The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-07-07
Saturday. July Z. 1877.
MORTON ON THE RAILROAD
QUESTION.


"A address il Portland in which he
psye utterapce TO the following sound
views Oh the subject Of Northern
trauaconsinental railroad across Amsr-
ican Territory. He admits the neces-
sity Of the road, but hardly speaks
hopefully Of the prospect Of the en-
ccuragement necessary to its early CON
PISTON being given. Here is wha. the
Senator says:
"Oregon has been Of slow growth.
This il chiefly the result Of her great
distance from the settled parts Of cur
country. the difficulty Of access and the
little that Is known Of the interior Of
the country and It's resources. But il IS
Of the future of Oregon AID Washing
ton Territory that would speak.
Though looming up to Importance slow
u. il - not hard now 10 perceive what
may hereafter be their great value and
influence in the Union The first great
nsoessity, for their growth and deyel-
epment. Is q Communication by rail
scross the continent, to connect with
ths system Of railroads already extend
"a west TO tks Missouri river.
''Some years ago. Congress, aroused
70 the importance OF this great
thorcughfsre, made provisions which
we're thought ct the time to be amply
sufficient FIR is construction. 4 change
VI times, and. perhaps, bad manage
ment, and series Of misiortunes which
GOULD not be fOrseen. have checked tho
progress of'this work, and what may be
the prospect for its revival and ulti-
mats completion. cannot now say; but
whatever may have been the misfor
tunes. blundcrs or even crimes attend
Ing the prosecution Of that work. its
overwhelming importance has not been
diminished. bat is increasing and be-
coming more manifest. AS have be-
fore said. regard speedy and easy com
munication by rail between the different
parts Of our country, lying upon the
Atlantic. in the Mississippi and Missouri
valleys and upon the Pacific Coast. Is .
matter Of prime political. as we'll as Of
cOmnercial Importance. II is impossi-
Die even to estimate the value of any
single State t. the whole Union; it Is
impossible To fix price upon which We
would part with any State. even the
poorest; aud it is impossible to es,i-
mate the importance. politically. COM
0ercially and socially, of the settle
mont Of this region Of country, equal
In area to New York, Pennsylvania and
Ohio. with resources for maintaining u
denae population. and with prospects
Tor producing. in the greatest abund-
ancs. those staple articles upon which
the good-living and comfort of the
world depend. The people of British
Columbia. which contains population
now. including Chinese and civilized
half breeds, not exceeding sixteen thou
sand souls. have the promise, from the
Dominion Of Canada. Of the oonstruc-
tiOn Of railroad connecting with the
thst territory to the Pacific Coast The
territory Of British Columbia. as COM
pared with Oregon, the eastern part Of
Warrington and western Idaho. is com.
Sarstively Sterile. with but small pros
pscts. aud giving bu, feeble invitation
to the hardy settler.
"When tho rebellion first broke out. in
1891. my chief apprehension WAS for
the States and Territories on the Paci-
- coast west of the Rocky Mountains.
Separated from the Eastern States by
vast plains and deserts. trAversed
only by dim reads, made by the hardy
cod adventurous emigrants; 10y lofty,
s6ow clad ranges of mountains, pierced
he~s ~ni there by passes. through
whtrh the snigraa, train could move,
quite month, or more. being required
Tor the transmission Of the mail.
whether across the plains or " way Of
tbs isthmus the countries on the paci-
nc, having trade and commerce chiefly
with Asia. Japan and Soath America.
with no ties except those Of blood. edu,
cation and love of our common ins.,tn-
tions to bind the people Of the Pacific
coast 10 tho older States, trembled
Sor che result. can scarcely describe
- you nov. ith what intense anxiety
waited 10 hear the news from CAlifor,.ia
and Oregon. in response ~ the deela-
ration Tor svcessiou and a new confeder-
ncy made in the south. and with what
Rraiitica;ioA heard that the loyal sem
tinsnt in California and Oregon was
psrdominant. and would hold these
States 60 the Union, come what might
And had tue rebellion in the South
bean successful, and that portion Of cur
nation been separated from the country
and erected into new colteieracy. aud
thss tina prestige and the glory ot the
Cnion d~,ro, cd, /, is mo. improbable
lhst the people OF ;hs fsr-of Pacific
slopc would have cone Ia the oonelu-
sson tha, they had no interests ar pride
IN being longer connected with the dis
nonored fragments. IN the east, of
once glorious and happy union. and
weuld have sought 10 establish free
ANA independent empire upun this
cssst. Slice then the Union and Cen.
0al Pacific. railways have tsen con
sasueted. and California has now
srsqaent and easy Communication
with the elder States of the EAs.,
bot Oregon Washington. Idaho aud
konsans ArefAr OF ga ene side, still
dtfncals at aosess. AMI hat seldom Wis
RED excep; upon pressing business OF
BY ees adventurous Traveller. Who visits.
Describes. su. neveT settles Anywh here"