New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-23
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
THE THREE ROUTES.

The following are the remarks o. the Hon VII
LIAM II. SEWARD in the Senate of the United States
On Monday, Feb 10:
TIE PFr.IpNG OFFIcER-The qasstion il on agreeing to
The sHebdnsnt proposei Is substitute 10 the bill
Mr.. STwARD-Mr Presidept, before tina; a. ,son
is tai en- desire to sfate the views which entertain
in regard 10 this subject. need no, say tlst am
very desirous Of the passage Of bill which will
authorize the imme date construction and insure the
earliest possible con pletiap of some road from the
Atlantic States 10 San Francisco | deem only one
terminus material 10 be fixed, and that il the West
ern, which believe ought to be at San francisco.
In regard to The Eastern termnus, while have my
opinion about what would be he most oXpedient and
aGyaDts geous aud proper loo zion Of that NOUS,
am IreBsed to der my conviction on that pom
for The purpose of obtaining harmony IN CO1g'e5s in
r.gsld 10 the pnss4.e Of some bill rbcn will sccom-
PIN the object 80 far IS the state which repre-
s4ut Is concerned, rel entirely conidelt that her
geographical portion and Der commercial advantages
will axe The City of New York th Eastern terminus
Of sDy end of sll roads which mly be male
acIoss the plans 10 tie Pacific Ocean. |
mn, Therefore, prepared to vote for road ;
but in doing So ! with 10 vote for bill which will
seure ths cDEsfTuc ion Of road. This m .'ter has
been much discussed in the Committee, Of viii n |
an member. After long dehares, think it was
Concluded by snSiority Of the Committee that Il was
better TO submit 10 the two Houses the bll in this
shsj authorizing advertisements and proposals and
the adoption Of them for the construction three Dads
all of which sboud terminate at their Ees'ern extren
~ a. ssn EraI CISCO; but che OF which should have its
I'm n6tiOb the borders OF Trras the second
one The borders of the Missouri or fDwa aud the
tliid at p,ore rortherly point wDult very cheer
fully 90 for u Is proposition. If II seemed 10 me FEAST
Tie one physically and fifcslly bu. have been
PEELED TO withhold my cobsent from upon the ground
trat practically Il was hot feasible, aLd that, even ii
il were feasb. the OsBc.dl condition of the cointry
liz lot such as 10 warrant the undertaking 10 buld
tlr., such roads At once TIE substitute Of the Sc
l,ct CUmmiii, does lot give merely choice between
three rUads bu' il provides for making the contracts
the cor structOn Of three roads and toe accept lDce
q all Oh the adopt n OF one, and he communal
advertisement until the Others shall bs adopted and
contracted believe ina' such is the condition Of The
courtry In rega,d TO lsbOr such the physc Il ob
tiruciiors 10 the construction Of this road that Il is
unuse 10 un6 ersle 10 construct three roads or 5000
miles % railroad Dstesd OF one road or 900 mlle oil
rniruad. All the ralrO sos which have oesn con-
st,uc,ed in the State 10 stich belong amount II
about 500 miles and they have been the work Of
some 20 years. All the RAILROADS constructed in ghs
United States nov amount, | think. 10 bat Is 900
nj e., and this l. en- undertaking 10 construct 900
miles 81 Ouce. quite agree win the remarks OF the
honorable Senator from Missouri Mr. Gsyer that i,
tcesary in order 10 tie successful carry ing out Of
thin enter rse, that there should be settlements along
the route routes Il the road or ads thlnk the
undertaking 10 eolCnize three routes IS un wise,
spd will probably result in the defeat Of the
color ZstiOn Of the routes OF each and all Of them.
Asan, this IL period of unusual depression N
he money market Of the country, and thar press
has fallen more heavily upon the railroad system than
upon any other part Of our fiscal affairs IL - the
very exr inar, extension of that system, indsod
which has caused, 10 great extent, the present de-
preston in u country. The result Of attempt TO
cofnpete three great railroads 10 the Pacific under
euch Circumstances, when q large number OF the
railroads carried under the authority of the States
ore actually suspended Tor want OF funds, viii be 70
throw ciscrect upon all those enterprises in which
the Sfa'es are engas ed, and produce enhancement
by diversion OF funds II must fail unless the Fed
ersl Government shall give such facilities TO its
system Of railroacs as will divert capital from t1e
sise enterprises, and divert LABOR from them. Ii i
does this il will be iDj furious in that way; aud
if il does not furnish such extraordinary fsc-
itits, neither OF the roads viii be built. IL
seems 10 me that the question before the Senate
while il is in this form whether shsi authorize the
construction of rOai or three, Is practically no.
thing or les. than whether We shall authorize
the construction of any road, because cannot bring
myself 10 believe that tue construction OF three rail
rosds Con be successfully ATTEMPTED and csr.iei o.
When this work 81 al have begun 80 laTge scale
We then probably shall have occasion 20 refer 10 the
enterprise Of the Cumberland Road. What least
ctsire 10 see is the Government Of this country as
fuung great Rational enterprise like th. aud then
staIcoIu it and casting il aside and leaving the
States, sfter al, 10 protect IL ruins. Now Sir |
have stated very briefly my citations 10 tbs substi-
tute and the Of NY preference for tho orr
bill have Discharged my duty upon this subject.
II shes. be sustained by the Sen, te then We soal
secure the passage OF blu authorizing the c)nstIuc.
ton Of Ell gle road Ii shall BE- oyerrul5d AL
deer 10 the Juc cnsnt II the s,ns'e AMI shall 20,
with vbs;evsr strerc 9Th and policy aud goo1 hear,
have, IN favor Of he bill which may BE- adopted in
ue iOrm OF tu5silfute. could not say les, 10 JUS
tee 10 my own eel ylciio-s, and have no desire 20
icy more because 90 hot wish - occupy time, ana
thereby tel.y The consolidation Vi the bl aud haZ
Il or a. an M.