The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-03
The Pacific Railroad.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
l wish space in your columns to refer to an arti
Gle of Mr. A. Rand of Lancaster, Mass the subject
Of railroad to the Pacific.
Mr.. Rand makes selection Of route to the Pacific
which already selected and explored by another
individual He presents views thereon which have al
ready been presented in the report route He
vocates peculiar and novel plan Of construction but
does not state from what Of information he
ceived the ideas this stupendous practical problem
which he has thus made public.
Now such notorety rs may this plan of Mr..
Rand Of early communication by rai-its failure
cesss due alone to the individual from whom It first en-
anaed and that practical civil engineering profession
Of which he is proud to be member. 1t is the result OF
years. professional study lin the far interior Of
the American continent, and in the passage Of
5000 miles of nncvized country Of those great obsa-
Giles which this project to differ problem, from
those Of lines extending through densey populated re
gons.
II was first presented by the undersigned then esti-
mating engineer Of the Northern Pacific Governmental
ry in charge Of that exploration the 18th Of Februa
ry, 1854. II afterwards submitted on the 23d OF
November 1854 to the Congress OF the United States In
report Of the route now advocated by Mr. Rand by
the then chief in charge Of the Central
Railroad expedition, organized under unanimous resolu-
tions of the Legislature Of Washington Territory.
AZ the printing Of this report was delayed In the de-
paIment which made the channel Of Transmission
Congress during the debate on the Pacific railroad,
synopsis Of this plan Of construction huredy written
and printed In pamphlet form at the expense Of the
dersgned laid tables Of the members Of both
houses, and thus obtained limited circulation through
the country. copy Of this pamphlet Is sent herewith
that you may compare It with the article Of Mr. Rand
and merely wish TO state that have expended time
health and pecuniary in attempt at the solu
ton Of some of the difficulties Of the Pacific railroad
question. Ny report differing from the conclusions
submitted Of explorations officially conducted
the observations Of the practical may be supposed
to differ from those Of the theoretical observer
transmitted under the unanimous resolutions Of
important Territory, and called for by empha~
tic resolutions Of the House OF Representatives,
has not yet reached its destination; but it Is
'the last feather that breaks the camcl's back"
when the honest convictions, which the result Of 40
much mental labor, anxiety and exposure, have met
such opposition and have only won attention to their
peculiar character by my own unaided ehorts, become
the matter Of the original newspaper communications Of
individuals who have certainly yet enjoyed the f
licy II keeping engineering note look, while sub
ss,ng dried mule flesh in the snow drifts Of the Rocky
Mountain passes.
viii conclude this article by saying that the route all
vocaed by Mr. Rand extending from some central posi-
ton TO the Mormon City and thence by fokod road 70
Francisco aud Puget Sound Ia that which have in
varaby advocated; and to his plan Of construction,
cher the following extract from my report to the Cen
gress of the United States, viz. -
As the result Of such professional experience 40 am
able to bring bear upon this subject wish definitely
itself into obtaining rapid and enectuai means q
along the route Of the grand trunk ROAD
that Il NAV be constructed Mt ALL and that the entire
ouesion OF tho construction Of first class grand trunk
railway 10 the Pacific resolves itself into the prior con-
structon OF railroad to the Pacific OF less elaborated
character
remain very respectfully, your obedent servant,
~ - FRED. W. LANDER,
late Civil EngineeSs Pacific Railroad Exploration.