The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-19
THE PACIfrc;RAILRoAD.


z We propose to consider at this time the
political or national necessity and use for
railroad from the Missouri 10 the Pacific.
l. The Federal Government is now pay
ing some twenty-five millions per annum,
for military service, mainly west of the Mis-
sissippi. Nearly half of this heavy bill 10
paid for transportation in its various shapes
for the conveyance of provisions, NUM-
.tions, etc., to the army in Utah and to the
various posts scattered through the Indian
country for horses, mules and wagons,
reauired to facilitate the conveyance OF SOL
diers, arms, munitions and baggage from
post to post, etc. Every regiment employ
ed in the Indian country or on the Pscihc,
costs the Treasury at least $1,000 per man
mar annum. Of which We estimate that near
" half would be saved by a Pacific Railroad.
Certainly, the saving from this source could
not fall short of FIVE millions per annum.
2. But the efficacy, the power OF an arm
ed force in the defense and protection OF
vast empire, depends less on its number
than on it's mobility-on the facility with
which it can be conveyed to- the point at
which it may at any time be wanted. For
instance: our Government has now some six
to eight thousand Regulars scattered over
Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Northern
Texas, Utah, California, Oregon, and Wash
ipRton. These six or eight thousand are
not as efficient as two thousand would be
if it were in the power of the government
instantly to transfer that two thousand, by
4 mere order, to the point at which they
might at anv time be wanted. A Pacific
Railroad would not, indeed, fully efeot this
bu. it would 60 far toward it.
+ 3. Suppose our little army, now largely
concentrated in Utah, were urgently needed
to repel some sudden danger, whether On
tho Pacific or the Atlantic coast. 1t would
be good three months work to provide
the needful animals and remove that force
to either seaboard. But with Pacific
Railroad, the whole might be in New York
Charleston, New Orleans, or San francisco,
within fortnight after the order was dis
patched by telegraph from the War DE.
partment at Washington. The value OF
this facility Of movement cannot be over
estimated.
4. At present, the regiments employed on
the Pacific are almost or quite wholly raised
and recruited in the Atlantic States. Their
removal thence to their destination costs
largely, heavily, in direct expense, sand in
that time which is money. Suppose regi-
ment to cost half million per annum, and
that six months are now consumed in send
ing it from Baltimore to Puget Sound,
while one month would suffice with Pacific
Railroad. In addition to the saving on the
present cost of its transportation, the saw
ing in the time of that regiment would be-
$780, 900 directly, and practically much
more; as part Of the cost of recruiting,
drilling, ETC., now lost in the tedious trans
por,ation, would DO saved by the accelera-
ted movement.
5. In case Of war with any great mari
time power, in the absence OF Pacific
Railroad, we should be compelled either to
surrender tho Pacific States to subjugatlon
and spoliation or maintain double arma-
ment at enormous cost. Our army on this
side of the Rocky Mountains would be ut
terly Ineffective as against an expedition
launched against the Pacific coast, and rice
tersd. But, with the Pacific Railroad and
the Telegraph which would inevitably ac-
company it, it would be morally impossi
bio that an expedition directed against eth
or seaboard should not be anticipated in its
arrival BY tho concentration to oppose its
landing Of our soldiers drawn from every
part of the country. Our Government in
aiding the construction of such Road, would
inevitably stipulate for its use-exclusive
II required in times Of public peril, and
would thus be enable to transfer fifty thou
sand men from either coast to the other in
tho course of twenty or thirty days.
6. We have already expended some scores
of millions of dollars on Notifications, and
nre urgently required to spend as many
more. Especially on the Pacific coast is
their construction pressingly demanded
We do not decide how fast nor how far this
demand may or should be responded to;
but, we do say that Pacific Railroad,
whereby the ritlemen of the mountains could
be brought to the Pacific within three days,
and those of Iowa and Missouri in ten,
would afford more security to San Francis
co than ever so many gigantic Notifications.
But enough on this head.