The Van Buren press., 1860-03-30
Col Hindman and the 35th Parallel
Route

We pn blish, below. the remarks of Hon.
T. G. HIxDMAN, in the House of Represen-
tatives, March 18th, ON presenting the Re
solution of the Legislature of this State in
regard to the Pacific Railroad At no time
has Arkansas had more energetic. work
ing member-onc knowing their wants and
having the ability, has set himself to work
TO accomplish the ends sought for. That
Col. Hindman is strong friend of the 35th
Parallel route, there can bc no doubt, and
his position as one of the Committee will
give him an opportunity to place this route
. in its most advantageous light.
1t is important, for the success of this
great project, which is of such vital in
terest to Western Arkansas, that every ell
coura cement be given Mr.. Hindman by the
friends of the route. On this subject then,
there should be but one mind-a united
people
MqspAy, March II, 1860
Mr.. HINDMAN. ! wish to present Join:
resolution Of the General Assembly of the
State Of Arkansas, relative to railroad to
the Pacific ocean, and now send it to the
Clerks desk, to be read
The resolution is as follows:
Resolred BY the General assembly Of the State Of
arkansas, That our Senators be instructed and our
Representatives in Congress be requested, to vote
for and use all honorable to secure the pas
sage Of law locating the Railroad 10 the Pacific
the thirty fifth parallel of north latitnde
upon or near the route surveyed by Lieutenant
Whipple
Mr.. HIsDMAN. The Legislature of Ar
kansas have, in this resolution, indicated
their preference for a particular route for
the Pacific railway.
The SPEAKER. If there is no objection,
the remarks of the gentlemen are in order
MIR. HINDNAN. l trust there will be no
objection. l shall consume very little of
the time of the House.
No objection was made.
Mr.. HixDMAN. The route preferred by
the Legislature of Arkansas is that of the
thirty fifth parallel. II starts out from
Memphis, Tchnesscs and passes thence; in
a line almost directly west by way of Fort
Smith, Arkansas. and. Albuquerque in New
Mexico, to San Francisco. Its natural ad-
vantages are very great. They may he
sumed up cn the authority of government
al surveys, and the reliable reports of emf
grants and traders, as combining shorter
distance than any other route, less expense
in the construction and maintenance of a
railroad, entire freedom from the impedi
ments of ice and snow, greater fertility of
the country intersected, and its better adap
:-,tion to settlement, together with more
abundant supplies of water and timber, and
a centralty Of location that makes it con-
venient equally to all parts of the Union.
1t is in fact the true and only central route,
though that title is assumed l believe, for
another. Another advantage it has lies in
the fact that the speedy completion OF
railroad over three hundred miles of its line
that part between Memphis and Fort
Smiths already secured by land grant
from Congress. On forty miles OF that
road the cars are now running, and the bal
lance is under contract for being graded.
ai.ude to these matters now. that some idea
may be formed Of the merits of this route.
At the proper time hereafter, l shall en-
deavor 70 show, at greater length. the su-
pcriority Of the route of the thirty fifth
parallel over all its competitors for congres-
sional favor.
My present object is to secure for it that
preliminary consideration according to the
other routes to place it on an equal foot
ing with them for being examined and re-
portsd upon. Last week, under a fesolu
ton Of the gentleman from Ohio. Mr..
SHERNas. select committee Of fifteen was
raised, to whom was referred this whole
subject of a continental transit by railway.
I he vast importance of that subject; the
immense interests involved in it the nice