Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-01-04

THE Pacific Railroad is one of tue great
questions of the day that has been thrown
in the back ground by the niger question.
Were ebony out of the way it would be
what it really is, great political national
question As it is, it looms up more and
more in its gigantic proportions, and is
forcing itself, for practical results, on the
national attention. One of the avowed
objects of Greeley's owe. land tour last
summer, was to be able, as the conductor
of one of the leading journals of the coun-
try, to advocate, on the strength of person
al observation, the best of the three great
routes proposed as courses for this NAM
moth highway The first article on the
subject has appeared and is good one.
The preferable route, though not tho
easiest, he thinks, is one which shall pass
through the valleys of Kansas, to the nor
therly sources of the Arkansas, and, pas
sing the Rocky mountains near the South
Park, thence winding down some tributary
of the Colorado, thence to follow in or
near Captain Simpsons new road to the
valley of the Carson, or whatever stream
should be found to protfer the least diff
cult way across the Sierra Nevada to San
Francisco. This route, Mr.. Greeley thinks,
will intersect a rich mining region; will at
once command large traffic from the
Kansas gold region, Utah and Carson val
ley, and that it will, besides, have an inn
mediate and large local traffic.
Mr.. Greeley believes that for much of
the distance $4,000 per mile will grade and
bridge double track, while portions will
cost 100000. From the Missouri, at va
rious points, to San Francisco, is about
1000 miles. To complete the road this
distance. with a double track, and fully
equipped, he thinks may cost $4,000 per
mile, or $l5O,OOO, 900; although sanguine
engineers may estimate at $4,000 mile,
or $780, 100000. Mr.. Greeley thinks that
the work can only be accomplished by the
aid of the government. he says:
"But let that government simply resolve
that the Pacific railroad shall be built
let Congress enact that sealed proposals
for its construction shall be invited, and
that whichever responsible company or
corporation shall offer adequate security
for that construction, to be completed
within ten years, on TIE lowest terms,
shall have public aid, provided the amount
required do not exceed fifty millions of
dollars, and the work will be done; GER
tainly for fifty millions bonus, probably
for much less. The government on its
part should concedc to the company mile
in width, according to the section lines, of
the public lands on either side of the road
rs built, with the right to take timber,
stone and earth from any public lands
without charge; and should require Of said
company that it carry daily through
mail each way at the price paid other
roads for conveying mails on frst-class
routes; and should moreover stipulate for
the conveyance at all times of soldiers,
arms, munitions, provisions, &c, for the
public service, at the lowest rates, with n
right to the exclusive possession and use
of the road whenever national exigcncy
shall seem to require it. The government
should leave the choice of route entirely
to the company, only STIMULATING that it
shall connect the navigable waters of the
Mississippi with those of the Pacific
Ocean, and that it shall be constructed
wholly through our own territory"