The Washington union., 1857-09-24
TELEGRAPHIC LINE TO THE PACIFIC.

What wonderful people we are ! The restless
and daring spirit of enterprise never sleeps. The
success of one great measure is but the incentive
and the stmulant to attempt something else-some
thing greater, better, more difficult The first steps
being successfully taken to carry the great overland
mail from the Mississippi to California, we see in
stanty projected the bold enterprise of construct
ing continuous line of telegraph, to extend from
the Father of Waters to the shores of the Pacific
AT the first glance it looks like stupendous under
taking yet, when we consider the character talent
and energy of the gentlemen engaged in it, we can
not doubt for moment but that they will succeed
They did succeed in similar enterprises when tele-
graphing was in its infancy, and when works of that
kind were more difficult of execution in the then
condition of things than this will now be, with all
the present advantages of experience and science
10 AID 1t. The public wills it; Congress aids
1T; the projectors prosecute it, and the thing is
donel
We see by published circular, that Henry
oReilly, John J. Speed, and John Butterford have
associated themselves together to carry this import
anu measure into execution. Their names their ex-
perience, and their great success in similar enter
prises, are sufficient guarantee that if they are
properly sustained, the proposed line will be compile
ted IN less that eighteen months. First the overland
mail, then the telegraph line, then the great Pacific
railroad quickly following, and thus will be bound
together, ndissoubly and forever the people of the
extremes of our mighty country. These things must
be--will be- Measures SO important to our stability
unity, happiness, and prosperity will be speedily
and successfully carried out
friend writing to us concerning the loss of the
Central Amerca alludes to the necessity of establish
ing telegraphic line, in the following words ::
Important as is the newly-establshed mail route
how much more important is the speedy establish
ment of telegraph line that will bind together in
electric unity the extremes ofour glorious confedera-
ton. When, and where, could such great results
be produced SO speedily and with such moderate
means, as by the completion of teegraphc line from
the Mississippi to the Pacific? The late shocking ca
tasrophe gives impulse to the popular anxiety for
this great enterprise. Millions of people through
out the Union would be relieved from torturing sus
pense were the telegraph ready to transmit ques
tions and answers between the Atlantic and Pacific
States concerning those who were, or were not
among the victims in the Central america. The sac
rifice of so many human beings is bad enough but
the uncertainty and suspense concerning the persons
who were, not in the ill-fated ship widens i'm
mensely the circle of anxiety, among the millions
whose kindred and friends are connected with Cali
fornia-uncertanty that must continue with increas
ing fervency, until the names of the victims shall be
ascertaned by the comparatively slow process of the
mails"
Considerations like these will add force 10 tho
popular demand for the speedy construction Of this
tolegraphic line, and that demand will not ceaso III
the work is completed.