, 1858-03-26
The Pacific Railroad, North.


9th, we fnd some very pointed remarks
concerning the contemplated railroad to
the Pacific, through the British possessions,
north, which is now awakening the atten-
tion Of leading politicians and the press Of
Great Britain. 1t is evident from the tone
Of the article, upon which we have no de-
sire 10 make lengthy comment, that the
fact is being felt, that the throne of com
mercial power and greatness on the Pacific,
Of which San Francisco has heretofore
been almost supreme mistress and arbitra-
tor, is not beyond the contingency Of a
rival. For some time past we have OBJ
served a marked uneaSiness in the Califor-
MIA press on the subject Of the Pacific rail
road, and every project, northern or southern,
so to speak, has either been opposed,
ridculed, or given the silent "go-by."I
There is a meaning in this, which is ex-
planned by the Alta. So long as formida-
BILE riualry surrounds the throne-so long
as doubt disturbs the crown of the present
great emporium of the Pacific, so long will
the people of San Francisco and the cen
trail portion of the State give encourage
ment or audience to no project that does
not contemplate, in the first place, a grand
trunk from the Mississippi to San Francis
co Bay
Indeed the northern ronte, pointing to
the waters Of Puget Sound, is really the
only formidable one that San Francisco
will have 10 contend against Without
indulging in any anticipations of the com
mercial advantages Of such route, to
Canada, the northern States of the confed-
eracy and Europe, as a means Of shorten
ing the transit to China, Japan and the
East IndiaS, the fact that railroad can
be constructed over practicable ground, by
way Of the magnificent northern inland
seas, which now finds an outlet through
the st. Lawrence), thence to some point
or place in the valley Of the Missouri river,
near the great bend Of that river-north of
the 44th parallel Of latitude, to the great
Mediterranean Of the Pacifc-shorter, too,
than any other route across the continent
by hundreds of miles, and with less inter
vening difficulties to overcome than any
other, except, perhaps, the sod parallel
project, it is but natural that the attention
of northern and English capitalists should
be turned in that direction.
Again, that magnificent dominion Of the
United States, drained by the head waters
Of the Mississippi and Missouri, and the
Red River of the North, lying between the
44th and 49th parallel of north latitude,
would find in this route its easiest and
most direct outlet to the Atlantic sea-
shore. A glance at map shows at once
the directness Of this route, beyond any
central line that can be projected for a
railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific
ocean. We have the best authority for
saying that from the shores of the Allan
tic, at Portland, Maine, to the head waters
Of the Missouri, by the route suggested, no
physical difficulties exist and almost every
portion of the country presents the great
est possible attractions to invite immigra-
tiOn. A mild climate, healthy at oil sea-
sons Of the year, soil of abundant fertility
for the production Of every article of food
known to this latitude, with rich mines and
luxuriant forests, are here found, for hun
dreds of miles beyond the head waters Of
Lake Superior, if not to the base Of the
Rocky mountains. West of that ridge,
and from thence to Puget Sound, the coun-
try is well supplied with wood and water.
Concerning q northern railroad route to
the Pacific, this fact would seem TO be fully
and conclusively established Should not
the United States government make salts
factory terms with the capitalists Of the
Northern States, in aiding its construction,
by liberal grants Of lands, &c, our north
ern capitalists will most undoubtedly strike
hands with those Of Canada-they with
the English capitalists and government,
and a Northern railway will be constructed
at all events, in common, over either the
British or American possessions, to the
great natural denot of the Pacific A con-
solidation of American and English capital
upon one Northern railroad route, would
disarm petty rivalry, northward and thus,
we caR(very readily account for the jeal-
Gus eye which the press of San Francisco
occasionally turns towards our magnificent
inland seattle @asatireness with which
cognizaneo is taken Of every railroad route
whose western termination is not proposed
at the Gate Of the Golden City -