The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-04-28
PACIFIC \ AsLAoAD. - S,e
Rsvsss e cAe speeias Cs.asssss - -
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL
sssusfsseA = ~ sysess ~ Re.,..,~s,xtve,

-
K.pss, e sAe speei1s cs..sss.s - q,
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.
ssssstsseA = ~ ssssss ~ Repsessssssivea
A Aests ~, $50 - - ar
The seIest com0ittse - vhou we're re.
ferrsd sil nastsss retatsng to . Paci6e Rail-.
road sod ssleEsaph line have had she saot
nades esas'derssisn, asd ssbais she foi-
lowing report: ~ is,s 3 gtt
Tbs sppiiessioo Of Sea. poser v props
steaobsass and ioeomosives has heesns
| universal ansnE civilized natiDns. Esery
pursuit shich requires CELEBRITY, certainty,
snd econemy Of mosemrns goes BY sseam
asd, sltbouxh ie 10 only about thirty 6vs
| years sincs railroads and loeonssIves we're
invented, IL sssld pov be cons,deesd pre-
posssrous to presens asguEen.s to prove
ihsir general nscessisy in she public and
private Affairs Of state. -
Commercial, postsi, naval, and military
movemen ents are every secelersted b.
! the appiication OF steam On water and land
and to avoid dangerous and disg.aeefoi
delay in national progress, every cosnssy
IN ast make provision IN soDe way to COM
pete with shis new clemens Of nasienel
progress. In the Crimesn war, France spd
England availed themselves Of steam pro.
ypulsions, asd even eonstssctsS . sailsead,
TO tbs great adsanage Of the allies, and
damage and disaster Of Russia. Us s
/ Eyery country should have means OF
ysilrss6 transportation to salient remote
points, otherwise ocean steamers can over
wh..Im such points before they can receive
sucsor from home. 10 the recent Italian
war, the adoption Of steamboats, and rail-
roads - military facilities or auxilasiss
concentrated more decisive action in ,hses
IN months campaign than could otherwise havs
been effected in three years. Raiirosds are
now absolutely necessary for military pro-
lection, and mig ghs be justified in sJms
Instances on the ground Of public safety,
and under the legal maxim, Salus populi
supren,a est Ier. LIE. US apply the general
principles 10 the conditions OF California
and the surrounding Pacific settlements
Our only effective commercial lines connect
ing with those States are circuitous, exte-
rior, and oceanic, passing through foreign
States by no means particularly friendly 10
Us. The routes and sections Of routes,
which Iis on the ocean, are exposed to su :
perior naval Powers in Europe-Powers
that are becoming vastly stronger BY recent
alliances, and by the application OF modem
improvements. The transits by the lsthmus
are exposed to international wars that are
frequent in the unsettled condition Of Gen.
trai American States. In the event Of
probable wars among other nations, there
fore, and what IL worse, in case OF war
involving ourselves, ali our lines OF COM
mun,cation that could serve for commercial
and military purposes would be imme diAtely
beyond our reach, and most likely be occu-
p ed by other hostile Powers, which could
ssizs upon those lines, transport an army
by steam. and make campaign in Calit0r-
MIA, before we could transport forces across
the country to succor or sustain our friends
and kindred Of the Pacific shore. A Pacific
railroad is a military necessity to aid in the
defence Of the Pacific States; and every re-
Eeeting mind possessed of patriotic emotions
will perceive that California's wealth and
weakness invite aggression, and demand Of
US immediate and decisive exertion in their
behalf. The Constitution has devolved up
on Congress the power and the duty "to
insure domestic tranquility to provide for
the common defence, "rcgulate commerce
With foreign nations, and among the sever
nj States aud with the Indian TRIBES" and
$50 establish post Offices and post-roads."
A railroad 9 nnection with the Pacific
would ~ ON o.e ~~e,, ~ud ~il <ho~o s~u-t,.~-
tiunal provision, and every citizens desirous
VI maintaining the integrity of our Union
will find ample Justification within some Of
these PROVISIONS to justify the national aid
necessary to secure the nctual result. We
have had Conventions of the people, resolu.
tons Of States, the declarations Of great
political societies for years presenting and
pressing this matter before Congress-
Large scms have been appropriated aud
expended in preliminary explorations; large
volumes have been written nnd published at
the public expense the President has re-
pcatedly urged it upon Congress; and IT
may be regarded as u national determination
tha. We must now take decisive action and
secure successful results. With this view Of
the subject your committee have earnestly
and anx,ously sought a solution which would
determine the magnitude Of the requisite
work and the best means Of accomplishing
IL.
Fortunately. the expcrien Of our people
in the construction Of thirty thousand miles
of railroad has rendered the subject familiar
to ev ,rybody. and the eighteen-hundred or
Two thousand miles now required to connect
our railroad system with the navigable wa
tiers Of the Pacific. near San Francisco, il
only psrpisxinx because It passes through
sparsely settle and somewhat barren por.
tions Of the Republic. and because OF the
importauces its construction will give TO
adjacent locations. The explorations which
have been prosecuted with great ability by
officers al the United States army and the
he siaP
the explorations, have furnished tbs careful
student with ample means to de.srmine sems
rational conclusion Of this important sub
iect. A large map. drawn under the d'rec-
ton of Captain Humphreys and Lieut..
Warren "a Photographic miniature Of which
will accompany this repors) has also aided
your committee in The determination OF
great conflict of vieN relating to the length
aud position Of routes. Asa preliminary
qnesiion, your committee frst determined
10 adopt but one line alih ugh many able
arguments were urged in favor OF two or
more. Having thus determined on one
road. BY reference to the map which pre-
.enis the liue reported practicable it will Do
perceived the subject ,s reduced TO that OF
considering four roasss and selecting the
hest OF these as the basis Of oar estinsfes.
Able arguments have been presented in IA.
vor OF each route. and each has its special
ties bnA favorable and uufsvorabie. On
either route maunsNns. rivera, and sterile
lands must be traversst. and on o,hef parts
OF each route, rich valleys, gentle grades,
and culslvsblc lands are to be found. 70
pres"es ,hs fsvarabls and unfavosab.s
qualities Of each route wound extend this ~
rss beyond reasonable limits, and your
committee having reso.s 81 upon the pre-.
sentatien Of the central route without
prrjadies 70 others. they viii present maisi!
The arguments faworinS the construction OF
railroad on that hypothesis. The VAST
consequences 10 onr country and to Localities
veirA must rssoii from the ,ns,raciioa o.
faesae railroad cause ,his question oil
route to he the most dtkenis aad exciting
obstacle n the d.terrina,iou OF Coegrss-
aenai action. Wherever the location De
made, great advantages must mare TO the
vicinity. and therefore every section Of the
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