The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-01-08

BY DR.. EVANS
Editors Press and Tribune

Editors Press and Tribune
In an article published in your paper OF
the 18th inst, on the subject of the neccssi-
ty Of providing Territorial Government
for the new gold region at the eastern base
of the Rocky Mountains, on the head waters
of the Great Platte River, and extinguIshlng
the Indian title to the lands there at once,
made reference to the important bearing
that the rapid settlement of that country was
destined to have upon the projected Paclhc
Railroad. 90.
Since penning that article, a flood OF let
ters from the mines, coming from different
individuals on the ground, have been spread
before the public, all bearing the same news
Of rich and profitable mines, and many OF
them being SO reputable and we'll known IN
their authority, that there does not remain
doubt but that the tide Of emigration IN
that direction in the spring will be immense.
1t is quite certain that new State will be
settled in very brief period OF time. 1t
would not be surprising, if, with Constitu-
ton regularly formed, and sufficient pop
ulation for Representative in Congress, the
State of Laramie should be, within the next
twelve months, asking for admission into the
Union. The mines are SO convenient, so
rich and extensive, and there are SO many
persons who have nothing else to do but to
20 there, that it would be the height of stu
pidity not to see the inevitable result and
Congress must and will provide for the emer
gencics referred to, and also for a more d.
. rect and frequent channel Of communication
by mail with the mines. But my object at
this time is more particularly to elaborate the
views before expressed in regard to the Pa
cifc Railroad.
1t is manifest that the cause of failure Of
all former schemes before Congress for this
great enterprise, has not been fonnd in OPP
position to the measure per Sc, but in the
local strifes that have been produced by at
tempts at its location. Yes, there is now,
and has been for years, enough votes in both
branches of Congress, ready to 60 for and
pass a bill for Pacific Railroad upon the
great Central route, if any such bill had been
presented, that would harmonic the inter-
csts that are brought together in and be-
tween the two great cities of st. Louis and
Chicago. And it is just as futile now as it
has been heretofore, to expect to unite the
friends of that or any other route, without
such harmony Of interests.
By reference to the map OF the country,
any one can see that the four great leading
thorouchfares from the Fast to the West,
the Baltimore and Ohio, Pennsylvania Cen
trail, New York and Erie and New York Cen
trail Railroads, with their extension lines and
connections westward through Wheeling,
Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Buffalo
and Detroit, ali either run to st. Louis or
Chicago direct, or have their principal routes
to the Missouri River passing between them.
And by tracing their connections it will be
found that they rely upon these lines almost
exclusively for their sources of business !;
not however generally and collectively, but
to n great extent severally and particularly.
For instance The Baltimore and Ohio
road relies mainly for its business upon the
lines extending through Cincinnati to St.
Louis; while the New York Central relies
mainly upon those extending to and through
Chicago, while the other two great lines
must of necessity rely upon those extend
ing west through the same points or between
tn m.
Now as these great lines and their western
connections have, by their corporate acts or
by individuals connected with them, already
commenced the work of construction, anu
in several instances pushed them far toward
completion, and by government aid too, Of
lines Of SAID road to different points upon
the great Missouri Rivcr-the location Of
which is fixed by the laws of their land
grants and cannot be changcd-it will be
seen how impossible it is to harmonic all
these interests by any route commencing at
any single point on that stream. 1t is the
strife between the six land grant railroad
companies whose roads are already located
to six different points on the Missouri River,
ant. the friends of the several routes for the
exclusive benefits of the Eastern terminus of
the Central Pacific Railroad, that has thus
far defeated action on the part Of Congress
for its aid. And unless that strife shall cease
it will pcrpctuallv prevent il. Nor is it un
reasonable that it should be so. Members
of Congress ought to represent their eon>,it
ncnts. And no one should expect member
Of Congress to vote for 4 scheme that entire
| " cuts of the interests of his own const ,u-
ents to which they are justly entitled. by
comforting exclusive benefits upon others
Could the members of the Central and West
ern districts of Northern OHIO, Indiana,
! Illinois and in New York be expected to
! vote for route the almost exclusive bene-
! fits of which would be taken away from their
constituents by direct connection with
! line that is in the hands of an adverse and
competing interest? Or could the members
! from St. Louis and Cincinnati be expected
J
cut their great lines Of commerce and travel
off entirely from any direct connection ?
Certainly not; for although it may be said
to be great National work, in which all
cannot in the nature Of the case receive the
direct benefits referred to-still there is no
! good reason for comforting the benefits upon
one Of these routes to the exclusion of the
others.
Tho f., 81, ~
! difficulty in the way of the immediate success
OF Pacific Railroad bill was briefly sugges-
ted in my former article. 1t is this-let aid.
to each of the six land grant roads now ter
minating upon the Missouri river; severalIy.
at Kansas City, St. Joseph, the mouth of the
Platte, Council Bluffs, Tekama, and Sioux
City, for the purpose of extending their lines
from those points westerly to a common
point-say at Fort Kearncy, where the wag-
on roads from all Of those points now unite
to go up the Platte river. Such aid to be
paid upon the completion of said lines in
sections from the river westward. From this
common terminus let the main line be con-
structed in such manner as may be deemed
best, however, under such laws as shall Sc
cure entire fairness towards the several lines
that radate from it.
The routes from the several points named
are known to be entirely feasible, as they
would nearly all, if not every one of them,
pass up rich and fertile valleys of important
streams, along the lines of which are album
dance of good water, and stone, and fair
supply of wood and coal with more or less
dense settlements all the way.
These several extensions being thus COM
pleted would have the effect to give charac-
ter and business to their main lines, and
where not already near completion would
hasten their progress; while their connection
with the navigable waters of the Missouri
would enable them to carry on local or
through traffic in connection with that stream
in the meantime. Again, the greatest ad-
vantage would accrue to that line having the
longest extension which would compensate
the outer lines, and do away with the com
petition for placing the main line further
north or further south, thus leaving its loca-
ton free to take the best and most available