, 1858-03-26


mysterious comngs of the future, and therefore we
will do well to set about forfying ourselves, com
merciay by urging this the strongest OF all argu-
ments for the immediate aid of Government in the
construction Of continental railroad whose western
terminus should be San Francisco We can glory in
the building up Of hourshng cities and States within
our own dominions, but that England should, by
more prompt action than is exhibited by our own
country snatch from San Francisco the great prestige
which she has obtained city, that is to become OF
vast commercial importance hereafter, we should
heartily dislike to be compelled to realize
The following is the article from the
London Post, of December 25th, to. which
the Alta California alludes, as predicting
the building up of new Liverpool on
Puget Sound" &C.:
The Pacific Railroad Recommended by the PreSi-
dent--ItS Effects on EnglaAd'S Eastern Trade.
Almost from the time of the discovery of America
almost from that day when Numez de BilbOa first
caught glimpse of the great South Sea-yarious
projects have been formed for the purpose of eectng
an easy means OF communication between the Allan
tic and Pacific Oceans. But ages passed, and during
those periods the Spanard, the foreign lord OF the
SOIL with the listessness Of his race paid little aten
tiOn 10 any measure which would have developed the
material prosperity Of the fertile regions which he
had conquered by the sword. When the transatlantic
the Most Catholic King when its place had been
supplied by the weak and inefficient dominion of vari
Gus independent republics, the mixed Spanish and
Creole population had neither the the in
cnation to provide those facilities for commerce
which would have increased their wealth and given
solidity to their national power The enterprise and
energy of the AngloSaxon race have, however been
brought to bear upon that great and important 18TH
mus which is occupied by the republican States Of
Central America The Panama Railroad has now,
for some years, united the two oceans and farther to
the north wealthy Anglo American company Is en-
gagged In the construction OF interoceanc railway
between Porto Cabellos and the Bay Of FOnseoa. The
Importance Of these communications in reference to
the trade Of California, Australia and the islands Of
tho Pacific, It is impossible to estimate too highly !;
and when the disputes which have arisen between
England and the United States, on the subject Of
Central America shall have received just and hon
oralhe settlement, we have confident belief that
European and North American capital and enterprise
will be largely applied to promote the internal i'm
provement of every portion Of these most interesting
and valuable regions.
The message recently communicated to Congress
by the President Of the United States recommends the
construction of railroad across the Continent for the
purpose Of military defence. The line suggested by
Mr.. Buchanan will pass through some Of the newly
acquired territories Of the United States to the
board of the Pacific. Mr.. Buchanan adds that the
difficulties connected wish an undertaking Of this
description have been greatly exaggerated, and that
by wise expenditure of public money, assisted by
private enterprise and free grants Of land this line,
Of 50 much importance on military as well as CONNER
cial grounds might at distant day be completed.
Here we may mention that some years ago an Ameri-
citizen proposed the construction Of another line
stretching from Lake Michigan, between which lake
and New York there is already steam communication,
aud proceeding thence through the far West to Cali
fornia. The protector Of this scheme asked for no
grant of public money, but merely that thirty miles
Of the waste lands either side Of the proposed road
should he conceded to the company TO enable them to
accomplish this gigantic work. Mr. Whitney, scheme,
although It received the sanction of many separate
in Of
which, from their magnitude and expensive character
are favOrably considered whilst they are rarely, ii
ever, carried into execution.
We do not intend to institute any comparison be-
tween the two routes which have been suggested by
Mr.. Buchanan and by Mr.. Whitney. But it must be
obvious to the meAnest superficial understanding that
the opening Of any interocanc line through the ter
ritory OF the United States tcOuld cfert as great
rer0lution in the trade of the icoTid that lcch
brought about by The discovery of the Cape Of Good
Hope route to India and 10 the other countries Of the
East. The trade Of China, Japan, and Of regions
comparatively unknown, would be impe!led q the
Pacific terminus Of the railroad, whence ii wound be
carried 10 the great Atlantic ports to be afterwards
distributed over America and Europe. Hong-kOng
Shanghae, Canton, and the other marts Of Chinese
trade would be brought by steam within few days
would spring up on the coast of the Pacific. II q
facility of this kind existed, the most important and
lucrative trade in the world would fall into the hands
OF the people OF the United States and the long vOya
ges round the Cape, round the Horn, would rarely
be undertaken for any purpose Of commercial gain.
Whilst the citizens and the government Of the United
States arc perfectly alive TO the advantages which
their country would derive from the possession of this
great highway Of nations the merchant princes and
rich capitalists Of England appear almost to have for
gotten that in British North America there exists
vast regions admirably adapted for the construction
of railway, by means of which England could as at
present, DEFY the competition Of the world.
| The position OF British North America Is peculiarly
favorable. both as regards physical geography and
means Of water communication. The distance be-
tween the northwest point Of Lake Superior and the
Straits Of Fuca on the Pacific, is estimated not to
ceed sixteen eighteen hundred miles-just double
the length Of the Great Trunk Railway Of Canada.
From the recent investigations Of Professor Pallser
it appears that large portions Of the territory through
which the line would pass, consist of level prairie
lands, and that the most formidable difficulty which
the projectors OF such undertaking would have 10
encounter would be the discovery Of some pass \pr
gorge in the Rocky mountains, permitting the con
structon Of = railway. But no one can hold such an
obstacle to be insupenble when on the same conti-
nent the science Of Stephenson has spanned, by a.
bridge Of two miles in length the waters Of the mighty
st. Lawrence. In 1851, the scheme Of which have
given an outline was submitted to the Legislature Of
Canada, by gentleman OF the name OF Allel Mac
donald. Tue scheme was rejected by committee on
the technical ground that the protector had not OBJ
tanned the necessary capital but the report distinctly
stated that the construction Of such railroad was not
only desirable, but practicable, and that it ought al
some future time to be undertaken. II the Grand
Trunk Railway were continued to Halifax, the route
IN to the lakes would be completed from a British
port accessible throughout the year The construc-
ton of railway running to the northwest Of Lake
Superior and onwards to the Pacific world terminate
the line The expenses OF this undertaking have been
Estimated at ten or twelve mlOns--a sum insgniii.
cant when compared with the profits Of that stream o
wealth which would flow from the east through Brit.
ish territory to Britain herself. The abolition of the
Hudsons Bay monopoly and the constitution of Van.
couver's Island a British colony, will attract hardy
and enterpTisng settlers 70 the hitherto neglected
regions bordering upon the North Pacific and whether
or not the formation OF this great nteroceanc com
municatiou be speedily undertaken, Liverpool
will spring up in that part Of the world afording
centre for British trade and British Industry With
iron, coal and timber the spot the railway then
would become matter Of comparatively little diff
Guilty. Commencing at both ends and advancing
with She progress Of the population, it would eventn
ally meet and thus that iron grdle wOuld be placed
around the continent subectng territories which