Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-02-17


may be distributed In several classes
first, those who would vote for a
Pacific railroad, anywhere a second
class, who would vote for a railroad,
if it was not carried upon route en-
tirely distant and remote from the
States which they represented and a
third class, who will not vote for a
railroad at all, anywhere, to be made
in any way, and under any circum-
stances. Since we concluded in the
committee that no one route could be
determined on in debate, it only re-
mained to find some plan for the Sc
lection of route Independently of our
own direct action.
The proposition which was adopted
provides that the President of the
United States shall be furnished with
means to contract virtually for the
building of Pacific railroad. starting
at point on the western line of the
organized States, of the Union, that
is the Missouri river, the western bor-
der of the State Of Missouri, at some
point between the Big Sioux and the
Kansas rivers, and thence to proceed
to San Francisco, in the State of Cal
ifornia, by the most eligible route. re-
gard being had to feasibility, short
ness, and economy. 1t is possible that
the confidence thus to be reposed in
the Executive might be abused but
there is guaranty for his trust being
executed wisely and justly, in the fact
that the bill provides an appeal to the
interests of capitalists to ascertain the
most eligible route, reference being
had to feasibility, shortness, and econ
omy. The western terminus of the
road must, at all events, and immedi-
ately. be at San Francisco; not that
it will be the only terminus of all the
Pacific railroads which shall be here
after built not that it is in our pow
cr to bind up fate, and compel the
population upon the whole extent of
the Pacific coast to pay tribute forever
to San Francisco, but that San Fran
cisco occupies. at this time, the posi-
tion of the center of commerce on the
Pacific coast Of this continent, and
that civilization is further advanced
and more completed and perfected i'll
the State of California, and in that
portion of it which communicates
with San Francisco, than it is in any
more northern or more southern region
on that coast A railroad to the Pa
cific ocean would be practically incom-
plete. which should traverse the con-
tipent and stop at San Diego in the
south, or at Guaymas, on the Gulf OF
California, or at Puget Sound. AL
though it may be practically wise to
build the road to Vancouver's Island,
or to Puget Sound, still, when it has
been brought there, commerce. and
the interests of the Government,
would require it to be continued to
San Francisco. Therefore, a MAORI
ty of the committee supposed it was
safe and proper to require that the road
should be built to that point. What
remained, then, was to approximate
to terminus on the western border
of the Atlantic States and leaving
the margin of short distance of three
hundred miles between the Kansas and
Big Sioux rivers, we thought point
might be taken from which connec-
tions might be made from Chicago
from ST. Paul. from St. Louis, from
Memphis, from New Orleans. and
from Texas. In this way, while il
might be supposed that the interests o.
trade. as already established, had de-
termined one or several examinations
on the Atlantic coast-Portland, il
you please, or Boston. or New York
or Philadelphia. or Charleston, or New
Orleans, or all of them-thc only
question left was practical one
namely where. on the western bor
ders of the existing Atlantic States
these several ports could most natural
ly and easily and conveniently be con
nected with the route across the con
tinent which would be most eligible
because it was the most feasible, tn,
shortest, and the one requiring tn,
least expense.
Senators on all sides now raise tn,
question, whether the road, if starting
at point between the Big Sioux anC
the Kansas rivers, and seeking Sar
Francisco, will go northerly enough
or whether it will go sufficiently fa
south, or whether it will take the cen
trail route, or the Albuquerque route
All that matter is left to be ascertain
ed by the surest and best test, and tha
is the test of the skill and science anC
economy Of the contractors who shall
engage to build the road. What ha
already occurred here has been suffi
cient to show, that although it is pos
sible that q majority of those wh'
favor the construction of a railroad t,
the Pacific may not agree upon thi
system or plan of ascertaining wher
it shall be located, yet majority can
not be gathered together to vote 70
the northern. or Governor Steven
route, because everybody south of tha
route would be inclined to vote agains
it. So, if you take central route
those on the north and those on tn
south may be expected TO combin
to vote against it: and if you tax
the Texas route, there will be stron!
opposition on the part Of all those VIII
think tha; its effect would be to carr,
the emigration of :he country and tn
progress of civilization further sout
than is consistent with the interests c
the States which they represent.
make these allusions, not for the pui
pose of showing that the details whic
this bill adopts are the best, but fc