Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1856-11-06
Pacific Railroad.

ing out of the question its necessity TO
the safety Of our posses ions on the Goa t
Of the western ocean in time Of war, and
considering alone its importance for the
transportation Of passengers, merchandise
and agricultural products, and the opening
to the public Of the immense body Of gov
eminent lands lying west of the Missouri
river. it becomes n subject worthy Of the
%profoundcst attention Of the statesman and
the philanthropist. The commerce of the
Pacific is becoming already Of vast im-
portance. although vet in its infancy, and
millions Of capital are invested in II. The
gold of California is the backbone of
commercial enterprises, both in the east
and west; and the greater the facilities
for its acquisition, the greater will bc the
activity experienced in every department
Of business Throughout the country. There
can be no doubt that the construction Of a
great highway of this kind to California,
will ut once double the product of the
precious metals, as from the facility and
safety Of carriage and transportation, the
migration would be increased thrcrfold.
In addition to these benefits acting di-
rectlv upon the commercial world, n line
Of towns and cities would accompany the
road all the way across our puhlic do
main. From the. crowded cities and
towns and oycr-popuIated fields of the
east, the hardy cmigrant would rush in
and occupy the broad acres now lying
waste for the want of improvement, and
WAITING only for the hand Of civilization
and industry to turn them into sources Of
wealth, and the aholcs Of comfort and
plenty. Millions Of acres of public lands
would Il, once find a market which must
otherwise lie idle and wa t,c. for years.
The building of this road is however,
a vast enterprise, and it needs, and will
well repay, the all and fostering care of
the general government. \ donation OF
alternate sections of land for thirty mile,
in width to a Company who will build the
road with expedition, and operate it eff.
cien,ly, can be of but little importance t,
the United Slates-,hr owners of thu
soil-and will amount to Just nothing a
all. if. as is usual in such cases, the mini
mum price of the alternate sections re
served, is doubled. And every one know
that there will be a much reader SIDE o
these alternate sections reserved 10 III,
United States, at the enhanced price, i
such a railroad is bai.,, than there woult
be at the standing minimum without it
construction. 1t i, therefore, u matter o
actual gain to the revenues of the Unite,
States. There can be no doubt about ii
and when 10 hi, Is suprr.uddydrh the conye
nience to the public, the advantage ,
commerce, and the safety to oar comno
Possessions, what man in his senses ca
hesitate for a moment to approve and el
courage a policy which must result 5
, benefcially on all sides.
4 A grant of alternate sections Of Ian
for thirty miles in width to the Compan
, who builds the road, would render it, pa
: question, a lucrative enterprise and the,
can be no doubt that fUr-sccing capitalI
| woultreadily embark in it. With capitt
A awaiting the opportunity, with the in, res
p of the country and the voice of the poop
demanding the construction Of the roa,
f why should Congress longer delay an a
scnting response to the behests of the pa
lie voice and the pubic iutcrcsts2
In time, there may be Il southern roG
and Il northern road, butt; but the cel
trail ruad is the one which will be co.
structed first, and which will afford Il
greatest accommodation 10 the pubIl
" Already two roads, in the hands Of ty
powerful Companies, are laying tn,
3 tracks and running tLelr car over Il
y prairies Of Iowa towards the Nilsson
" river, and without douG; in two years Il
tread Of the iron horse will be felt up,
: the banks Of that river, and hi, snor T
t sound through the adjacent hills.
-
The Central Pacific Railroad will pa
through Nebra,h a; ana every Oh, at
acquainted with the geography Of. Il
country, cannot fail of being couyinc
\ that It's route will lie along the valley
the north side of the Platte river. +!
g is far superior to any aal every oth
{ routa. Facilities for timber and s1o