Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-06
CORRESPONDENCE,
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,


Correspondence of the Baltimore Daily Commercial.
WAsHINeToS. March 5, 1866.
Pacific Railroad Main Trunk Line Across the Rocl,,
Mountains to be so Located as 10 Accommodate ~
Parts Of the Country AGke-Iajustice of the Presea,
L9eation-Let Congress ArqiGhtea 1t az 70 Cir
Ship Canal to Complete the Line bettceen Alerond5ia
Ge9rggtoW&; Washington Baltimore, PhilodeDhi@
Messrs. Editors Of the Commerciol:-The National
Government has made provision, by law Of Congress
Tor the construction of single line Of railroad across
the Rocky Mountains, with branches at each end
leading to every part of the Atlantic and Pacific
States. These branches may be regarded as local
and interests; but the location of tho main trunk
central line across the Rocky Mountains is matter
which deeply concerns the citizens of the whole
Union. especially the citizens of your State. .
line drawn nearly straight through the centre OF
the United States, across the continent from our
the cities of Cincinnati. st. Louis, Jefferson City
West Kansas, Lawrence. Topeka Denver, Salt Lake
City, and large number of smaller cities and towns
1t passes through the richest agricultural and min
eral portions of the Union.
Railroad should follow from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc, with divergent branches at each end. By the
half of the route to Fort Riley, Kansas or to within
376 miles Of Denver. the commercial metropolis OF
the Rocky Mountain gold region.
At Fort Riley the Pacific Railroad route as estab-
lshed by Congress instead of following the line
above described, DIVORCES from direct western
making it necessary, in order to reach San Francisco
to again turn about one hundred and twenty five
miles to the SOUTH thus making the main trunk line
of the Pacific Railroad two hundred and twenty-five
miles longer than it need be- avoiding the rich min
eral region of Colorado and Nevada. and bur9eni"g
every pound Of freight and eUely passenger GettcesR
the Atlantic and Pacific with the unnecessary eX-
pense and delay of two hundred and twenty five
miles of useless transportation to say no hing of the
$l20OO0OO thrown away IN construction In fact the
route al present DESIGNATED IS manliestly UNJUST TO
the people of the whole Union, except the extreme
The Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada can tap the
Pacific Road as at present iocated) at lis extreme
northern angle, and thus make straight route from
Montreal to San Francisco while the Pennsylvania
Central Baltimore and Ohio. Virginia Central, and
deour of some hundreds of miles to the North Of the
centre of the Union, in order to make It connection
with read leading to the main Trunk line TO the
Pacific.
Let us then have the main Trunk line LOCATED
through the centre and give all roads. both North
and South. equal chance to tap It, IT Is not too
late to make the change.
Congress located this clrcutous route by the light
of the best attanable information at that time,
der the mistaken impression that the straight route,
which would secure the valuable trade of Colorado,
was impraeticable by reason of impossible noun
tains which later information proves incorrect. As
great engin eering obstacles have already been sur
mounted by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany in tire Alleganies, be found in the
STRAIGHT line across the Rocky mountains. ?,
The Philadelpaa NotIh AIe,ean 81. &a@ GaGa
pertinently remarks that the mining works, so nu
merous in California and Negada. accustom the PEG
pie of those regions to such enterprises, and there
fore no difficulty in undertaking the tunnelng the
Sierra Nevada and gigantic as it seems. we should
not be surprised if the promise of completion il i
year should be fulfilled West of the Sierra. the
GailioEnlans have made great headWay II n building
tended by the National Government, so that we may
regard the completion of the road from the Pacific
ocean to the Nevada settlements as assured
This is you viii ut once perceive, subject of great
national Importance tt rises above all local in
teress.
Colorado, now counted by hundreds or millions of
dollars, and which OF the completion Of the tactic
railroad will be increased hundred fold, can be
cOmmodatcd by branches even as the road is at pres
ent located by the zg-zag route. But the straight
cent ral route 22j miles the main trunk, and
as mucLi more IN branches making saving OF nearly
500 miles oil road, and at least S00600C cash in
sructon-a mere trite to be sure, but worth saving
when take int! consideration the saving OF 500
miles of useless transportation after the road is
pleted.
Congress should therefore, u an early day, make
provision for Strengthening this great national high
way from the Atlantic to the Prciic.
1t would be an act of supreme folly 60 make the
road as at present located; TO run Through wilder
ness; avoid the rich and populous region fColorsdO
unnecessarily increase the length OF the road and
branches some five hundred miles, and dtscOmmOdc
the people Of the whole Caion except perhaps, the
citizens of NOThcra tier of States of the Union and
the Canadas. l understand the Pacific Railroad is
for the accommodation of the people of the UuiteG
States. and not for the exclusive benefit OF the extreme
Northern States and British America. do not IN
derstand that our Canadian neighbors c6ntfibnte
anything towards building the road. and Of course
do not why they should be favored ever and above
the Central and Southern States of our glorious
In fairness then, to ell sections, let us have The
main trunk line, from Fort Riley, Kansas. to San
francisco, built as near aStTaight line possible
Let us have feeders and branches from every part Of
the country; but the Main Central Trunk Line must
be made straight and nearly through the center
of the Union and continent as possible.
As have already stated. Congress located the road
by the light of the best noTuatan attainabe at that
time, under the very prevalent mistaken idea that
the straight short route through the mineral regions
Of Colorado was impraete&ble by reason OF impass-
able mountains. l give no credit TO the statement
often made that Congress was unduly Influenced By
Canadian and extreme Northern interests.
OfcCurse few OF US knew, at the time the present
zig-EGg route was located, that the straight shoE
route was cheapest and best for the whole country
This very important fact however, was not then 50
well understood as at the present time.
Let u.s. then. bring it well before the people and
Congress- for there Thousand reasons in favor Of
the straight route and not one for the zig-zag
have already brought this matter to the attention
disposed to have crooked paths made straight Ger
tainly the matter should not be permitted to rest
until the correction is made.
4 NEW SHIP CANAL.
A charter has been granted for ship canal between
this city and Annapolis, Maryland, and is in the
hands of capitalists who know no such word as fail
The proposed canal is only eighteen miles long
canal and river navigation between this city and
Baltimore Philadelphia and New York; which will
confer incaculabe advantages upon the coal and
heavy coastwlse freight interest generally.
The completion of this great inland of water cont
municatiOn with the North aud Northeast which is
running in the same direction, would seem to render
the projected additional air line railroad between
this city and New York q superiuiy.
With great respect, y. D. Cone.