The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-09

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JKDAY sHPrAH[BEK 3 !
tho breaking up 81 old party lines, rings and
cliquss we shall be prepared In Decembsr 70
enter upon the work Of political rsvoluAo on
and reconstruction in this oorruptly governed
and shamefully plundered metropolis. The
State first and then the city. The cause Of the
Union first and then for Corporation reform
New Views or the Pacific Raiiroad-Ths
Grand Possibilities OF the Future.
One of the most important public projects,
now that the war is over, Is the construction Of
the Pacific Railroad from St. Louis to San Fran
cisco. No other human enterprise could pos
sibiy have such an effect upon the world at
large and upon the welfare of the human race
as that would have. The contemplation Of the
possible results of the completion Of that line
dazzles the imagination with the view Of the
grandeur of our commercial future that must
How from it; and yet its better and most inev-
table results are 80 clear, so immediate and so
obvious that they do not enlist the Imagination
at all, but are perceptible to the meanest faculty
| that can see how twice one makes two. Its very
| first result would be to make the route across
| this continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific
| from San Francisco to New York-the highway
OF the world. America would stand between
Europe and Asia, and become the central point
of human civilization. The products Of Eastern
Asia have been the first cause ofcommerce since
| the world began. The. manufactures and the
natural productions of China. the islands of the
Indian Archipelago and Hindostan, built up
| the ante Grecian commerce Of the Red Sea and
the Persian Gulf-when Tyrian ships, perhaps,
went through without Suez Canal-whither
the merchants sought the ivory, apes and pea
| cocks of Solomon, or the wonderful staple Of
Serica that has so moved the world in later
| ages The same articles drew Grecian ships
perhaps even the Argo-t0 the extremity OF
the Euxine, where Grecian cities were the de-
that began with those very Sine whom the con-
queror of Porus longed to conquer. In times
| nearer our own period the same trade was the
stimulus of all the navigation that resulted in
the discovery of this continent, and the realiza-
ton of Oriental wealth made England once SUI
preme on the seas.
With the completion of the Pacific Railroad
all the wonderful productions Of those
climes would cross this continent to their
market The silks and teas of China
and the opium Of India are only
items of the immense trade. 1t would
obliterate the present Indian routes of trade
and travel. Even the vast Suez canal, that,
though only temporary benefit (since it must
close up), might greatly facilitate the mari
time Intercourse OF Europe and Asia, would
be belittled and lose its commercial importance
altogether. The route from Shanghae to Lon
don, by way of Tehuantepec, now Landed by
| the English papers as superior to all others,
would be distanced, and there could be no
comparison of time between the two. Packages
from Shanghae would be landed in London
inside of forty days. Commerce, however in
| disposed or deferred by national prejudices or
fears, would be compelled to take this route
| by the imperative laws of trade, because 1t
would be the shortest and the cheapest. 1t is
obvious that it would revolutionize the mer-
camille world, and it's effects on this continent
would be also wonderfully great 1t would
| increase fabulously the growth and wealth OF
| all the cities on its line. San Francisco, st.
Louis and New York, and cities Off of its line,
like Chicago, would dwindle to rural insignif-
canoe But these main cities would find
their worldwide importance as CONNER.
cial centres not only greatly enhanced,
hut rendered permanent and put beyond
| the reach of change. And while centres
of trade have always hitherto been shifting,
while discovery and laws OF growth and change
have made deserts in all the ancient marts, so
that their very position is in dispute this
grand project would build up to the highest
grandeur cities whose existence and Importance
would be permanent cities based upon such
| real commercial reasons and such an advanced
knowledge that it is impossible to see how dis
| covery, advance "a it may, can ever destroy
their greatness, or repeat in their ease the his
tory OF the ancient centres of commerce and
civilization. Another great city will grow up
on The liae Of this road between st. Louis and
San Francisco Other lines Of railroad would
ramify through districts trodden now only by
the buffalo, the immense mineral resources O.
that Western world would be brought out, and
in from fifty TO hundred years the half of The
continent beyond the Mississippi would be SET
tied and peopled as the half east of that stream
is. and in great degree by the downtrodder
men of other lands, living here happy and free
And all these great cbanges-these immense
benefits 10 the world. to this country, to thu
human race-would inevitably flow from thu
completion Of line of railroad to the Pacific
that should connect New York and San Fran
cisco The construction Of that road, more
over. IL within our reach. Hitherto the Pacif,