The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-24
WASHINGTON CITY.
ORIGIN AND OBJECT OF TIE OVERLAND MAIL
ENTERPRIHR

ENTERPRISES
We have been favored by the Postmaster General
with copy ofthe report made 20 him by G. Bailey
esq, who visited California on business connected
with the Interior Department and was also com
missioned to examine and report upon the mail
service connecting the Atlantic and Pacific sides Of
country, especially upon the overland mail route
between San Francisco, in California, and st. Louis
in Missouri. II will be found in another column In
fui The reader will discover that the report
is distinct, full, and very able and valuable.
The opinion Of Mr. Bailey upon what may rea-
sonably be expected to be achieved hereafter
by the Overland Mail Company is nearly con
elusive Of the subject. So, also, his opinion
upon the importance of furnishing prompt and ade-
quate military protection to the mail stages against
hostile Indians is evidently just, and is worthy of
the most serious consideration of the government.
This report on Mr.. Bailey would be read with
greater satisfaction and profit if readers could be
furnished with copies Of the excellent map submit
ted by him to the Post Office Department, exhibit
ing the exact location Of each division Of the over
Land mail route: As this cannot be done, we can
only advise readers to peruse the report with the
Do0t u1ot pOAuAo tAicAA WHlVu lb llclf Tcacl
The Postmaster General has displayed his usual sa-
gacity in appointing competent an agent in this
important service The report deserves additional
interest from the fact that Mr. Bailey is the first per-
son who has crossed our continent in stage-coach.
1t seems to be appropriate to the occasion to
briefly allude to the origin and the object of the
overland mail between San Francisco and the Mis-
sissippi river. All will recollec the earnestness
with which leading statesmen have pressed, during
several years, various measures intended to secure
an early construction Of railroad to the Pacific
coast, from the Mississippi river, by some route
lying within the United States No one has been
able to frame bill which could secure the support
of majority Of both branches Of the national legsa
ture and the approval of the Executive. Every bill
devised contained what proved to be insuperable
objections all, one after another, failed. No man,
no party, could agree upon bill which would com
mand the support Of majority Of Congress.
1t was under these circumstances that Senator
Rusk brought forward the sections, which were
embraced in an act, authorizing the Postmaster
General if he thought proper to establish an over
land mail to California, The peculiar wording Of
the sections was dictated by the embarrassing
circumstances which had prevented Congress from
authorizing the construction of railroad. If the
sections had wquired the overland mail to be
conveyed over either the 3d. 35th, or AID par
allel route they could not have been enacted; by
leaving the question Of location to be decided out
side Of the halls Of Congress success was won for
the friends and partsans Of each route fully appre
cated the Importance of building up line of settlements
across the continent. If line Of stages was cstab-
lished By the government and regular thoroughfare
opened through the country, the interior would be
promptly settled. The route selected, and peopled
would be likely to be adopted for railroad purposes
The best one was to be selected and as each party
esteemed its particular route far the best the friends
of all the routes voted for the enactment Of the law
in question.
And, besides, all parties felt that much precious
time was being wasted that, while the subject was
being debated in Congress, settlements in the vast
prairie wilderness and amid the mountains ought to
be forming and that, whilst the American author-
ties were squabbling over partisan subjects and the
question OF the location Of the railroad route
the British were not only rapidly appropriatng to
themselves the cnef part Of the steamship commerce
VI eia0 wViAus Dut were alSO actually preparing, In
order to extend and connect their steamship rontes
to construct 6rst-class railroad across the Amer-
can continent from Halifax to the Pacific ocean,
through region far less favorable than ours to such
highway. Upon this latter point the Iateliigencer
following our observations on this subject, says:
while the Congress Of the United States has been
debating the route by which interoccanc railroad shall
be built across the American continent the government
OF Great Britain has actually chartered company endow
cd It y said with capital sufficient to construct con-
tnuous line of railroad from Halifax to the Pacific ocean
Ihss while we have been satisfying ourselves with the
assured conviction that the territory the British pos
sssaions Is too cold and sterile admit of work SO ri
gantic, M Ega hans been quietly surveying railroad route
through ts pAy country. and Professor Paisscr who for
more than two years has been engaged in the survey
does not hesitate to report that the face and conguation
Of British America Is emneny adapted for railroad pur
poses
MI. Walsh the intelligent and veteran correspond
emit of the New York Journal of Commerce. writing
from Paris under recent date, remarks on this sub
ject AZ follows
Some Ametican attention would not be unproftably
bestowed the pmmunications to the London papers
respecting the feasibility and of railroad the
continent of North America through British territory
The editorial article Of tho London Morning Post this
project pregnant with warning to the United States
The time has arrived when the sceptre Of the CONNER
cA world must be gapcd and held by that power which
shall be able to maintain the certain and rapid com
munication between Europe and Asia Where is the
oceanic limo to pass Through dozen or more of the
of