The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-01-20
The Pacific Railroad.


The recommendation of President Buchanan
in favor of the Pacific Railroad is, at this time,
receiving greater share of the attention of the
American people than any other subject Of state
policy, with the exception perhaps, of the tariff
The American Congress seems to be getting at
work on the subject in earnest, and were it not
for the eternal bone of sectional strife we might
soon see something accomplished, as far as the
law making powers are concerned. The South
ern men are not satisfied unless southern route
is chosen, with southern point of departure;
neither are the Northern men satisfied except
northern route should be selected. Of course
we would naturally look for some bias among
Congressman toward their own respective Sec
lions of country; but we would not expect that
bias to completely override their Judgment on
matters of national policy. That it does so in
many instances is matter that is too notorious
to admit of doubt, and we fear that in the strife
the success of the measure will be imperilled If
not entirely defeated While almost all unite
in the necessity and expediency of the measure,
yet many will oppose it if it does not conform
to their views in location. From the best evil
dence that can be gathered from reports OF the
topography of the country, central route
should be selected for the location of this great
enterprise
When we calmly consider the results that
would flow from the accomplishment of rail-
road from the Mississippi to the Pacific, the
mind is lost and fails to grant the boundless
traffic that must flow through this great artery
of the nation. In days gone by time was no
object in transportation If packet ship
crossed the ocean in FIVE or six weeks, it was as
expeditions as they wished, but with steam
came different mode of doing business, and
now they can scarcely brook delay of ten days
in crossing the "vasty deep" So, too, the
people are becoming weary of the time occupied
in the transportation of passengers and goods
to our western shores by way of the Isthmus,
being month on the way. They are look
ing forward to the time when within the com
pass of week, they can cross the American
continent to the far Pacific shore.
That time is money is becoming every day of
more and more practical import, and he who by
means of machinery or facilities of travel, accom-
plishes in one day that which formerly could
only be done in several days, is considered
benefactor of his race Such an one has added
not only to the conyenences, but to the real
wealth of the country. The consequence is
that the energies of the American people are
constantly directed toward the saving of time
in regard to the productions of labor as well
as the manner and method Of travelling and
transportation.
We have on our Western shores very large
population, who are thriving and energetic, with
country Astounding in mineral wealth The
trade between them and us.is already immense.
This trade the Pacific Railroad would almost
double at once. This, however, is but part
of the great trade that must eventually find it's
way over this road The golden portals of the
East-China, Japan, and the East Indies invite
US. Their trade must come by the shortest and
most expeditions route; and our trade must flow
to them through the same channel This trade
is already immense, but will be increased many
fold on account of the greater facilities of trade
afforded to MS by the opening of the ports of
China and Japan. And we must keep in view,
not only our own trade, but it is believed that
We can command large portion of the trade of
Europe, because the same laws of the quickness
of time must govern them that govern u.s. So
that when we come to look upon this road in re
gard to it's business facilities, we may almost say
that it is without end.
In the views we have expressed, we have kept
out of view the great advantage it would be to
the government as post and military road,
which in fact, furnishes the ground upon which
the general government can constitutionally en-
gage in the enterprise. We consider it one Of
the most important measures that has agitated
the country for long time, and we hope that
the time is not far distant when we shall see the
Atlantic and the Pacific shore bound together
by these iron bands, which would do more to
cement the Union together than all the talk of
Union Savers"
Tiro