Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-08-04
The Pacific Railroad and International t Telegraph

he Pacific Railroad and International
 A Telegraph.
 While Congress and the interested sections f the country have been debating on the route f railroad to the Pacific, our neghbors in Can da have mark ed out still more northern route anning through the British possessions, and lave actually 380 miles of the road built- When the Hudson's Bay Company, whose lerm of lease will expire in May, 1859, shall have surrendered the country now held by iherM to the British crown, no doubt the whole of the British possessions including Canada, will be placed under viceroy, or as has been sug- gested in England under the control of British prince. The newly discovered gold mines in British Oregon will induce immigration to that portion of the continent the building up of ci- tes and further inducement to building up the road.
 The recent failure of laying the telegraphic cable across the Atlantic, has suggested other means of fulfilling this great purpose It is proposed to establish line across the Pacific,
 
 The suggestors of this plan contend that the British Americans, through whose territory this line would pass, will second this movement, and that the new gold discoveries will people that region with an enterprisng, business popu- laton whose wants will demand it. The Elm peror of Russia too, will second the project, as it will enable him to hold teegraphc commu- nication with his extreme eastern territories The great objections to this scheme are the vast distance and the character of the country to be traversed A break in the line could not be remedied; storm that would derange the wires, or any accident to them mig ght occur hun ireds of miles from any post or settlement, and require weeks to mend it.
 Another project is to unite America and Flu rope by line by way of Greenland, Iceland and the Farce Islands. This route would require six huadred miles of submarine cable
 Should either of these lines, railroad or tele- graphic, be adopted, they would certainly affect the proposed route from some point on the Mississippi to the Pacific. Two parallel routes in the extreme north would not pay. It is evi- dent that if the British road is built, the Amer can road would be southern one, at least as far south the 35rh parallel. Every step taken to build road from Canada to the Pac- hc would be an argument against the northern route of our contemplated railroad Two routes, so near together, would not be supported while it would not materially interfere with a more southern route. The establishment of telegraph line from Memphis to California is, every day becoming more and more, matter of necessity. line from Memphis to Van Buren and Ft Smith uia Little Rock will pay. In fact when we take into account the trade of the Arkansas river above this point amounts to millions of dollars that over million dollars worth of goods are carried up eve " year and the products of the up- country carried down, that the present means of communication are slow and uncertain; it is evident that a line could be supported by the mercantile ieterests alone. In addition to this the newspaper press could we'll afford to pay handsome sum toward its erection. Both here, and at Van Buren and Ft Smith, with tele- graph line ill operation, daily or at least tr-weekly newspaper, would become a necessi- ty. It has been supposed that in view of the establishment of the overland mail route, the construction of the wagon road to the Pacific md the government interests along the route, hat one would be built by the government, but his is uncertain, and if it would pay govern Inent, it will pay individual enterprise We would be glad to see this subject agitated, as it IS matter of importance and is fast becoming me of necessity.