The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-13
Southern Pacific Railroad.

General FREMONT is reported to be en-
gagged in Washington in procuring charter
Cor tho Southern Pacific railway through
the public lands lying OH the route. 1t Is
quite strange that this charter has not been
before this granted. The bill for the pur-
pose has been left high and dry amongst
tho many not disposed Of ut two or more
sessions. This fate was brought upon it by
hostile interests, which were to be at least
propiiated by delay. 1t must, however,
finally pass. A measure So just i'll every
particular cannot be successfully opposed
for any long period Of time. The route by
which the road is located is so eligible in
every respect that the interest OF the nation
will demand and compel its construction.
Nor can Congress deny the right of way.
when the money of the nation has been
employed in constructing the Union Pacific
line, which, for its advantages. has not half
the reasons to recommend it to Federal
raYor that this Southern Pacific route has.
One is lost in admiration of the line by the
low Typographical depression of the South
west Pass. From Memphis it pursues its
general line of west southwest, skirting The
elevated plains sufficiently near the hills
that are scouts to the mountains to be re-
frcshed by the pure and cooling breezcs
from them, and yet keeping far enough of
10 avoid the cost and trouble of travcrslng
their ridges and ravincs. Continuing
thus, it finally strikes that region where,
had the mountain chain not been broken
off, the Southern Pacific would have to be
carried on by heavy grades, innumerable
tunnels, deep cuts and fills, and to protect
itself by snow-sheds, as with the Central
Pacific road. But the mountains, as it were,
subdued by the gentle temperature and
genial and peaceful scene which the earth
glcd in its repose. Save here and there an
elevation, which, like bit of flying cloud
that has broken away from mass that
frowns from the sky, there are no Interrupt
tons to the eveHness of the. country, and
these are easily turned wherever they
happen to occur upon the line.
Passing this interesting point, and break
ing out upon the Pacific shed, the line runs
smoothly on to the port Of San Diego, CAL,
on the Pacific coast, some four or five hum
drcd miles south of San Francisco. This
port is the very finest OH the Pacific
both deep and land-locked from storms.
A branch road following the rich valley of
the san joaquin will connect with San
Francisco.
A route such as this, superior to any
other, must become the most popular and
the chief line of travel and Of trade be-
tween the two great oceans. Its eastern
terminus-if it can be said to have any for
when it strikes Memphis it will have as many
mouths as the Nile-will be the Chesapeake
bay. To that, at least, will be conveyed its
heavy freights that are destined for the
ocean. 1t is understood that the Norfolk
aud Great Western road has been consoli-
dated with the Southern Pacific line as the
shortest route to the Chesapeake, which it
unquestionably is.
Now, this magnificent route will unques-
tionably have the preference. 1t will be ex-
posed to no perils such us those incurred
by the bold engineering called in play to
scale mountain heights and span deep
gorges, and provide against the dangers OF
frosts where they occur, as they do on the
Union and Central Pacific roads, so as to en-
tail almost ineXtricable difficulties, and
seriously to menace life itself. Instead OF
fifty miles of snow-shcds, which are re-
quired to shelter the traveller on the Cen
tral Pacific railroad, not one single shed OF
any length will be needed upon this admi-
rable line to San Diego. 1t traverses
throughout country which is blessed with
. perennial spring-too dry and mild for
exhausting feyers; too genial and sunny
for frosts and SHOWS. 1t will never be i'm
peded by any cause save accidents to ma
chiuery, which themselves will be lessened
in number by the temperature, whose gen.
tieness and evenness maintain that equa-
bility in metals, preserves the quality
of elasticity, and avoids that tendency to
fracture and separation which frost is sure
to produce.
Such being the character of this great
route, it is easy to perceive that it will be
The most delightful and safe in the Union.
That 1t will be built there can be no earthly
doubt. 1t would be so strange that such a
line were not laid with railway in less
than tef years from this time that there
would be no accounting for it. We would
nave TO suppose that this wise and money
making nation had become suddenly blinded
70 tse circumstances which usually guide
Them In their enterprises, and that o paraly.
els. along with the blindness, had seized
upon them. No railway yet built or pro.