Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-08
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Railroad to the Pacific.

| the Atlantic as well as the Gull OF Mexico
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Railroad to the Pacific.
| We insert the following letter from the Balti-
more San upon the subject of the Pacific railroad
1t seems to be settled that the only practical
BILE route across the continent upon our own ter
rtory is, that through the northern part of Texas
crossing the Rio Grande at Ell Paso; thence
| through the newly acquired Territory to the
| junction of the ella and Colorado rivers to San
| Diego, or San Pedro the Pacific; thence pos
siby by way of the coast to San Francisco. The
conclusion of this much-veXed question has been
| arrived at through actual SURVEYS made by com
petent and reliable engineers.
Though the route now decided upon as feasible
may appear somewhat further south than desired
by many, still, in connexion with Cincinnati, it
bears an important relation. 1t is the shortest of
| any of the proposed routes to California. To
| Louisville, Memphis, and Fulton, on Red river
lines of railroad already projected or in pro-
cess of constructions; and when completed, as
| they certainly will be before the Texas line can
be finished, they will form almost an airline
from Cincinnati and make a connexion with the
northern counties of Texas, which, judging from
| present appearances, (the immense immigration
| flowing in y are destined TO be densey populated
We have had some little experience in Cahfor-
mia and the Pacific, and are satisfied that a
more certain and speedy communication than the
! present roundabout sea route of the Isthmus
must be had, and across our own soil, to insure
the retention of our present possession of the
4 Rocky Mountains. The people of California and
1 Oregon have long and loudly called for asss-
lance in this matter, and, although we do not be-
| lieve in the Government undertaking to construct
/ the road, still Congress might aid and assist pri-
vate enterprise in the same manner that il has
| done in establishing the Ocean Steam lines-by
authorizing contracts for carrying the mails,
Il 1tt,.,. ,FtW
tain rates, to any substantial company or com
panies of citizens who will undertake to build
| the road.
Texas has most literally come forward and do
mated munificent grants of land for the purpose
of aiding in this enterprise. We understand that
a company has been formed under a charter
granted by the title Of the tTexas Western Rail-
road, !" whereby they are TO receive sirleen sec
tionS, fen thousand tco hundred and tortu acres
Of land for erery mile otroGd they build. This road
commences at the eastern boundary Of Texas, at a
point convenient TO the branch connections with
our present constructed roads and those contem-
plated, and terminates in Texas on the Rio
1 Grande al FL Paso, being n distance Of about
eight hundred and sixteen miles, acquiring under
the charter the enormous amount of 1855, $40
acres Of land 1t will be recollectcd that Texas
has got l00, 900 900 acres Indicated out of which
the company land can be selected in alternate
sections. Most Of the lands along the parallel Of
| 800, in Texas, understand, are of the most
/ fertile character, well watered with timber in
\ abundance.
Should this road to the Rio Grande be built, we
do not doubt for an instant that the remainder to
the Pacific will follow, If not constructed at the
same time with the Texas road The first ter
minus on the Pacific is spoken ofas at San Diego.
1t was fortune TO first land al this port in our
/ California perambuatons, and we had an oppor-
tunity Of Judging its merits. The climate is un-
surpassed, probably, by any in the world-both
4 - Il. l. u
admitting the largest class ships Of war for a dis
lance Of ten miles from its entrance, and com
/ petely land-locked. Ii is FIVE hundred miles by
way Of the coast 10 San Francisco, and steamers
of the first class make the run in thrty-six to
forty hours, over a sea, with but few instances
otherwise, as placid our lakes.
] Tho Texas Western Charter has no connec-
ton with the 100000 deposit charter, granting
| twenty sections TO the mile, and which, from its
various restrictions, renders it very doubtful
whether its terms could possibly be complied
with-such fifty miles the first eighteen
months, and one hundred miles TO be constructed
| each successive year. These were serious OBJ
ections TO that charter, although VIC believe that
| the Legislature Of Texas would have modified il 10
a more practical shape, If the company working
under il had gone on in good faith, made an ac-
| ceptable deposit, and constructed much as was
| possible.
The obligations of the Texas Western Railroad
Company are, that ono land shall be donated
unless the company shall actually commence their
road within four years, and actually complete and
finish at least twenty miles within ten years."
and, likewise, "that If said railroad shall not be
commenced within FIVE years from the passage OF
this act, and at least twenty miles thereofare not
completed within six years, (by January 20, 1857
| then this charter shall be null and void"
We learn that the company have commenced
the road, number Of miles already cleared with
much grading done, and the roadbed being pre-
! pared for superstructure.
We also learn that n meeting has been called
Of the parties interested in this charter, ION the
10th Of September, al New York; when we trust
that an organization Of substantial and energetic
capitalists viii take place, and this all-important
enterprise be pushed 10 completion We have
been furnished by interested parties in this city
with copy Of the charter, which we will publish
soon for the benefit Of those concerned: and the
facilities which Cincinnati can afford in her vast
manufactures Of wood and iron must insure for
her large share Of the trade growing out Of this
/ great design.
We congratulate California, therefore, upon
the prospect that now appears to be consummated
in connecting her by a massive iron link 10 her
sister States Of the Atlantic.
THE PAcTIc RAILROAD. = WAsHNGros,
Monday, august 90, 1S55.-The report Of the
Secretary Of War, TO which | alluded in a re-
cent letter, accompanying the several Pacific
Railroad explorations, suggests many important
considerations which determined the general po-
sition on the route near the hiriy-second (32d)
parallel as the most favorable for the first Of the
contemplated roads. Among these considora-
tons are the low elevation Of the mountain passes
in this latitude and their favorable Typographical
features, as well rs those Of the table lands, ex-
tending over moro than thousadd miles Of the
route, the temperate climate Of the elevated por-
tons Of this southern latitude, and the shortness
Of the line (only 800 miles) from the navgablo
waters Of the Mississi mi 10 the Pacific.
- route, not embraced in the Government
explorations, now reported upon, has been exam
ined by Major a. b. Gray, and his detailed re-
port, with maps, is now in press This route is
through the Gadsden purchase, in latitude about
thirty-one forty-seven, (31o 4T) This may pre-
s.nt some advantage over any other But there
are not wanting friends Of still more southern |