Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-30


that the nearest and most extensive coal fields 10
the Gulf Of Mexico are those commencing IN the
vicinity OF Tuscaloosa and running North Easterly
along the Warrior River and its tributaries Upon
striking the descent of slope towards the Gulf of
Mexico, the central Rail Road will travers, for dis
lance Of twenty five miles in its passage south q
belt of country the saostrata of which, constitutes
the richest deposite of mineral coal in Alabama.
The country is measurahy vacant, and under the
act Of Congress approved on the Sd of June, last,
muni6cent grant Of these lands have been made to
this company, under certain provisions and condi~
tons the mineral wealth al which will be develop
ed as the road is opened and their pecuniary value
established as a source of permanent revenue to
the company, from their proximity and the constant
demand for the supply of coal upon our Gulf
coast.
Another consideration which presents itself to
notice. altho it is one the advantages OF which will
be incidental is the almost entire certainty that the
Memphis and Charleston Rail Road will be link in
the chain Of rail road communication between the
North and South Atlantic Sea board and the Pacific
The condition Of California the rapid growth Of the
Pacific terrtories-the increase Of the Pacific trade
the vast of emigration constantly moving
ward all demonstrate that the construction Of the
! Pacific Rail Road is a commercial and national ne
cessty, in every political social and pecuniary point
| of view. Public sentiment no longer hesitstes at
the barriers nterposed by distance mountains or
deserts, but recognizes is necessity and demands
| of those who hold control over the means 20 be EN-
poyed, to them in furthering this great design.
| And this public sentiment, so favorable towards the
project has of late grown SO rapidly that the lead
ing politicians of all parties have been compelled
to take grounds in its behalf. Even the Presidene
tia nominating conventions, out of respect for this
public sentiment have inserted plank in their plat
| forms favorable to its speedy construction. The
elaborate surveys made by the Government in
1854 demonstrate the fact that the route is prac
ticable at an expense within the of the
! try to accomplishment the most eligible, shortest
route that which lies in such genial climate that
the business Transportation will not be interrupt
ed at any Of the year is that which is
| ly CO incident with the thirty second parallel Of
North Lattude-a route having its Eastern terminus
proper, in the Mississippi valley at the city Mem
phis in your State, point equally accessible to
both the North and South Atlantic SeabOard besides
afording to the States, west Of the Ohio River,
! equal facilities Of communication from the mouth
of the Ohio through the Cairo and Fulton Road.
am informed that the Texas Legislature have
pass ID what is called the Loan Bill which grants
some Sc 900 per mile to each road that shall be
built under the provisions of the act. II this be
so, the Texas Pacific Road through Texas to FL
Paso, will by the aid Of the lands and the loan of
Texas, unquestOnably be built. And Arkansas,
with the munifcent grant of public land made to
/ d
for creating railroad communication within her ter
ritory a liberal system of which mas already been
commenced, must construct the link belonging to
her, stimulated to exertion, she will be, by the
example Of her neighbOring States and the demands
| of her commerce What then remains for the
Government to do? Nothing but to authorize the
construction of the road from from Ell Paso to San
Diego, to the California line and it's con-
structiOn by grant of public lands, now reposing
in solitude in unsettled territory.
Under these views | regard the Pacific Railroad
certain in point Of construction both in event and
the locality which nature has pointed out. But
in case Congress should tail to authorize it's COM
struction or to listen to the voice of the nation il
is a matter of indifference to the Southern country,
whether they do or do not, possibly it might enure
TO the advantage of the South, pecuniarily. that
they should not, as the Southern Pacific Road can
be made without any aid from the United States
either in authority ofhw, or by a grant of land II
is understood that Mexico is willing to make a full
and complete grant OF land for the continuation oil
the "Texas Pacific Railroad" from FL Paso to
Guaymds on the Gulf OF California, situated in lat>
tude % deg.
II this be So and believe it is, it will give to
the Southern States a decided advantage in their
Pacific Railroad position, other road ever
be built on any other route within the United
States Territory without governmental sid-sO that
without the action of Congress, the prospect OF q
RIilrOad to the Pacific will not be destroyed And
in the event. that necessity should compel the &C.
ceptance OF the lberality of the Mexican Govern
ment in this respect, the pre-emptive clam which
the Southern States would acquire to this Terrific
~, might force the observance Of respect fol
their territorial rights, on the part OF northern
brethren, when that portion of Mexican Territory
shall become the common property Of the Union
| have thus, cir, hastily aud without much method
embodied my views upon a subject in which the
respective communities in which we live, have
common, pecuniary and social interest.
have the honor to be your ob't ser't