Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-10-30
Something More About the British Pa.
ciflc Rail Road.

| To the Editors ofAs Ainnssotian:
DEAR SIRs: A company for the construc-
ton of a railroad from Halifax to the Pacific
side has already been chartered, and it is said
capital sufficient to carry through this gigantic
enterprise already subscribed. The chief en-
gineer, who was two years on the route, and
upon whose report subsequent steps have
been based, pronounces the country "emi-
nently adapted to railroad purposes"
There are some very curious developments
taking place in reference to this country.
see on the. newly constructed map by the
Smithsonian Institute, based on the observa-
tons made by commandments of military forts
for nine years throughout the north and west,
that the isothermal line which passes little
south of ST. Paul, Immediately ascends toward
the north, so as to include nearly the whole OF
the northwest of British America, in eli
mate even milder than that of Minnesota.
No people in the world understand the nat
ural land artificial channels of the worlds
commerce as the English. They have drawn
towards their island the bulk of the trade that
at an earlier period, sustained the great COM
mercial marts Of Germany, Italy and Holland;
and this rapid movement in British America
is strictly commercial. By grasping the in
teroceanic trade in an early day, in advance
of Americans, they will in a great measure
monopolize the American China trade, and
also that of Asatic Russia, and make their
line of railroad the centre of many CONNER
cial depots of trade. Cities will speedily
spring up, not only on the seaboard, but at
advantageous points throughout the interior.
This entire country is under the control
of one head-the Home Government. In
granting charters, with exclusive privileges
beneficial alike to the Government, Country
and Company, no State rights are in conflict,
and no time lost in arranging sectional inter-
ests, and endless discussions.
The large and increasing surplus capital Of
Great Britain must seek an outlet for employ
ment Interest has gone down to q per cent.
per annum, at which rate money is almost
valueless. There is no home employment,
and as the British are Manufacturing and
Commercial people, their surplus wealth is
chiefly in money, which becomes stagnant in
time of general peace, when Governments
are no longer borrowers, and seeks employ
ment in great enterprises similar to this Paci-
fic Railroad Great Britain has a kingdom in
her American States almost equal in value to
that of Russia, and as the European continent
tai system of internal Improvement" are
far advanced, particularly her own, she can
now very judiciously turn her attention to
America.
No doubt, in ten years from this time, there
will be railroad from Moscow to the fruitful
valley of the Amoor, on the Pacific. Tomeet
this there will be one across the British Amer
can continent, which two great events will
rob the Atlantic ocean of half its shipping.
write on this subject full of the most san
guine hopes The surplus capital of Great
Britain can build the road. By them it is
made private enterprise, and by the dimin-
ished value of money its construction almost
necessity. There is in this nothing chimer-
ical, as in the telegraph. They know they
can construct the road, and that when con-
structed, they have ships sufficient to carry
to its Pacific depot, sthe trade of China and
Russia.
How it will benefit us must be apparent to
ALL st. Paul is the Key Of tile Mississippi
Ricer, and one-haJ Of the inland trade of
such road aoould traUerse this rioer. This
needs no comments-it stands self-evident
Yours truly, I. L. MANN.
Georgetown, d. c., Oct. IS, 1858.