The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-07
Bsitish Enssrprtse--rhs Northern Over
land Route - thu Pacific.


70 recount the numerous marvels Of the age,
we cone at once TO the recent discovery Of
gold upon the Pacific shore Of British Amer.
lea. In itself the event is no unusual mag
nitude or importance but considered in
connexion with many circumstances concur,
rent with IT, il looms up into magnificent
significance. II happened Immediately after
il had been ascertained by accurate surveys,
ordered by the British government, that u
railroad TO the Pacific from the great lakes
was practicable--not only practicable but
the route comparatively free from impcl
ments. 1t happened simultaneously with the
conclusion OF treaties Of commerce with
China. which throw open 10 western nations
gates of trade heretofore closed to the world,
and which have until now shut in, il We
include Japan, Cochin. China, md Siam with
China, half the population of the globe
The grea, deposits Of human population are
in those regions of the earth and If u
clandestnc and jealously excluded trade
with those countries has produced all the
wealth for which the trade in the East has
been renowned in the past what may we
not expect from the free, liberal, and univcr
sal commerce with these eastern populations
which have now been lcgitimatizody
Our own reciprocity treaty with Grca,
Britain, granted for the benefit Of her Ca
madam possessions, by which we yielded so
great u boon and gained 50 small an equivu.
lent, is not 10 be forgotten IN this connection.
Since the date Of the treaty has been con
struc,ed the great line OF railroad from
Montreal to Portland 10y British enterprise,
with British gold, for British advantage, to
cut on the clrcuitous transit by the outlets
Of st. Lawrence. Since then the Welland
canal around the Falls OF niagara has been
enlarged 10 u capacity which will admit the
largest lake and ocean vessels Of trans.
porta,ion aud lines OF railroad and water
navigation direct from Montreal to Lake
Superior have been actively prosecuted
Ere long if il is not already the case, II
continuous line Of British railroad from the
head Of Lake Superior TO Portland, Maine
will be completed where the proposed
arrival 1.-THE Great Eastern steamer 10 that
port will have IA significance not usually
given il on our side Of the Atlantic.
Then nothing will he wanting 10 the
completion of Great Brituin's western route
TO China from Liverpool. but railroad
about seventeen hundred miles in length from
the head Of Lake Superior via Frazers river
10 Pugct's Sound, over a route which has
been asccrtaincd to he Of easy grades and
to promise unrivaled chcapncss Of coat
Compare the length OF this route from
Liverpool to China with those now pursued
by the British from London TO China.
From Shanghai by Panama, CJ days
- 800 mics.
From Shanghai by Cape Of Good Hope,
70 days, $1,000 miles,
From Shanghai by Montreal, 81 days,
10000 miles
Thus the western route over this cont.
nent through the British possessions and by
Frazer river IL from $500 10 5000 miles
sborter than those now pursued. All that
was wanted Tor this great project was mn
ctive trading population on the western
shore OF our continent, Ia support and pro
tect the western portion Of the overland
railroad That will be supplied by the gold
emigration from which will be derived the
money. the energy Of will, and the bone and
snew, to construct the work.
The region between Minnesota and Fra.
zcr river Is represented TO abound in dis
uicts Of well watcred and fertile land ~
fine M can be found on the continent.
Proceeding west from Minnesota the eli.
mate becomes milder, until, on arriving up
on the Pacific coast, il correspond to
temperature ten degrees lower OF latitude In
the valley Of the Mississippi. SImultapc-
ously with the commencement Of the emf.
grafton 10 Frazer river. and over this vast
region Of inviting lands lying for the nost
par, in British jurisdiction, the pcssessioDs Of
the Hudson Bay Company have bcn sur
rendered TO free and general colonization.
Behold the result that will be achieved
by the accomplishment Of these great enter.
prises Of England From the granary u
the world around the great lakes Of America
will stretch forth two great lines Of trans
portatiOn one of them toward the hungry
populations Of Europe on the right, the 9th
CT towards the teeming hives Of population
10 Asia. where millions Of men exc Out
starving existence upon rice.
leaving the hsckoeyed subject Of the At
lantic telegraph on, Of mind, II cannot be
disguised that all tbes circumstances con
eur in pointing to great changes and events
upon our continent. II las BEEN the habit
Of the people u the United Stats 10 look
TO California "a the destined centre of p0pu
lstion on the Pacific, and 10 the Isihmns
uansiis, or 10 railroads projected upon the
bwer parallel. u latitude upon our own
tritory, a. the destined highways Of Paci-
A. emigration and trade. Bat !, il not ip.
probable that the locomotive will he whis-
ting along SOM northern parallel Of latitude,
upon a railroad constructed by British on
,rfprise, 20 the Pacific before any scheme
FOR an American Pacific rsilraid ,ball b.
even organDpd In that ca-e, Pugc, Sound
instead u San Francisco, will he the enfrs-
Ja oi the Pacific, just as New York, IL.
stead O Norfolk " Charleston, is tha, ol
The Atlantic.
There are th1se who supp'@e that the
H1nd Of emigra,ion which ba. at in with ~
sttony a tHse 10 this country from Europe
during the late years viii have check.