The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-01
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.

Mr.. Douglass project of a railroad to the
Pacific, with triple routes, passed the Senate
on Monday, by vote of twenty-four to twenty
one. 1t provides for the construction of a
northern, middle, and q southern road-in
all, six thousand miles in extent. The com.
pany or companies proposing to construct each
road are to have an immense tract of land.
made up of alternate sections, twelve miles
wide, on both sides of each road The United
States is to pay for the annual carriage of the
mails over each road for the period of fifteen
years, at the rate of $500 per mile-amount ing,
in all, to $l,sOO,OOO per year; and also the
ordinary rates for the carriage of munitions of
war, which is estimated to be the annual sum
of 100000 more. The making of the con-
tracts for the construction of the road is in
trusted to the Secretaries Of
Notwithstanding the project received TWEEN.
ty-four votes, there were not probably five Sen
ators, if any, who regarded it as practicable in
its present shape. Some were unwilling to
have their names placed on record against this
great enterprise, however Objectionable or
visionary the form which it has assumed while
others, it is suggested, were governed by per-
sonal and political considerations less laudable.
Proposing the construction of three roads, con-
tractors, under fear of ruinous competition,
would be hindered from bidding for the con-
struction of any. The idea of building six
thousand miles of railroad through an uninhab-
tied tract, in the present financial depression of
the country, is the merest moonshine.
Its concentrated energies and resources on
| single road are necessary to make it practical
| BILE, and inspire hope for its consummation.
| The absurd project of triple roads owes its
| origin to the desire of some politicians to make
| believe to be in favor of road to the Pacific,
and yet not wake up the ire of Slave Propa-
gandists, who are resolutely fixed against the
location of a single route whose eastern ter.
minus is as far north as ST. Louis--the most
southern point which can be taken without
perilng the whole enterprise.
| The bill also, besides other objections. pro
posed to confer on the Secretaries an enormous
power to make the contracts, which in this in
stance should he reposited in Congress This
objection was pertinently urged by Mr.. Chase
and, together with others, probably determined
his and Mr.. Summers vote against the bill
Its passage gave unusual satisfaction to the
friends of Senator Gwin, whose aid in securing
the adoption by the Senate of bill entitled
An act for the construction of a railroad tc
the Pacific" may incline the scale in his favor
in the Senatorial election now pending in Cali
fornia.
how lamentable is the fact that grand en-
terprise, which shall link the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, and make the wealth of Asis
tributary to us, must be suspended, because
Slavery dictates to commerce and emigration
the form it shall assume, and the interests i
shall advance A consideration so short-sight
ed and grovelling never swayed ancient Rom,
In the construction of those roads which
spanned all Europe, and whose traces are no
yet eaaced by the ceaseless wear Of the cen
turtles.
4 The Connecticut Know NotL;cc Ctato TO-,