Butte record., 1856-03-01
Pacific Railroad.

San Francisco, has introduced joint
resolution into that body, urging upon
our Senators and Representatives in
Congress, the necessity of using their ut
most endeavors to procure the passage
of law by Congress, providing for the
survey and construction of the great
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, either by
donating Alternative sections of the public
lands, or by making direct appropria-
tion from the Nat ional treasury The
resolution also proposes to grant the
right Of way through any portion of the
public lands belonging TO this State.
In the preamble prec' ding the resolu-
ton, the main reasons urged are, first
the isolated position Of California, sec
ond liability Of foreign invasion,
owing to the exposed condition of our
ports third-her rapidly augmeniing
commerce, both foreign and domestic,
and her increasing w. h.
The resolution proposes to authorize
the Governor to appoint SIX commi5 ion
ers, men who have formerly resided in
different sections of the Union, to be
confirmed by the s. nate, they to proceed
al, 20 .l,
Legislatures which may be in session,
and solicit their co operation then in a
body to proceed to Washin5 on and use
their joint endeavors to effect the object
contemplated by the resolution.
This all looks very fine on paper, and
Doubt SIS, would induce some to believe
ihat the Legislature and people of Cali
fornia are favorable to this important
and National undertaking. But we de-
test the principle of lobbying around
legislatures and capitols, and the Legis.
lature will not pass the resolution. II
our Congressman at Washington do not
properly represent US at Washington up
on this matter, let us elect men who will
do it, and not exhibit want of conf
dence in our Representatives, by filling
the federal capitol with lobbies, and thus
destroy their Influence in Congress. 1t
is highly probable that our Senator's and
Representatives in Congress, will soon
begin to devote the first terms of their
Offices to the forwarding of this project,
instead of using it as hobby by which
to secure their reelection.
Again, the different State Legislatures
more nearly interested, have already ia
ken action on the subject-act,on which
is much better calcuated to forward the
project, than any yet taken by the Leg
islature of California, and to our thinking
much better than the action now pro-
posed. States that are not more imme :
diately interested in the project, would
take no other legislative action in the
matter than to pass favorable resolutions.
This they would do quite as readily,
should the Legislature OF California pass
resolutions favorable to the project, and
forward copies to them At least, such
is our opinion of the matter.
These SIX delegates, to run lobbying
over the Union and at Washington wo'd
cost the tax payers of California not less
than twenty-five or thirty thousand dol
lars. This sum would build good car
,iage road from Marysville to the Hum
bolt, on the Indian Valley and Honey
Lake Route, and would be much
greater benefit to the State, than to ex-
pend that amount in paying the expenses
Of gentlemen who drsire to travel over
the Union, and view the marble the mar
bic columns and festoons of the federal
capitol.
The natural advantages of the Honey
Lake Route, both for an immigrant ro d
or railroad, are for superior those ofany
other through the Nevada Mountains,
and would the State improve this route,
they would do much to facilitate immi-
grafton, and to point out the preper en-
terance into California, for the great Ma
tional railroad As the matter now
stands, the Legislature of California are
not aware of practicable route for
Railroad into California, if we except the
southern route. To expend the means
of the State in urging the Union to ac-
ton upon this project, is to declare in
favor of the southern route, without Civ
ng other routes fair test We are not
to do this at present, neither
10 VIC believe that either Cal forna or
the Union are prepared to declare in f;,-
yor of the southern route The route
along the 4lst and 42nd parallels has
not been surveyed the entire length.
The portion surveyed By Lieut. Beck