The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-15
THE TRANSCRIPT.
Friday. March 10. 1867.
Pacific Railroads.

The immense Importance of the Pa
cidc rans-coutinental railroads seems
TO be but partially understood by the
people Of The United States, md the
reason is partly that the interest in
the war which devastated our country
for nearly five years, preoccupicd tho
attention oi tho whole country. But
now that peace has again dawncd ON
us, VIC shall take up with renewed
vigor The various plans for extending
and strengthening the bonds Of union
between the various sections of our
country. Congress should give all the
aid in their power by granting loans
or lands for the purpose OF expediting
the completion of the roads now be-
gun. Every loan Of this kind Iudici-
ously made will be repoid tenfold in
the results The truth is, to address
ourselves seriously to this great sub
jcct, that the social and pecuniary adj
yantages to the nation from these rail-
ways across the continent arc simply
beyond estimate; against which the
annual disbursement for a few years
Of the interest on the bonds loaned in
aid of their construction sinks into re
lative insignifcance.
The more lines which are built to a
reasonable number, the better it will
be- Each line stretches across the
continent belt of the foremost ciyili-
cation of the world Each line is
another bolt through our empire to
hold it together, fastened across the
entcrnal hills, and fixed at either end
to the shores of the bounding oceans.
Each line carries with it not only the
highest civilization, but fresh
guaranty for liberty and free institu
tons. Each line fixes a hold on the
unreasonable commerce of the Old
World China, and the Indies, which
has enriched every nation that has
touched it. What now would be Eng
lands position commercially consider
cd but for the millions of wealth which
she has derived from her connection
for century with India? The teas
and silks, and spices Of Asia must
from the laws of trade, find their way
to Europe over these railway lines
and such of these commodities as arc
wanted for the Pacific coast, ATTRACTED
by the stream of commerce the rail
ways will create, will tary at Sal
Francisco and other California ports
for distribution through the countries
which skirt that ocean for 100 degree
of latitude on this continent Tea vii
no longer lose from its flavor and val
ne by the long voyages twice through
the tropics, but, after breaking bulk Il
it leaves the Pacific, viii reach Ne,
York from Canton In less than fort
days, and London in fifty, shoul
steam be employed all the way; at
cost for transportation, interest an
insurance, of from 10 to ii cents pc
pound, which allows cents per to
per mile for its transportation By IA
from ocean to ocean SO Of all war
and merchandise which the busy IN
lions of the East produce. In retm
they will learn TO take of our man
features. The balance Of trade wi
the East has been settled for centu
mainly in silver. Are not the min
Of New Mexico and Arizona VIII
made accessible 10y a railroad to ma
Us the great silver producing count
of the world ? The country whence
to be drawn the means to sottle Il
balance, and that through direct shi
ments from the Pacific coast Who
so blind rs not to sec that the co
struetion of Pacific railways, and plcu
of them. in point Of route and track,
to change the words balance of ira
to our shores and fix it there foreyo