The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-05-09

Seatons Debates OF Congress- in the Globe and In the
are fo1nd made onS pror to the
introduction of railroads, urging the opening OF the
country west Of the mississippi and Missouri to the
securing passage to the Pacific. When the Oregon
boundary question, the "Fifty-four forty Fight"
matter was up in the Senate, Benton again, In his
great speech on that SUBJECT referred 70 the inter-
continental transit from ocean TO ocean, facilitated
by the Introduction OF railroads and gave It as his
earnest conviction that the Rocky Mountains would
prove barrier TO the extension Of the iron track
nom the Atlantic TO the Pacific.
The first actual survey OF road across the Conti-
nent was made by Bent0n's sOn-in-aw, John G. FIRE.
mont, accompanied by German engineer named
line snd al war Se n Sefween o.
mont and kearny, which sprang out OF 1t IN cOnse-
quence. But again and again, inspired by the en-
thuslasm OF Benton, John Z. Fremont ventured out,
and 1t was to his discoveries, II what he found and
described may be called by that name, that Benton
gave sed Wen ne ae hca
topee Pass In the Rocky Mountains, and that on the
Hnerfano Butte should be erected colossal statue
OF Washington, overlooking both sides OF the Cont
nent. Congress was thus agltated upon the subject
that at last appropriations were agreed TO- providing
for surveys Tor a railroad 10 the Pacific. Under
these appropriations number Of surveys
were made for four routes the northern the central
the middle route and the southern route. The hrst
through Minnesota and the district OF country now
comprised In the Territories OF Dacotah and Mon.
tana, through Washington and Oregon; the Central
by the line proposed by Benton; the middle route by
way of the South Pass, and the southern road was
projected through Texas, the ella Valley and
Walkers Pass. These surveys were tnOrOugn. Inc
physical geography OF the world received most
valuable additions. What mad, heretofore, been un
known territory between the Rocky Mountains and
the Sierra Nevada was exactly described. me
Wahsatch and Humboldt mountains We're located;
the several passes and canOnS available for railroad
purposes were carefully surveyed aud explored and
described, and thus the knowledge OF the country
OF the topography of this heretofore unknown re-
gion was enriched. These reports are now esteemed
among the most valuable works ever published by
Congress at the expense OF the nation.
The agitation for q railroad took positive shape
when the result OF these surveys became even par
italy known In 1855 all the three political parties
the democrats, at Cincinnati, the republicans ut
Philadelphia and the ''Americans''-had o plank"
in their several platforms less explicitly
pledging their cooperation and approval to the
building Of a Pacific railroad. Yet other, ana for
the time more important questions engrOssed the
public mind, and only IN 1861, when the States
rights men ana the 'strct cOnstructiOniStS OF the
JeffersOnan democratic school were left In o hope
less minority In Congress by the secession OF the
Southern Senators and Representatives then only
bill was passed. taking the shape Of an act OF incOr
pOratOn, for the building OF railroad through the
Territories, from the Missouri to the Sierra
Nevada. Under this act nothing OF any ac-
count was done. There were no means provided,
and the capitalists OF the country were chary Of IN
vestng in the enterprise, the war encOmpaSslng all
tine energies and means OF the people. Another
appeal was made to Congress by the cOrpOrators
and their friends, and in 1862 second act was pas
sed, granting from 1000 to $4S, 600 per mile in
United States bonds taking second mortgage and
confirming the immense land grant heretofore
made Since then operations ON the road have
rapidly progressed and now we have it completed
What the whole world has been striving after for
the last 400 years America has furnished 1t within
the short space OF seven-an available and eXpedl-
tlOus route to the "lndies" across the American
continent, securing to us, without doubt the lions
share of the Aslatic commerce
This was no small undertaking, as will appear
rom the following taDle or Stations distances and