The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-03
One North and One South!

Vnc NOEtn anu O0C SOusHhs
[At special meeting Of the Chamber OF
Commerce Of the City Of Saint Paul, Mineso-
ia, held on Saturday, January %, $50, at
the Room OF the Chamber, Col. ID. A. Rob
rRrsoy submitted letter Of Commander n.
F.MAuRY, US. n, superintendent Of the
Observatory at Washington upon the sub
ject Of Pacific Railroads.
On motion Of Gov. ALEXANDRA RAMSEY,
Col. ROBERTSON was requested to furnish
copy of the same for publication. it being in
the estimation d the Chamber the most
able exposition OF the subject treated upon,
ever written.
The request Of the Chamber was complied
with as follows:
SAINT PAUL. January "a, 1859
DEAR Sir: venture to comply with
your request, in behalf OF the Saint Paul
Chamber OF Commerce, to furnish copy
Of Commander MAuRy's letter, Of the ith
inst, for publication, Striking out the por.
ton Of private nature.)
In doing so, it is proper to remark that
the letter was written in the course OF
private correspondence, yet, in furnishing il
for publication, confidently rly upon the
acquescence Of its distinguished and patri-
otto author. Its contents, especially at this
tine, are Of too much national value to he
allowed to remain in the obscurity Of any
private hand. May not say, with safety,
that the scientific, geographical and com.
mereial facts therein presented, with such
transcendent ability and high authority,
settle the whole question, 80 long debated,
about ROUTES aud roads to the Pacific
Yours truly,
ID. A. ROBERTSON.
To WV. II. MARSHALL, Esq, President Saint
Paul Chamber Of Commerce.
OBSERVATORY, WAsuisaros,
4 January, 1859.
NY D'cr ~"
| have often wished that the question,
pure and simple, Railroad or no Railroad
to the Pacific, could be put to the popular
vote Of the nation. Never, since the Mem
phis convention Of ls49, should have had
any doubt as to the result; the vote would be
largely for the road.
While all admit the Importance OF one or
more such railways, there has been such q
diversity OF opinion as TO routes and plans
that no one route has as yet met with friends
enough to carry il through in spite OF its
rivals, and do not think that it ever will
Two roads q, least are necessary. At
least two roads enc st the North, the other
at the South, are required for the common
defence. At least two roa1s-one at the
South, the other at the North Are neces
sary. socially and commercially; for by two
roads 80 placed the markets Of China, 10
pan and the AMOR, will b. brought nearer
to US by many days sail, than it is possible
for one road to bring them. This may sound
paradoxical yet hope, before I am done,
to explain the paradox to your satisfaction.
Let US frs. consider the Importance Of
two roads in their military aspect. Van
couver Island commands the shores Of Wash
ington ard Oregon and whether the termi-
nus OF the Northern road be on Puget
Sound, or at the month of the Columbia
River. the munitions sent there could be
used for no other part OF the coast for Van
couvU overlooks them.
They could not, on account Of Isncou
yer IN its military aspects, lie sent from the
northern terminus to San Francisco aud
the South nor could the Southern road
supposing only one, and that at the South
send supplies in war from ia terminus,
whether ct san Diego or San Francisco, by
sea either to Oregon or Washington. Van
couvsr would prevent, for Vancouver CON.
maDds their coasts as completely As Eng
land commands those Of Franc. on the At
iantic. so complete Is this military curtain
that you never heard OF France 90 the At
lantic sending saceor by sra TO France On
the Mediterranean, or the reverse, 10 a war
with England. The Straits Of Fucs arc As
close as the straits Of Gibraltar.
In preparing Tor the na,ioaaI de'enses of
the Pacific, this TACT and the fac. TIA, Van
couya Island ia in the bands Of . foreign
power are well calculated 10 impress y+cu.
liar feature. upon any system tia, may be
adopted.
Ba, / prsrlsed TO explain way too
rosd.. one q. toe Soath, the other at the