Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-06
Col. Benton I'm philadelphia.

On Saturday evening last says ihe Philadelphia
(edosr this veteran statesman addressed large
number of our citizens al The Musical Fund Hail.
on the policy of The Pacific Railroad the geosra-
phy OF The country and It's adapion 10 the coniem.
nlaIed enterprise. He spoke about an hour and
three quarters without notes or memoranda of any
kind, aud with direcness of purpose and minute.
ness OF deail that proved conclusiyely the vast
knowledge he had acquired on the subject. He
does not solicit subscriptions TO any particular en-.
terprse, or advocate any particular route Con
gress being distracted with domestic feuds and
JPaousies, he rclires from that forum 10 the people
He advocates the construction OF The road from the
weslern border OF Missouri to The eastern line OF
Cali Iiornia The whole of the route now being ihIo
territorial Jurisdiction, and therefore, important that
The right OF way should be secured before State
authority inerposes any difficulty The speaker
ayeued hat The ground is admirably situated 10 rail-
road purposes, and that The passes through the
mountains are not sfeppeS through which mule
may wind up on ole eide and by zigzag descend
on The other. as mary suppose, but that they are
openings level with Ire ground
The distance from the Missouri border 10 Cali
forna is 1900 miles, and the outside cost OF the
Road Mr.. Benton asserts will not exceed $40 900
per mile, or $40 600 900 in the aggregate. The
character OF The country through which the road
must pass, is represented as equal 10 any in The
ness with the rich lands Of Egypt. This is an i'm
poranl fact, because if The country is not calculal-
cd TO maintain population, the road could scarce
ly be profitable. The snow known 10 exist all The
time on The mountains, and which has sometimes
been insianced an nsuperahle barrier TO the
construction OF a railroad, Col Fremont has ascer-
aned does not exist or lie 10 any greater deph in
The passes that il does the praires ni Illinois and
Missouri. There being no obstacle 10 the conslruc.
toa of lhe Road, he argues that it shond be imme.
da'ely commenced, and gave estimates made not
by himself, but by Others, who have counted the
amount OF business now done between the Allan.
tic and Pacific, overland AMI by sea, showing ,na,
even The existing trade pay fair percentage on
This capital of $50 900 OO0 OF this, however, he
did not speak Of himself. He had made no es,i
maes.
He contended for The importance of The enter
prise. Important as doubling The number of Md
die States, by peopling the intervening Terrific
ties, and banding the whole together by an iron
band, and as giving US safe and sure transit for
our California god The interruption OF the flow of
which, for single month. as the caprice OF for.
eisn power might now do, would create a most
disastrous panic in financial circles. Over and
above all, however, this route will open TO US the
nearest route 10 The Trade of India, trade that has
been commended for by The mosl powerful nations
OF the world Tor centuries, and has made great and
powerful all that have secured it. This road puts
not only The United States nearest TO this source of
wealth and power, but it would be the nearest
route for the nations of Europe. They would have
TO use this roue 10 our profit or fall behind in the
contest for the cove,ed raIe
The aIIusion of the speaker to the advancement
OF civilization and OF The arts, was truly eloquent.
Less than three centuries ago. waller was The great
barrer 10 further progress. That eventually by the
use Of sails and steam, became the facility for com
municaon, and lard was The barrier The inee
nuily oi man has al length worked another revoIu.
ton. The invention Of Railroads and Magnetic
TelegraPhs, has again rendered land The facility
for rapid intercourse, and water is now the obstruc
tion. We have this facility for reaching Asia, and
we shonld make use of ii. For The lasl three quar-
ters of an hour, The speaker held his auditors spell
bound BY his flow OF eloquence and learning. 1t
was most mastery effort, and will add largely 10
the distinguished Statesman's we'll earned Tsputa-
lion,