The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-10

Jew 1OzSA IaGHALDyl "a
estimated cost Of Q railroad (single track, we
suppose) by this route, is, In round numbers,
SOS, 100000, about half the estimate Of the best
of the other routes, to say nothing further Of
the saving OF thousand miles or so in the i'm
portant matter Of the distance to be traversed.
Upon the whole, this official report, the re-
sumo Of authentic and reliable expIora atoms,
bears us out fully in all that we have said for
the last ten years Of the hideous and revolving
sterility and desolation Of all that vast region
lying between the immediate valley of the
Mississippi and that great mountain chain, the
Sierra Nevada which oyerlooks the Pacific.
From the British boundary down to the boun-
dairy Of Mexico, and far hey ond, it is an Asiatic
region Of timberless steppes, volcanic moua-
tains and sandy deserts, very closely resembling
the deserts of Arabia. Such Is the Great Basin,
the only important oasis Of which is occupied
by the Mormons; such is the country between
he Gila and the Pacific, and such is the Gads-
den country.
We consider this report conclusive as to
the best route for Pacific Railroad--it is
the extreme Southern route. A glance on
any respectable map Of the United States,
at the several routes indicated, will sa-
tisfy the reader Of this fact. The engineers
of he army have only made it more clear
and satisfactory from their actual surveys. The
only remaining question, then, is the cost and
the time required to build railroad Of two
thousand miles long over an uninhabited desert,
the workmen and their provisions, the timber
and materials of all kinds, to be supplied from
| the two extremities.
Benton's great central route is certainly done
for, and well may it be pronounced impracti-
cable, requiring as it does tunnel at an eleva-
ton OF $50 feet, and hundred miles of his
road a. az elevation higher than the top of
Mount st. Bernard. What will Benton say?
The STATEN ISLAND FERRY-The Comptrol-
Ter sent message to the Aldermen on Thurs
day evening, in reference to the Staten Island
ferry, the lease Of which expires on the first of
May next. The facts Of the case are very SIM
pie. In June 1852, the city granted to Corne-
illus Vanderbilt lease of the slip at the foot
OF Whitehall street, which has been used for
some ears for the Staten Island ferry. The
Commodore had owned that ferry for years,
and under his direction, it gave satisfaction to
the public, and Staten Island improved rapidly.
Some time since, he sold out his rights in the
ferry, lease, boats, and 20 forth, to a accompany;
which is now an applicant for a renewal of his
lease. Since this company has been owner of
the ferry, comp aints have constantly arisen
respecting the boats and general management;
| the chief grievances being the alleged Insea-
worthiDefs OF the boats the irregularity Of the
times drumming, and the capricious disregard
Of The public comfort by the company and
their employees The best Of the ferry boats is
now lying up at Quarantine, while another boat,
said to be over twenty years old, has taken her
place; Of course at some risk Of serious acct
dent. With one exception all the boats that
have run this winter to the east side of the
island have been old and liable to accident; hole
being sure to be knocked in their bows, or q
crack in their boiler just at the time they were
most wanted.
The company have paid no attention to the
complaints that have been made on these sub
jects, believing that, as they were proprietors
| Of the entire coaet Of the island from Quaran-
| WIG W AOWbscno SoOsA, IL WOuiu NC NupoS5ioic
to form rival company, and thus the public
were at their mercy. This will probably be
| found to be near the truth when the lease comes
to be sold. But the corporation will not lose
sight of the fact that their power on this island
is quite as great % that of the company on Sta
TIN Island and that if the latter can crush out
competition by refusing q landing place there,
the City Council can make the property Of the
company valueless by acting with equal deter
mination here. The people of Staten Island
could better afford to undergo some inconve-
nience tor a few days. or even to travel mile
or so to o new dock. than the company could
afford to pay their debts to Commodore Wander
bit without running boats.
What is wanted ere good substantial boats
running at regular hours, and as late as possible
at night and decent ferry houses for the recep-
iion OF human creatures, not pigs. These can
easily be secured by the lease, and as the pro-
fits OF the ferry are understood to be over
100000 year, the company can hardly COM
plain Of being placed on the same footing as
the other ferry companies.
| THE MAYOR AND HIS REFoRMs.-The last
sensible act of Mayor Wood was his action at
| the meeting Of the Commissioners Of Emgra.
| tioh on Wednesday last. There can be no ques
ton that the wrongs endured by emigrants,
and inflicted by the runners and other vaga.
bonds often with the connvsnce of the ship.
| owners and consignees exceed any thing OF which