The Nevada journal., 1858-10-29
THE JOURNAL.
TRIDAYtMORNING, OCT. Goth. 1858.
Overland Routes.

overland hOuteS.
An unfortunate difference of opinion
is maintained among Cur blethren of the
press, which extends more or less thro
the community generally, in regard tc
the value of this or that overland route
across the continent. We regard the
difference unfortunate in many respects
One main road is all that is needed, and
all that an administration opposed to in
ternalimprovements, backed by an emp,
ty treasury, is likely to keep in travel
ing order. 1t is unfortunate because
the one great route should be selected
according to its geographical and topo-
graphical merits, as also its agency in
the great work of interior settlement
and civilization. And no local or parti-
gan prejudice should interfere in decid-
ing upon the proper route.
TIE great object of an overland road
we conceive to be, the settlement of the
western half of the continent and
strengthening the bonds of the federal
Union. The grand carrying trade so
much harped upon and coveted is of
secondary importance. 1t would seem
that the western terminus should be at
some point central to the states and
territories of the United States on
the Pacific yet to be filled with a popu-
lation, if we are correct in our estimation
ofthe object of the road. 1t ought not
be either too far south or too far
north, provided more central route
offers equal or nearly equal facilities
All other conditions being equal, the
road that passes through tho greatest
extent of inhabitable country is best
1t will be great pioneer in vast work
Of interior settlement.
The interests of nine-tenths of the
people of California are trul y in a Gen.
tral route, and there should be little diff
ference of opinion on this point, if we
wish to be true to ourselves. We all
want railroad. The wagon road is
the pioneer of the railroad. A wrang-
ling on the part of our own people about
routes is only playing into the hands of
those stand-still states which are irrevo-
cably opposed to an inter oceanic rail-
way, and divided counsels are destined
to postpone the consummation of the
great work we all desire, farther in the
future. As things are now shaping, we
foresee three or four overland routes for
each of which local interests at the
other end will cling when the rail way
project comes to be decided on. This
local or sectional influence thrown in the
scale with the anti-railroad states will
have tendency to defeat the building
of the work for years. A more unani-
nous decision arrived at now in regard
to the wagon road route California pre-
fers, would tend greatly to settle the
route on which the railroad is to be con-
structed by and by. Besides, let us
wrangle about wagon-road routes much
longer and our feelings will become SO
aroused, that California, torn by inter
nal differences, will be powerless in the
national counsels at the time her voice
should be potent for good when point
arrives at which her destiny is meas
urably to be decided
Which route is most direct to the
fountains of trade and population; which
offers the most facilities; which is through
the most fertile country and which is
best for California, are the questions to
be solved.