The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-02
The Pacific RailrOads-The Gigantic
Character of these Enterprises.


When men talk-as some do--of sending
out of the country any portion Of its labor,
because of the troubles that have come of
difference betwixt races, in the past, let all
such reflect upon the vast works that yet
claim the best exertions of all the land, ire
spective of color, if the wants of the nation
are to be met, and its progress to be assured.
Possessed as we are of country almost limit
less in its bounds and resources when we re-
gard it as single great community, renem-
boring the vast space, measurably unoccupied,
which intervenes betwixt the States of the
Atlantic and Pacific coast, every hand is needed
| to bind more closely these communities in close
fraternity labors herculean and hardly to be
imagined are yet to be undergone, before we
can be united indeed in the material bonds Of
single great nationality. And how many Of
our people are fairly alive to the progress
already made towards bridging by railway the
great gap Te have noted as existing betwixt
| the States?
We have been reminded of all this by
glance at the Report of the Commissioner of
the General Land Office, in which he deals
with these matters so far as they have adj
vanced and if there is anything of sulpass-
ing interest to this nation, when we regard the
splendid future that now apparently opens be-
| fore it, this it is full surely. Thus far in our
history, we have been in the habit of consid-
ering such enterprises as the New York Cen
trial. the Pennsylvania Central, the Illinois
! Central, and our own Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, as rnarvels in magnitude and impor-
lance, and SO indeed they are for our past and
its opportunities but when we think of the
amazing expansion of that great West which
is now comprehended in the vast empire
which stretches away beyond the Mississippi
river, we are compelled to the study of prob
lens connected with our national greatness,
which like sums extending beyond billions,
throw the mind back upon itself in vain at
tempt to grasp the extent of the future of the
nation. Nay, the mere statement of the points
to be made in these contemplated roads, tests
and puzzles the geographical requirements of
most of our people for SO rapid have been
the changes on the maps within the past few
years as new boundaries have been laid down,
new routes opened and towns established that
very few are familiar with them who have not
been called upon tor peculiar reasons to make
a speciality of this branch of general know
ledge. -a
From the Report in question, it will be
found that two great routes to the Pacific are
contemplated the first Of which laid down
with particular reference 10 C centrality Of
position" starts from Omaha, Nebraska,
AID Is to be forins l-ess by the Jnioa Paeihc
on the " Eastern or Missouri side, linked to
+" the Central Pacific on the Western Pacific
"side, constituting one great national route. !"
This road takes its course, Denver, the capital
of Colorado, Salt Lake City, traverses Neva-
da near the silver region laying a course
for Sacramento city and San Francisco, con-
shutting the latter city centre of trade for
the Pacific coast-whep is considered its COM
manding position with reference to the COM
MERGE of Asia,-dazzling to contemplate
Branches in various directions are provided
for, but none of such importance as the one
through Lawrence in Kansas to the southern
boundary of that State, and to terminate at
Galveston Bay in Texas, trayersing thus one
of the richest agricultural regions on the conti-
nent. The land concessions ordered by Con-
gress in aid of the Union Central route, will,
by estimate, s. embrace some thirty millions
of acres"
The second of these great roads, 'tthe North
ern Pacific railway" is hardly any less impor-
tant, when we consider its immediate relations
to the vast Northwest, the greatest and most
promising grain growing region on the conti-
net; and inasmuch as striking out from a
point on Lake Superior, in Minnesota, in lati-
tude 470 North, we have no noted points like
the towns on the other route to mark its course,
we may state from the Report referred to- and
in general way, that it takes .sserpentine
line to Olympia at the southernmost point of
Puget's Sound, in Washington Territory, with
a branch road along the valley of the Column
bia river to Portland, Oregon, in latitude 45o
80" the land grant by Congress to accomplish
this great work, comprising by estimate, forty
seven millions threee hundred and sixty thou
sand acres"
Such are two of the marvellous enterprises
which amidst the turmoils and perplexities of
the past five years, have been mapped out by
the statesman of the nation and nothing
could demonstrate more conclusively the self
poise, the brave dependence in the future
which characterizes our times and our people,
than the unyieding faith in the strength of
the nationality these projects exhibit. Like
the steady advance to completion of our Ma
tional Capitol during the very agony of the
struggle which has recently terminated, such
undertakings show the temper of the people /;
that the latter recognize nothing as standing
in the way OF that splendid destiny upon
which they have set their hearts. More than
anything else shcald the exhibition of such
brave purposes teach other nations how idle
must attempts be to thwart our advance !;
whilst the most timid or distrustful of our own
people should learn lesson IF faith from the
sturdier OF purpose amongst us.-Baltimore
Daily Commercial.
CASUALTIES TO WISCONSIN SoLDIERs.-A
table of casualties to Wisconsin soldiers has