Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-10
To HENRY BEDINGER, Esq, &c, &c,
For the Daily Patriot
Texas Western Railroad and its Con.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., DC.

Texas Western Railroad and its Con.
Observation-Disclosures, &c.
The old saw "7Hat ii neper rains but it pourS," is
perhaps as applicable to railroads as to any other
institution of the present age.
Let any railroad having for its object the attain
ment of any peculiarly important and profitable
result, be ever so much derided, and on paper pro-
we'd impracticable-or however meritorious, let
it have been defeated or delayed in any possible
way, the moment it becomes plain to everybody
that it can be quickly and easily constructed
than any other having the same object, thousands
of the knowing ones" rush to the rescue of what
they have but lately declared to be an impossible
project
The above remarks are particularly applicable to
the Texas Western Railroad. Shortly after its
charter, failure of its immediate and expected
commencement, all manner of doubts were leveled
against its practicabity, and every variety of
and eer thrown out against its projectors. No doubt
the road was long delayed by the extraordinary
coarse pursued by those having it in charge. But
this should not have affected the merits of the road
but should have stimulated, as it has done, the
cally and fortunately proceeded with its construc
ton.
The real merits and proximste success of the road
now stand out in relief as bold and garng as the
mountains and the snwos, which must indefinitely
block the construction of its Northern rivals-al Of
which that practicable the friends OF the Texas
Western Railroad hope will be accomplished as
speedily practicable without prejudice to its own
project.
1t is a consequence of the merits and practical
bity of the road that it has met with so much en-
vious and interested opposition. Envous because
based upon the impossibilty of immediate and sue
cessful competition from any other surveyed route;
and interested as opposed to the plans of those vino
are directly connected with the great and growing
commerce to the shores of the Pacific Ccean-a
commerce now expensive, dangerous and dilatory,
which this road, if energeticaly pushed forward,
must soon make safe, cheap and speedy, thereby in
creasing profits, lessening risks, and quickening
returns
One prime objection was that it was to pass
through country without population sufficient to
construct it to sustain it-though this objection
applies with ten fold force to any other route Then
there was the danger to be apprehended from the
Lipans, and other Indian tribes. This also applies
with much more force to any other route, and to
Western Texas its construction must and will be an
immunity against any further incursions Of Western
Indians.
The Llano Estacado maguifed into Sahara,
without wood or water, and pronounced impossible,
except at occasional of the year. The spurs
of the Sierra Madre too were the last and greatest
obstacle to the road through Texas. These Obsta.
Giles, however, soon passed away before the advance
of the engineer The Llano Estacado turns out to
be, if not adapted to usual agriculture, good
grazing region, Astounding with wild game at all
seasons Of the year.
The Southern slope of this elevated plain along
which the Texas road, on line of S2 degrees, will
generally pass, pOurs out innumerable springs OF
good water. These springs have within the last
Summer been reached from the surface of the
plain above by wells few hundred feet deep not
very difficult Of excavation.
The spurs Of the Gaudaope have been found to
present fewer obstacles than the same distance
through most parts of the Aneghauies. Ample
stores of coal underlie the whole valley of the
! upper Brazos and from the Red river of Louisiana
to the Bravo, no equal extent OF the Union affords SC
many facilities for the construction OF a Railroad.
But then beyond Texas was that desert Of the
Colorado so impossible and so worthless To cay
nothing Of the desert west Of the Colorado desti
tute OF water, timber, material or substance o.
any kind. And beyond and above all was the
snow crowned coast range, the terrible and i'm.
passabe Sierra Nevada.
| A full but not yet perfect examination, has, how
ever, developed the fact, that the SIS miles from
/ the Bravo 20 the mouth of the CHA il not general
ly valuable for agricultural purposes Western
/ Texas, yet has many detached and well watereC
vallies. These are easily accessible by side track,
of easy temporary construction for the purpose o.
obtaining timber aud other supplies during the con
struction OF the road.
! The diadsden purchase too, through which th'
road passes il probably the richest mineral region
/ OF North America.
Water on the surface, 10 pools or streams, from
the Bravo to the Colorado is new er wanting tor owe
] q I'SAhNg' Isl VI bhO SSAVtadu W Noo SO@s
range, it is any where accessible by wells, in th'
dryest season, not over 10 TO 20 feet in depth.
No tunnels are required throughout the whole
route, aud the greatest elevation TO be over com,
is but little over 1000 feet, which viii admit o
gradients not more difficult than NAV be found OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. II has also beer
found within the las, year that there depresOns II
the coastrauge tie nearest mountains 10 the Pacific
by which road may reach San Diego on a rout,
whose distance need not much exceed an ali. line
The last aud seemingly greatest objection, was tbs
harbor Of San Diego. IL wac repeatedly published
on apparently competent authority, that il vas no
to be safely entered except at particular seasons, ans
that IL had not sufficient depth or capacity to &C
eOmmOdats the business Of a road, she construc.
tiOn Of which Is the most important object o
modern enterprise.
IL s true. that the hArbOr Of San Diego does no
equal thar OF San Francisco either Cor depth Of Va
ter or for extent Of surface Bnsis has been demon
stated that there are fewer more accessible and n
safer barber in The world In this respect Il i pref
cradle 20 that Of San Francisco or New York, sa'
this sill be evident b. glance 81 the direction b.
which Il ia entered snd the conformation Of San Di
ego Bay.
The entrance Is about one-fOursh Of mile vid'