Daily national Democrat., 1860-07-10
The Pacific Railroad to be Built by
Private Capital

sembHng Of the late Congress, that no bill
for the construction of Pacific Railroad
would pass during the session, and that the
whole great question would be left, at the
end in no bettera condition than before. So
it has proven. Completely nothing has been
done, nor is there any prospect that it ever
will be done, SO far as any present indica-
tions are concerned. The fact Is, that this
road is not likely to tie built at all except by
private capitalists Congress will never agree
upon any given route. Sectional feeling will
always prevent that. At any rate, it will
prevent it for many years 10 come. But
even should it not prevent it, and were Con
gyessional action, in favor of any given route
at all practicable, it is very doubtful " whether
it would not be better for the interests of the
country for Congress to refrain from the
work, and leave it to private hands The
/ New Y York Herald makes some observations
on this point, which are forcible. 1t says:
Ofcourse we are all in favor Of a railroad
to the Pacific That matter was settled long
ago. The question then arises, are we in IA
vor Of the construction of such a road by the
government? Are we willing to enter upon
81 magnificent Job? Is it seriously pur-
posed hy any considerable number of sensible
persons to throw seventy five or a hundred
millions of dollars into the hands of pOlili-
clans as notorouslv corrupt as those of both
the great parties in this country? We be-
! lirve not. at least we trust that the day
| when Congress will countenauce such a
scheme is far off.
The real obiec,of the persons who are most
active in urging the government to assist,
either with money or lands, or both, in the
construction Of the railway, is to extend the
business of Camden and Ambov, New York
| Central. and similar great corporations, over
the remainder Of the Union, and place the
ruling power in the country in the hands of
spectators as unprinciped as those who
have bought up the Legislatures of New
York and New Jersey many time. The
greatest power in New Jersey to day is the
Camden and Amboy Railway The Car OF
Russia is not more absolute monarch than
the direction OF that corporation. We read
great deal in the papers, at home and
abroad, about the savishness of the French
/ Corps Legisatif; but Mr.. Dean Richmond is
rs potent at Albany as is Louis Napoleon
among the Legislators. 1t is more than prob.
able that, should the general government 90
into tie railway business on its own account,
! lie spectators would reduce the whole conn
try to the contemplate position held to day
by New Iork and New jersey.
The road is to be built for the country the
country cannot he made by the road We
are opposed to the extension Of railway rule
over the country, and believe that Congress
will do well to let the Pacific Railroad ques-
tion alone.
There is great deal of force in the above
observations. The Camden and Ambov Rail
road Company is not only vast monopoly
but it is a tremendous political power in the
country, and potent in the forwarding OF
some of the most corrupt measures of State
legislation
But, aside from any such considerations as
those urged 10y the New York Herald, the
fact presents itself, in unmistakable distinct
ness, that the road will lot be built, for a
long series of years to come, unless 10y pri-
vate enterprise and it becomes important to
inquire how far even this prospect may be
relied on. We'll, private enterprise has con
structed nine.teuths of all the railway exist
ing in the United States. and the money anC
labor expended on these roads would hav,
built fifty Pacific Railroads. The same char
acter Of enterprise can of course effect like
results and build roads in any direction over
which there is right of way. Private en-
terprise can do at once hat Congress would
go at with snail's Tace. Sectional feeling
would not enter into the considerations of
private capitalists, with regard to the selec-
tion Of route, They would simply deter
mine upon the best route, and proceed with
the work Of construction. While Congress
was debating with all the ocrimonv engen-
dered by local jealousies and partisan prpiu-
dices, the builders of the Road would be pro.
ceedng with their enterprise and hurrying it
to its completion. 1t is so manifestlv pay
ing operation, that no man could hesitate for
moment TO embark in it, if lie were at all
disposed to invest in railroad enterprises, for
road commanding the transportation ofhalf
the commerce of the world, and being the
great highway of continents, could not fail TO
rewerd capital beyond all that has ever been
dreamed of remuneration before.
lfsome strong man, of the requisite inAu-
ence and energy would take this matter in
hand-stir up the public mind upon the sub
ject-leave Congress to its wrangles-appeal
tn the wealthy citizens of New York. New
Orleans and the rest-select his route along
the 32d parallel or even on less favorable
line if he chose--open his books for subscrin.
tion in all the important cities, not exclud
ing, as matter Of course San Francisco
Ma:ysyille, Stockton and Sacramento, and
the towns of California generally, and press
the business forward with such exertions us
men should make who have large objects in
view, that Road would be built in few
years.
We think the press generally ought to
urge this kind of action. 1t is in vain to woit
for any movement by Congress. 1t will be
the same old story of wrangling, hoLbIing,
dilly dollying and doing nothing. Let pr-
vate enterprise take up the work and carry
it through.
ACCIDENTS AT GRASS VALLEY Y.-The Grass
Valley National Of July 7th, records the fol-
lowing list of accidents
+. b. Waller was seriously but not danger
ousy wounded on the Fourth by the acci.
dental discharge of pistol
A little boy, son Of Mr.. Douson. of this
place, about six years old, was run over by