The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13

As an interesting comparison between these two
routes take Captain whipples modified distance.
,052 milcs-irom Fort Smith TO San FRANCHISE and
add 200 miles in direct line from Fort Smith to
Memphis, from the General Railroad map above re-
ferred to, and we have from the same initial point
Memphis distance to San Francisco OF 2,202
miles.
Thus the difference in the distances Of the two
routes between the Mississippi river and San Fran.
cisco IL too uncomfortable to become material.
As pioneer route for the first great railroad that
may be constructed to the Pacific, the Postmaster
General has bestowed upon II all the labor and ex
animation which the multiplied business Of his de-
partmcnt would allow Of. II all or greater portion
Of the railroads from tho large cities and the States
east Of the Mississippi had concentrated at any one
point on that river, such point would have been
selected for the overland route 10 California. But
such is not the fact. They concentrate chiefly Mt
st. Louis, Cairo and Memphis. Cairo il mentioned
in this connection because. through the Illinois Cen
trail nearly all the railroads constructed for St.
Louis NAV be said also TO connect with the Missis
sippi at Cairo. Finding, Therefore no common cen
tire the Mississippi the ext desirable object Was TO
find some common point west of that river from which
a main stem could he projected passing westward
TO California. II you started out from st. Louis west
You must lose all the connections with the Cairo and
Memphis railroads but by starting out from St.
Louis and diverging south with her railroad now
making 20 her Iron Mountain, you will presently re.
ccvc the great railroad coming out from Cairo, No
richly endowed that II ia sure tn be made at no dis
tant day. Still bearing southwestward, we present
road from Memphis. connecting the line with all the
great railroads Of Virginia. South Carolina, Georgia.
Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Not far from
Little Rock the yicksburg and New Orleans and
Texas railroads fall in, bringing in, from almost
every portion Of the great river, all the connexions
which all the Atlantic States north and south can
make 10 that great highway which We are trying TO
establish. Thus IL that We have found west OF the
Mississippi what We could not obtain on ia common
concentration Of railroads 20 single point which
the future railroad may commence, swollen and en-
largcd IN its common stem by the contributions Of
the railways coming in from nearly every State OF
the Union.
This diversion OF the route TO southern direction
by Little Rock or Preston has, however. other ad-
vnntaccs than any TO which we have as yet adverted
BY starting from 81. Louis, the great Western
mart and connecting at Little Rock or Preston with
the line from Memphis the two great sections Of the
country are accommodated.
Instead Of projecting this mail and its attend.
AIT benefits into the wilderness from the frontier OF
Missouri 10 buffet with north winds and SHOWS upon
the plains Of karRas In winter, aud drag over mo
notonous, waterless, treelcss wastes In summer,
was located through the centre of Missouri, Of Ar.
ksnsas and throughout the western frontier Of Texas
1t will thus deveope hitherto unknown resources In
in those States. II will open vast agricultural and
mineral region in Missouri; lend helping hand TO
the young, growing and unappreeiated State Of Ar
kaI~as, and conduct The hardy pioneer ~ the de-
lightful woodlands and prairies of Texas. Forneary
thousand miles the traveller will be traversing
country Astounding in beauty and in heaIthfulness,
possessing salubrious climate and fruitful SOIL.
Nor should u be forgotten that the southern 10
cation OF the route, especially IL II shall be Followed
by the construction of railroad may serve vau.
able purpose IN reference to the neghboring repub.
c of Mexico. In time Of peace II will she'd ts b'ess'
inps on both nations, whilst in time OF
war Il will furnish highway for troops and muni-
tions Of war, which might enable TO yndicate our
rights and preserve untarrishcd our national honor.
have the honor TO he, very respectfully, your
obeGient servant, AARON V. BROWN