The daily union., 1856-01-15
INTERESTING cELEBRArIoS.- IOWA AND
pArIEIC RAIIR0AD

PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The advance Of country in population and enterprise
reminds Of what Burke said of the commerce Of the
colonies about eighty years ago. When We speak Of y
1feton lags after truth invention is unfruiiiu aud inn
agitation cold and barren But few years since Chicago
uninhabited bognow it is tie eastern terminus
Of railroad whose western stoppngpaee for the present
is sixty miles the other side Of the Mississippi The last
received Davenport owa) papers give US the speech Of
General Dix, delivered the Sd nsantn Iowa City, on
the celebration Of the completion Of the Mississippi aud
Missouri railroad to that place Next year the road viii
be completed to Fort Des Mones year two more will
carry it to Council Bluffs Thence it will extend, by vir
tue OF its impetus and the demands of the extending
population along the valley of the Platte and to its ul
mate depot at San Francisco.
General Dix is Of the opinion that the next census will
exhibit greater average rate of increase in Iowa during the
years than any State has attained in the
period of time with the exception perhaps of Wisconsin,
from 1910 $780, He thinks that in 1860 Iowa will con-
tain million of souls This estimate consider not ex
travagan though it Is nearly double what calculated
by the projectors OF the present railroad in 1854 The
highest number that they then looked for G00o0o IL
is now clear that this estimate will lag far behind the
reality.
sufficient support railroad running $50 miles through
rolling prairie with no obstruction worth mentioning
between its river ermni But General Dix regards this
road in interesting light and link merely in
the great chain Of railroads that unite New York with
San Francisco. There is continuous line from the
commercial metropolis of the Union the heart of Iowa
For the continuation of this line through that State,
through Nebraska and the valley Of the Platte nearly
tbal a. obn bp pirial
surveys that the country highly favorable The Secretary
of War states that the difficulties Of the line from Council
Bluffs San Francisco are already known be less than
any other route except that Of the 32d parallel and he
states further that after his report to Congress was made
the discovery Of still direct route from Great Salt
Lake to San Francisco practicable throughout for wagons
announced by the officer commanding the troops in
Uaha route which, if found practicable for railroad,
will only lessen the length Of this line but fur her d
minish its difficulties.
General Dix the question fairly when he says that
what the country needs is uninterrupted communica-
ton by railroad between New York and San Francisco ;
and be believes firmly that the FIRST finished railroad to the
Pacific will pass through Iowa from Rock Island to Coun
Gil Bluffs. From Iowa city to New York the road is
pleted running through districts that accommodate thr-
millions Of people, and aided by great natural auxi
aries Between Iowa city and San he considers
the route lie which is decidedly the advantageous
for the whole counryhe only that be construct
ed by private capital and the only that will warrant
the expenditure which any road of this length
will involve. In his Judgment the growth OF our western
territories win settle the question of construction before
politicians agree upon the route. The only aid that
they would require of the general government if the
general government fit to favor their enterprise
would be grant of public land taking nothing from the
treasury but absolutely increasing the revenue by bring
ing districts of land into the market a much e
mented valueto say nothing of the facilities which The
government acquires for the transmission of the mails and
the transportation of emergency troops the
munitions of war.
The Importance Of such communication cannot be
erestimated No statesman fail to that lis
completion may depend the integrity of this mighty
ton Every enterprise that looks towards should be
pectaons OF General Dix realized and private enter
prise accomplish the stupendous work which he
considers adequate IL will be the marvellous result
OF individual effort record In the worlds history We
extend to him and his associates best wishes less
than those enterprsng and able who seeking
TO accomplish the result by line through Texas
which hear is in state of promising advancement To
Of them will command IT. even II the aid for which they
may look the general government should be delayed
long Lord Chesterfeld patronage Dr. Johnson and
it is only after the necessity has passed away that they
should be acncumbered with help