The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-05-09
The Pacific Railroad
Completed.
How Travel Is to Be Com
Quoted.

worth. All this is well known and need not he re-
capitulated. In regard to geography the advance
was as great and marked. But if we attempt
to review our geographical knowledge Of The
present day, and compare it with what 1t was
centuries ago. We must confess, that the material
interests Of trading nations did more towards devel
OpiDg the hidden resources Of an unknown world
than oil the purely scientific studies OF those who
spent their lives in rummaging over maps and books
and in drawing and writing them for the edifcaton
OF their like.
Take vasco da Cana, for instance. What was it
that inspired him to seek a short route to IndiaY
Nothing but the prospect of commercial gain. The
manufactures OF India and the raw material of the
Indian and Chinese products 80 very costly in
Europe and their cost was so much increased by the
expensive transportation overland that cheaper
way, though it may be round about the world was
sought, for purely commercial reasons and pur-
poses. Vasca da Cana was the fortunate man who
found the cape that points off the southern coast Of
Africa, and by whom 1t was named the Cape of
Good Hope, indicating that the turning of this Cape
would realize whatever OF good hope the navigator
may have of the ultimate venture OF his journey.
What else did Columbus seek but a shorter route
TO India than that discovered by yasco da CANA
He foresaw, prophetlcally perhaps, that to go west
was better way 10 reach the Indies than 10 go
bOutn anu tnen ''turH Cne cape" ana back TO
east. BY making his experiment he discovered this
continent and for 1t his name VIII forever live in
history. Yet, what impelled HIM TO seek this west
ern course to the Indies was only the desire to find
shorter route for commerce and to lessen the cost OF
Asiatic merchandise to the European consumer.
What did Balboa want when with the the expense
of many lives and suffering almost untold hardships
and privanons, he ascened the Andes and ex-
claimed his prayers to the Almighty, on behoding
the Bay OF Panama and the mighty expanse of the
Pacific Ocean. 1t was, to speak IN modern language
q commercial venture. 1t was again what impeed
Vasco ia Cana and Columbus to seek shorter
route to India. All the subsequent voyages OF cele
brated ocean travellers, of Magellan and Cook,
were prompted by commercial interests, and even
the search for the northwest passage was nothing
else but an attempt to obtain shorter ocean route
to the indies so that the Eastern trade may be Sc
cured to the nation that discovered It,
Then came other experiments The mechanical
science OF the world had increased. II was known
how to sever continents, how TO connect oceans.
Great ship canals were projected. The first Napoleon
made the first large attempt in this direction and
the Grand Canal, sconnectlng the Atlantic with the
der his auspices. While yet general, he projected
the gigantic work, finally undertaken under the
reign OF his nephew, the third Napoeon the cut
ting through OF the 1sthmus OF Suez. And why
Only to gain shorter passage to the Asatc bee
hives of trade. Englishmen have long thought of
cutting through canal at what Is called the 18TH
mus OF Daren, in Central America. Many surveying
expeditions had been sent out; many millions OF
sterling were spent many lives lost and all for the
Tor the trading community "A shorter way TO India.
The English went even further. EnterprisIng,
posed TO be assisted they sent their engineers into
the pampas In South America to survey the dreary
pasture OF wild cattle for railroad .'across the
CONTINENT But the almost insurmouritable ranges
Of the Andes presented such obstacles that the
Englishmen gave up the project in despair.
While yet prisoner at Ham the present French
Emperor prepared, and he published afterwards,
when IN London, treatise, entitled 'ld5es Napoleon
iennes" In which, with great sagaclty, ne eX-
West to China and India. With remarkable accuracy
he described the Typographical condition OF Nicara-
qua and how, by using the river San juan the lakes
Of Nicaragua and Managua and the bay of Fonseca,
u ship canal could be built. His idea taken up
by Others, Americans as well as English but no re-
built, in aid Of our own trading community, 10
tain the commercial connection OF the Atlantic
states with our Pacific possessions. This was sue
cess; yet but q partial one, as il did not give
u route To the Asiatic trade. The Tehuautepee
road IN MEXICO was protected ana partly sur
TO La VnetOsa Bay, but nothing further than
wagon road was ever built. On this, on the Nlca
ragua route the mail was carried for time; yet for
the great route to India 1t was never available and,
perhaps. never will be. George f. Squire was for
years at work on his projected railway through
Yucatan and Honduras, but as yet not the first
spadeful OF ground has been dug. And behind all
these different enterprises lay the thought, that If
successfula new and shorter route might have been
for the trading nations OF the earth 10 reach the
Eastern continent for the parpose OF barter.
nav when n a na 40 Ses ana ne
largest revenue, the Panama Railroad IL not whatit
should be; II Is not new road 10 the Indian and Chi
well on the lsthmus OF Suez they have dug and dug
and made way for their pleasure steamers pass;
hut for the general commerce OF the world they have
NOT so far, at least, done much
Russia Is endeav0iinR, In the same direction, TO
throw out its railroad connections to Central and
Southern Asia. This Is partly suggested by military
reasons, but yet the commercial benefits TO be de.
rived by q close connection of Western Europe with
India were ~ much II not more powerful aids In the
enterprise. England always alert TO her interest
has also entered the field and Is now pushing for
ward to completion railroad through Asiatlc Tur-
AuU. D.vu hnf LttF I'M N Chnri
have three routes to Indla-the French through the
lsthmus OF Suez. the Russian through siberia and
Tartary, and the English through Turkey and Persia.
WHAT AMERICA DONE.
but the Americans have oufstripped them all.
While other nations were planning and pro-
iccting the American people were studying
with advantage the topography OF their own
country. And at last they have accomplished
what they but partially attempted in building the
Panama Railroad-they have opened road TO the
.indiesn shorter, cheaper and more expeditions,
than any that has yet been offered to manllfac.
turing and trading Europe But let us take view oi
what has been done In tins respect here IN our own
country.
A certain book about TO be published contains a
long chapter ON this matter, ana with AL It's length
and tediousness OF elaboration, It fails TO give the
true aspect OF the case. IL Is not necessary nor al
all useful to go back into the last century and to dig
up explorations These are mere IDEAS prophetic
perhaps but moi based on any actually. But one
" probably most indebted Tor the present 70.
suits. had very practical view Of this matter
now exactly ffty years ago. the man we refer
10 was Thomas Hart Benton for thirty years Seua
tor Of the United states from the state OF Missouri
In the year 1919 Benton was the editor OF the ST
LOUIS MOI Inquirer, aud In that Journal he wrote
series ~ articles In which, partly from personal in
spcction, partly from knowledge acquired froU
'trappcrs' and Indian traders IN the then Mexican
State OF California beyond the Rocky Mountains h,
stronRy advocated the building OF wagon roat
from 81. Louis to the Bay OF san Francisco 10 enc
nj some point on the San Jacinto or san joaquin
rivers. lie spoke OF the Eastern trade with the full
knowledge or its history, aud earnestly impressed
upon the people the fact that by facilitating tn
transit across the Continent OF the trade of the Eas
the wealth OF the country would be iInmcasurabI
Increased. At that time railroads were not know
Stephenson had not yet put the steam engine OF
wheels. still the graspine mind OF Benton fore
communication with the Pacific. feasible a.
WAS 10 his own intellect, and he pressed
With ali the viH0r and power Of his pen Nor ild h
sOrset H. when two years later he entered the Ser
ats There are nov M Wees Re1ister, In Gale an