Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-31
Railroad to the Pacific.

Railroad to the Pacific.
As we announced yesterday, the various bills for
the construction Il Railroad to the Pacific which
have been introduced and discussed in the Senate
have been successfully defeated. Congress will
not At ito present session. authorize the construc-
ton Of Railroad to the Pacific
Without doubt. majority and large MAORI
ty; Of both Houses of Congress, is in favor of a
Pacific railroad. They in favor Of il, we mean,
in the abstract. The di&enl,y is, that this ma
jority cannot combine in the SECESSION Of any par
tcular route for the road. In this conflict Of di-
verse opinions the friends Of the project divide
their strength and the enterprise proves o'ntinu-
ally failure.
Thus, the Senate has given nearly the whole Of
its attention. during tho present session. 10 this
subject. Mr.. Gwin introduced his bill We 'clieve.
IN the very first day Of tbs session lie has press
cd it's consideration ever since with indanitable
pertinscity-bst no bill can be passed that leaves
the question of the route and the termini open,
wnd no bill can command a majority that fixes tho
termini at any particular point Innumernble
amendments having reference principally to the
route, have been voted down,--and the bill yet
remains unpassed
The Senators from the North and the North
west, nearly all of whom are in favor Of tn, road.
will not vote for bill fixing tho work upon the
cheapest and perhaps the only practicable ronte
we mean the route through Texas and by Fl
Paso In like manner, the Southern Senators
will not sustain bill stablishing route through
the hyperborean regions Of the North. The means
of the Government are not adequate to the con
structon of two roads, 90 a to accommodate both
sections-and thus in this conflict VI interests and
sections the bill is lost.
We cannot say that we much regret it, We are
Of those who hold, with even so strict y oonstruc-
zionist Jefferson Davis tixt it as perfectly Con
stiutional to build such road with the means of
the Federal Government--but our objection lies to
the expectancy and policy Of the enterprise it.
self
Were we satisfied that the work would he fairly
and honestly constructed and managed, we would
still doubt the propriety Of undertaking it. But
thetruth ia, It lisa scheme originated by Spectators
and land -grsbbers who are intent only upon II rob
berry Of the Federal Treasury. Tie bill Of Mr.
Gwin, besides giving the contractors sen thousand
dollars per mile in cash, grants them also tho
public lands for twenty miles upon each side of
the road. The aggregate Of these lands would
make State as large rs tho State Of Ohio. Tho
contractors would build the road a portion of the
~ay-secups the valuable land-and then aban-
don the enterprise. Congress would be called
upon for assistance to complete it, and thus the
cost of the road, originally estimated at two hun
dred millions Of dollars, would in all probability
A. &c Eya
lions.
Does the object to be attained justify the outlay
of this magnificent sunni Docs it even justify
the expenditure of one hundred millions of dol
larsi No impartial person will make the asser-
ton. On the contrary, it is plain that it would be
fruitless waste Of the public money and resour-
Cos, without even approach to any correspond
ing benefit.
The advocates of the road adduoe, as their prin-
cipal argument the necessity Of it a. n means Of
transportation for our troops and munitions Of
war in the event of the invasion Of California by
= hostile force. The argument is perfectly
worthless one. If California were invaded to-day,
she has men enough to protect her against any
enemy that would probably land upon her shores.
She and Oregon together have almost as many
men, capable Of bearing arms, rs the Colonies had
when first invaded BY Great Britain. Certainly.
they could defend themselves until reinforcements
Ghould arrive from this aide Of the Continent.
But it will take twenty years, at the least, to
make railroad TIVE thousand miles long we
make the usual allowance for the increase of pop
nlation upon the Pacific shore. there will be in
that time, population s1keient to defend them.
selves against any possibility of numbers that
may Be brought against them. The argument in
favor Of the Pacific Road Is q military road, thus
falls to the ground. 1t win not baar examina-
ton.
Equally absurd il the pretension that II will DO
the great channel Of freight between the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts. There are not half a dozen ar
G61es Of merchandise in the world that would bear
~ osst Of railrosd transportation three thousand
niiss. Ths silks and the tea Of China might do
it-bst will The trade in silks and tea keep up
rai1w.g thrse thousand miles in lengthf Does eve
rybody Answ what il the actual cost ofcarrying a
barrel II aesr from Ns~ York 70 San Francisco by
sailrosdi AZ the very kwsst,it would not Be less
han twelve dollars, The mere cea Of transpor-
ting barrel Of aoar from the Atlantic 10 the Pa
- BY railroad would be greater than the price
q which -four can now he bought in San Francis
- shasis carried there by water. So. also, in
seesG fatl other articles Of merchandise. There
hAsAhs except The silks and teas Of China and
H. aoad at California. that would bear the exces.
siss caah q railroad transportation from San
y ffancisA And the new, short and expeditions
route b de Isthmus Of Tehnantepec answers all
the requiremsnts that are NOW demanded for the
fsnebortntien ofth>ea
There is no sscssStv for 4he undertaking Of ,h.