Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-01-18

En-. REGlsrER---You have signi(ied to
me yeur des'gn 10 publish . communica-
ton sf mine to the Cleveland Herald,
upon tho true route to the Pacific. To
accompany it, I have made some memo
randa upon The Pacific Railroad, which
l enclose. If they shall help to call At.
tention to this great subject shall be sat
is6ed. Yours truly, P. BLISS.
rIRsr-BoUrE OF EASTERN DIVISION.
The main line should be from the Du.
buque 4 Tactic Railroad. near its western
terminus, across the Big Sioux, up the
Missouri Valley to near the mouth Of the
Niobrarah, crossing the Missouri, and due
west 10 the upper Platte above Ft Lara.
mie and to the South Pass. From the
Missouri to the Upper Platte is unsurvey'
ed, but from reports Of travellers there is
no doubt a good Railroad route can be
found. Perhaps it will be found tha. the
road should cross the Missouri at Sioux
City, and 60 south Of the Niobrarah.-
Other roads from the north and south, es-
pecially one from Minnesota in the line
OF St. Paul, Mankato and Sioux Falls,
should in;crsect this road. Its advantage
over any other route arc
lst. Distance No other route can con.
meet the South Pass with the great com.
mercial centres of the continent, in so
short space. The longitudinal distance
from Dubuque to IT. Laramie is within
700 miles, and feasible railroad route
would be less than 500 St. Paul is about
100 miles nearer. But Laramie is too
far south and the advantage Of distance to
the Upper Platte direct, over a southern
road, is still greater than to Laramie
Dabuque is about l60 miles direct from
Lake Michigan, and should connect BY
rail with Milwaukee and Chicago in less
than two hundred miles.
I'd. Facility for Construction.-This
will appear, FIRST, when We consider that
the first hundred miles is along navi:s-
bic river, and in country being rapidly
settled by producing population and
second, in the fact that timber and stone
can be obtained at much less expense for
this than for southern route. Upon the
Missouri there is reasonable supply of
oak and cedar for ties, and abundance Of
cottonwood for shanies for workmen.-
After leaving the Missouri the supply is
more scarce, Though more abundant than
on The Platte) until the spurs o! the Black
Hills are reached. Among those hills is
on abundance of pine. This part Of the
route needs more thorough exploration
than has been given it, and am greatly
deceived by the reports hear, if such
exploration shall not discover supplies
both of timber. rock and mineral, that
shall forever settle the question of feasible
route.
Sd. CHmate.--It is by no means true
that, a cold, dry climate is worse than
warmer, damp one for winter work. 1t
is on the contrary true that more out door
winter work can be performed in the la,i-
tude Of lower Dakota than further south
The roads are better, people are healthier.
cattle and horses are healthier, and there
is no mud, and less snoW. The last state.
ment is not generally true, but Of this
country it is true, according to universal
testimony.
4th. Loyalty Of Ropulaiion.-Our Gov.
ernment has been hitherto administered
upon purely sectional principles. No
national consideration has been suffered
to weigh against the prejudices or inter
ests Of the South. This section is now in
open rebellion, and its par,izans are so
numerous in the border States that large
armies are insufficient to protect the pub
lia property. Railroads built by New
England capital in Kentucky and Missouri
are either pros;ituted to the service of
treason, or are daily subject to the vanda!'
ism Of its abettors. The people along the
route have indicated ore emphatically
and necessarily loyal. The highest ma.
tioIsl considerations demand that the
road BE- located where it cannot be reached
by vandal hands.
sEcoND-BY wHou BUILT AID WHY.
The road should be constructed by Gov
ernmen,, under charge Of the War De.
partment Roads bnit for mere CONNER.
cial purpose. should in general be left to
private enterprise, the Government giving
such aid and assistance a. comports with
ii, obligation TO "reguiate commerce -