens, and her policy is committed to
the present company, and she has eve
rything to gam by the most liberal
legislation towards those who are dis
posed to develop her resources. Val
liable as her wild lands are, when once
made accessible by railroads, that can
only be accomplished by uniting her
own strength to all the foreign individ-
ual aid in her power to invite by her
present liberal policy of donation. 1t
is thought by the Company, that the
lands donated by Texas, and install
ments Of ) per cent. will be ample for
the construction of the road for eight
hundred miles through Texas.
1t will be remembered that the 32nd
was pronounced the most practicable
of the different routes surveyed by the
government. These reports are Off
cial and the data assumed to be cor
rect. The western terminus is assUm-
ed to be at San Diego Or San Pedro,
thence via. Los Angeles to San Fran
cisco. The estimated cost $6S976,-
coo, and including the extension to
San Francisco, about $100,000,000.
We confess we have not much faith in
the proposed extension from San Diego
to San Francisco. 1t seems much
more probable that San Diego would
become San Francisco.
The initial point of this route is on
the eastern boundary of Texas, at the
western terminus of the Vicksbrg and
Shreveport railroad, extending from
this point through the town of Mar
shall, crossing the Trinity, Brazos and
Colorado, on the parallel of %, and
striking the Rio Grande near FL Paso,
passing over highly productive country
of easy grades, abounding in wood and
water, coal iron, and stone, and a for
est growth suitable for all building
purposes, for nearly three-fourths of
the whole distance. This route is far
enough south to satisfy the most invet-
crate southerner, if it does not accmmo-
date the inhabitants of the Pacific
coast. Its western terminus is at the
extreme southern line of our Pacific
possessions. In time however, when
Mexico and Nicaragua are annexed, it
will be more central, and in any event,
would be a railroad to the Pacific, an
undertaking which Is well worthy the
attention Of every inhabitant Of the
Pacific coast. If the 32nd parallel
presents the best route, and Texas, by
the adoption Of generous policy,