The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-12-28
The Proposed Pacific Haftfs0@
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The comparatiye feasibility and Importance
OF the various routes proposed for facnc
Railroad are likely to be much canvafseo thls
winter, in and out Of Congress. The scheme y
40 gigantic and Involves such vast outlay oi
capital that only one such road should De At
tempted, and il is highly important that the
patronage of the government should be extend
cd to the route which is in every respect the
most desirable, accommodating the largest por-
tion OF inhabitants on both sides Of the noun
tains. and affording at the same time the easiest
and chearest construction.
: Three routes have been proposed-an ex-
treme southern, an extreme northern, ana
middle route. The first, as proposed, runs
from New Orleans along the coast Of Texas 20
the Rio Grande, then strikes across Mexico que
west to Mazatlan, q splendid harbor on the
coast Of Mexico, 1921 miles from the place Of
starting. The time from New York to Mazatian
by this route is estimated at six days, though
it is probable that the distance cannot be ac-
complished in that time. Important objections
to this route are, that it is too far south ano
would consequently accommodate only tne peo.
ple in that section, and that q large portion OF
;ts western terminus would be in Mexican ter
rtory. The southern members Of Congress OF
course favor this proposed route, and il i
should be adopted by the government, u Will oe
bees use the South, operating with Northern
Democratic doughfaces, generally manages 70
rob the North OF her rights.
The proposed extreme northern route starts
from St. Paul, Minnesota, and runs through
northern Nebraska and Washington Territories
to Puget Sound. The advantages OF this route,
as named by its friends, are, that Puget Sound
is the finest roadstead on either coast; that the
mountain passes are but 5000 feet above the
level OF the sea; that the eastern part OF
Washington and the western part OF Neoraska
territories are prairie country, and that tie val
leys Of the Missouri and Columbia rivers fur
nish an easier grade for the building ct rail-
road than is found on any other route across
the continent. The objections to The route are,
its extreme northern location, and the danger
Of obstructions by snow in the winter These
ought to be fatal it.
The central route, proposed in bill intro
duced into Congress few days ago ov Vol.
Curtis of Iowa, is by far the most feasible route
vet named fol. the Pacific Railroad, and seems
to meet with great favor in Congress and out
Col. Curtis bill provides for branches from two
points on the navigable waters OF the Missouri;
one opposite to Iowa and the other opposite to
Mssouri-the two branches to converge and
unite within two hundred miles OF the missouri
river, and thence run to the bank OF the oacra-
mento. Alternate sections Of the public land
within six miles are to be appropriated, and
government is to appropriate to contractors
twelve thousand dollar mile, to be reimbursed
BY the transportation Of mails and military
stores; the construction to be offered by gov
eminent to the best bidders, as proposed Dy
Senator Gwin's bill. The plan starts at the outer
rim OF our railroad connections, brings our own
Peoria and Oquawka Railroad into the direct
line Of uavel and terminates on the navlgaoie
waters in the centre Of California population -
1t would be equally convenient to slave and
free sta,es-conyenient to the North and South
and convenient for connections with all our
Pacific territories We feel confident that this
route will eventually be adopted-perhapsa ct the
present session Of Congress.
Peoria Transcript