The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-03-27

mother country, and to count as our
best inheritance our birthright Is Bri-
tons; but all our commercial and Dusi-
ness relations are so intimate with the
neighbOring American population that
we see no other feasible help out of our
present difficulties than by being united
with them, unless your Majesty will
help Us as aforesaid
We think it has been proven that the
northern route is not capable OF sustain
ing a large population on the entire dis
lance, bat the SUBMITS are about four
thousand feet less than on the central
line that the distances, on an average,
from san Francisco and Seattle to the
different ports on the Atlantic shore,
are three hundred and sixteen miles less
than on the central route, and thata de-
/ gree Of longitude being less on the 18th
than on the 3Sth latitude, makes the
distance by ocean from Canton 70 Liv-
eIpOOl on the northern route. some
eight hundred miles less, making in all
over one thousand miles less ON the
northern route between Asia and Eu-
rope than any other route across the
continent.
The sum Of ascents and descents from
*, Paul to Seattle Is u, 7S7 feet, and o.
3S7 feet on the central route. These flg-
urcs give the best practical index of the
effect of the gradients to increase the
cost Of transportation.
Engineers allow one mile for every
j2.03 feet Of rise and denOting the adj
ditiOnal working expense over a level
route. This difference would make one
hundred and fOTty-fOur miles more in IA
vOr OF the northern route. Then add to
this the fact that Liverpool, and all the
principal ports in Europe, lie between
the 4Sth and sd degrees Of latitude
north, and we have again in favor of
the northern line an average Of250miles
on the Atlantic, making in all a real
distance Of ,ll5 miles, in addition to a
practical working distance of IA and
z3O-l 30, giving in reality 1 80 miles
advantages to the Northern route over
amy other route across the continent be-
tween Liverpool and Canton
These facts show that not only j. Pu-
get sound nearer Asia than San Fran
cisco. bat that the overland distance to
the principal cities on the Atlantic coast,
and especially the great lakes, where
freight can beshipped without breaking
bulk, 10 Europe direct Is much less
than the distance from san Francisco To
the same points by either the central or
the southern route, and the grades are
much easier on the northern route than
on any other route, and the grade is one
OF the controlling elements in carrying
freights. Add to this the fact that the
northern route viii be self-sustaining
the entire distance, while on the CEN
Jral route there are hundreds of miles
that viii not produce grass, and to
which the company must actually trans
port fuel for the use of its road.
Taking all these things into consider
alton, and that we have the finest har-
boz in the world on Puget Sound, sur
rounded with all the great and perman-
emit resources of wealth, capable of ac-
commOdating the shipping of the whole
world IL safety, and that the distance l.
so much shorter from Liverpool to Can
ton, over the northern route than any
other across the continent. IL is evident
it VIII be for the interests Of the Govern
ment To avail itself of this route in the
transportation of its troops, munitions
OF war, and the mails, not only FOR our
own country, but for the British poses
sions, and for Europe and Asia, tOgeth-
or with the express freight, and al cost
~ articles, such as teas and silks, which
VIII Toe an immense item within q few
years, not only in Europe, but 10 our
own Mississippi valley, when it comes
tOcontalna population of 80. 0Ju. 900 souls.
which il soon viii.
I'm inns connection, / may state that
1t has been estimated that a ton OF
freight can be delivered al Chicago bv
the northern route for less than it can
DE delivered at Rock island. on the Mis-
-i-sippi, by the central.
Indeed, comparison Of the distances
ami the cheapness of GOwn-river freight-
show that % ton of freight can be taken
from Seattle, over the Northern route.
tl.arrf 4 ~.
d3ilNered, not only at Rock Island or st.
Louis at less cost than If can be delivered
aI either OF those points by the central
route, buJ il can descend the Nlississip-
pl and be delivered at any point thence
% NeW Orleans at less cost than from
san Francisco, either by the central or
the southern route.
In giving these statistics and in MAX
ing these comparisons I do it with no
nVidiOus feeling whatever toward the
central or any other competing route. as
ve OF the North are glad to see our
friends of the central road pushing their
work through with such energy and Wig
D. as to astoni-h the whole civilized
world. The sooner there j. a continuous
'ail from New York to san Francisco
.he better for the people of Oregon,
w aShingtou, idaho, and Montana. in
common with those of California. Neva-
In, Utah, and Colorado, and | think
hat the Government viii find that the
I'D extended To the central route, will
prove 10 be the best loans ever made, as
he increase III taxes and revenue mus.
prove very great, indeed. But / give
hese statements simply to show that in
III the essential characteristics of travel
md OF commerce, in respect to distances.
md other natural advantages, the north
'rn route has the advantage. And if the
friends of the route and of the Govern
nent in general will prove true to their
,wn interests, they VIII build up and e.
ablish on our own soil a great national
highway between Lake Superior and
Puget Sound. over which will flow
Trough the beautiful valleys and over
he mountains of Washington and Mon
ana, the great golden current of wealth
rom the Orient, which has never horne
mpire on its pathway.
To build this road, which no cOnpany
S able to do, without assistance from
he Government, i understand the COM
amy do not ask for capital all that
hey ask for Is the endorsement of the
government, substantially as furnished
o other and similar roads as a basis of
redit.
The provisions Of the bill are such a
o preclude the possibility of the loss of
single dollar by the Government
And feel sure that the business of the
DAD VIII be so great even from the COM
that not only the interest
mt the bonds viii be paid of'promtly at
mere Is no reason why the northern
DAD should not pay as well or even bet
er than the central. And from the re-
Ort OF the Secretary of the Interior ''the
mon Pacific Railway Company fur
ished table showing that the amount
etained by the United States Treasurer
rom that due the company on the Gov
rnment business, for the month of
august last is nearly eight per cent. per
nnum OF the principle of the bonds is
ued to the company ON account of the
construction of the road This would
epay the principal at no distant period
" the Government business alone.
hould il be continued to the same ex-
ent. The payment OF the bonds at ma-
urity Is, therefore, considered by the
to be fully assured, and the
'Oad as being built, so far as the Govern
nent is concerned, simply by the loan
)f its credit for term of years upon AM
pie security, and without the actual ex-
Denditure of single dollar from the pub
lie treasury. With aid of the credit