Daily national Democrat., 1859-01-09
Memorial to Conprcss.

ed States The memorial of the Legislature
of California would respectfully show and
represent that the acquisition and settlement
of California, Oregon and Washington Terri.
tories, has opened new era in the history of
the United States; but the vast Importance
of these Territories, the mldncss of the eli.
mate, the richness of the soil the great min.
eral resources and the long line of coast with
the magnificent harbors on the Pacific. seems
not to be properly understood by the people
of the Atlantic States.
Within the last ten years this State. pcr.
maps the most distant OF our possessions from
the seat OF Government, has been reclaimed
rom the barbarian and wilderness, and set
tled by industrious, energetic and persever
ing men, regardless OF dangers, tolls and pri
vations
Unaided and almost unprotected by the
General Government, houses, with many of
their endearing associations, most of the com
iorts and some OF the luxuries of life, have
taken the place of the rude hut of the SAVAGE.
new territories and distant countries have
been opened to the enterprise Of the ANGLO
Saxon race. A new trade has been given to
the world and new commerce sprano into
existence, The mountains have been made
to yield up portion of their wealth and
new towns and cities have sprung up as if by
magic.
This State has shipped, annually, to the
East over $50 900 900 of gold dust. and vet
the mineral resources are as lasting rs the
mountains from whence this wealth is OBJ
tanned. The fertility Of the alluyial bottoms
OF the State is unsurpassed even by the val.
ley of the Nile.
California, Washington and Oregon Terri
tories, extending upon the coast Of the Pacific
from the 32d to 50th parallel of latitude.
having Il sea coast of over 1900 miles stud
ded with towns and cities. which, in case of
war with foreign power, might be laid in
ruins long before troops ard munitions of
war, even at enormous expense, could be
transported across the deserts and mountains
That separate us from the Atlantic States ::
and, on the other hand, our people are con-
tlnually annoyed by the ruthless tribes Of
harbarians that prowl upon our Eastern from
tier, or If kept in subsection by the arms of
the United States, at an enormous expendi-
ture of money.
1t only requires to place this State and
aforesaid Territories foremost among the
states ot the Union, more of the hardy sons
OF the East, to lay open the wealth of the
wealth of the mountains and till the rich soil
of the valleys.
The laboring man Of moderate circun-
stances, who receives but a poor compensa-
ton for his labor in the East, has not the
means to pay the price demanded for the
passage of himself and family by the steam
ship mOnopolists of the ocean to enable him
to build his home amongst US, nor does he
feel disposed to undertake a iournev-scarce-
ly less expensive, perhaps more dangerous
and far more laborious-of two thousand
miles, over sandy deserts, burning plains and
snow-covered Sierras.
Facing our Western possessions. and senn-
rated from them by the smooth Pacific lies
n vast region covering an area of over
lS,0000O0 of square miles, with population
of 600,00O,000, the outlet of whose produc
tions and commerce are nearer not only our
Pacific but Atlantic cities than those of anv
European nation. The export and import
trade of China being estimated at Sl25 600
600 annually, and that of the Asiatic and
Pacific islands over $75,000,00O most of
which is now carried on by Great Britain a
large portion of which, however, were an
avenue opened up for commerce across this
continent, would be diverted from its old
channels and pass over this highway of ma
tons.
1t would benefit and build I'D the man.
ufacturing interests of the North, and give
new impetus to the cotton growing interest
of the South
Your memorialists believe that the con.
structlon OF railroad between the Pacific
and Atlantic States is demanded by the great
voice of the American people, is also ALSO
lutely required for full development of our
agricultural and mineral resources; as Il mat
ter of economy to the General Government
in transporting mails, troops and munitions
of war to her possessions west of the Rocky
Mountains; and, dboye all, to secure to our.
selves and posterity that trade which. from
the days OF the Ph@nicians to the present
time. has enriched every country over which
it has passed
Therefore, in view Of these weightv rea-
sons, your memorialists ask the passage Of a
law by Congress authorizing and requiring
the construction of railroad from the Mis-,
sissipPi river to the eastern boundary of
California.
Your memoridlists would further show and
represent that, if in the wisdom of Congress
said railroad should be located on the South
Pass route through the Rocky Mountains and
thence to our northeast boundary, this State
would extend the same on to the city of San
Francisco; or, on the other hand. if either of
the Southern routes should be adopted bv
Congress, and the western terminus of tn.
road SO built be at the crossing of the Colo.
RADIO, this State would extend the same to the
said city.
That in the valleys Of the Sacramento, San
joaquin and TuIare, commencing at Shasta
City in the northeast, and extending to Fort
TejoL in the southeast, distance of between
six and seven hundred miles, and ranging in
width from fifty to one hundred miles, there
are large tracts Of cultivatable land belong
ing to the General Government, well adap-
ted to all the wants and requirements Of civ
ilized life; that Immediately adjoining these
tillable lands on the east, and nearly in "a di-
rect line from Shasta City to TETON and Los
Angeles, the Sierra Nevada and foot hills
contain ineXhaustible mines of gold. and are
covered with an immense growth of pine, fur
and cedar, which might, had we the means
OF transportation to the valleys, furnish not
only lumber to supply the demand of this
State. but that of the Pacific Islands; that
provisions and merchandise consumed by
those developing the mineral resources of
the State, or engaged in other occupations.
are shipped from San Francisco to the head
of navigation on the Sacramento and San
joaquin rivers at enormous prices charged bv
steamboat monOpolies, and thence hauled on
wagons from one to two hundred and fifty
miles at a cost of from to cents per pound;
that a Railroad from the northeast boundary
of the State to the Colorado yia Shasta CITY,
Oroville Marysyile, Sacramento and Stock.
ton to San Francisco and from Stockton on
the east side of the San Joaquin river ria
Millerton, Nisalia and Los Angeles to the
Colorado, would meet the great requirements
Of the agricultural, commercial and mineral
resources of the State, and would be the
trunk of a system of Railroads for this State.
Therefore, your memoriali,ts ask that Con
gress craut TO this State for the construction