Butte record., 1857-01-24

settlement and prosperity viii insure the
early completion of great national thor
oughfare from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
This consideration alone is sufficient to in
terest all in their prosperity. What Texas
has accomplished towards the construction
of a road across the continent, may yet be
accomplished by the Territory of Kanzas
and Nebraska.
We find in the New York Weekly News, a
letter from the Hon. Robert J. Walker,
President of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, defending himself and company
against certain charges contained in the
Washington correspondence of the New
York Herald. The correspondent states
that Mr. Walker was interested in securing
the passage Of a bill appropriating land to
different railroad companies, to aid in the
construction of a railroad to the Pacific, and
after refuting the statements of the CORES
pondent, and the conclusions deducod there
from by the Herald, Mr.. Walker proceeds to
furnish some valuable and interesting in
formation concerning the prospects of the
company of which he is a member. As this
is subject in which Californians are deeply
interested, we have drawn upon Mr.. Walk
er's communication, for such information
as shows the prospect and progress Of the
Company now constructing a road upon
what is termed the Southern route to the
Pacific. Speaking of the prog ress already
made upon that route, Mr.. Walker says:
Under the able guidance of the eminent
practical and scientific engineer, Horatio AL
len, of the Novelty works of New York, so
well and favorably known in this city,
now at the head of our company, and who,
against opposing European opinions, was the
first to propose, in his great report of 1929,
to the Charleston and Augusta Railroad, the
use Of locomotive engines upon railroads, we
are prosecuting the work successfully thro'
Texas, and will carry the road eight hund-
red miles Trough that State from its east
ern to its western boundary at Ell Paso,
without any grant of land or money from
Congress. Aided by munifcent grants of
lands and money from Texas, sustained by
the recent vote Of more than two-thirds of
the Legislature of that State, and by the
nearly unanimous voice of her people, with
their roads progressing to meet US from her
gulf coast, we have now surmounted the ma
ny obstacles thrown in our way so long, by
error, interest or prejudice. The first sec
ton of our road is nearly ready for the rail;
one thousand tuns of the best Pennsylvania
railroad iron have been already shipped, and
will soon be lai1 on the track; while all the
money. to complete ready for use the next
section of fifteen miles, has been provided"
In speaking in favor Of the southern route
Mr.. Walker disclaims any intention to dis
parage the claims and advantages of other
routes, the practicability of which may be
demonstrated by instrumental surveys, and
thinks that other roads will be found neces-
sary N time; but is Of the opinion that the
road along the southern route will be the
first completed. 1t is certain that the
southern route has advantages over the
other routes, as the large grants of lands
and money furnished by Texas, render the
completion Of eight hundred miles of the
road no longer problematical.
In concluding his able and lengthy COM
munication, Mr.. Walker avows his determi-
nation to continue the good work, until he
can traverse the continent, from New York
to San Francisco by railroad.