Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-20

with cnOp SUCKS, IL ne could get our nouf
and corn. bacon and beef, at anything Ike
a reasonable price?"
"A rich country springing up out Of
the wilderness, under the hand Of Anglo
Saxon industry and energy, and over
looking the wants Of 6O0.OOO,OO0 OF people!
The time will come--it may not be in our
day. but come it will, and the measure
proposed will hasten 1t on-when the
commerce Of Northwestern America over
the Pacific will be to the commerce over
the Atlantic as the fioodtide OF business
on the Father Of Waters now is TO the
slack water traffic OF the Schuylkiil
river"
Talk Of Benton's prophecies in 1870!
What are they in comparison with this
vision Of Maury in 1915. when he knew
nothing Of the stimulus which the gold
Of California would give to the Spring
ing up out OF the wilderness?"
What but transcontinental railways 70
the Pacific could accommodate the above
I foreseen commerce, or satisfy "Anglo-
Saxon industry and energyP' According
ly, when the Memphis convention reas-
sembled on the 18th Of November. 1876,
Mr.. Whitney was there with his scheme
for railroad to the Pacific, and he pre-
scented It to me. 1 was a delegate from
Richmond, Va, and was made one of tho
vice-presidents. Why should Mr.. Benton
be allowed, under the auspices OF Mr.
Sturgeon, or any one else, TO steal the
thunder of Mr.. Whitney and Lieutenant
Maury? Indeed, do not know that Mr..
Whitney was the originator Of the idea
of railroad to the Pacific.
The Memphis convention appointed
committee to memorabilia Congress in be-
half Of the measures which It recon-
mended. That committee were General
James Gadsoen. of South Carolina Chair
mani; ]. Guthrie, of Kentucky; r. Bar
ton, of Mississippi; Leroy Pope, Of Ten
nessee, and James Lucas, OF Missouri.
Their memorial was referred by the
United States Senate 20 a special COM
mittee, of which Mr.. Calhoun, who had
been the president Of the convention,
was chairman. Mr.. Calhoun's able re-
port was published in the Southern Lite
rary Messenger for August, 1916. IT op-
posed the construction even OF trans
continental railroads by the Federal Gov
eminent, but maintained that II was the
duty Of that government to aid railroads
which passed through the public lands,
by O grant to them OF alternate sections
Of said land.
In the fall OF 1877 I sold tho Southern
Literary Messenger to Mr.. John r.
Thompson, in order TO remove to Staun-
ton, Va, there to open and conduct "the
Virginia Female Institute" Of which the
widow Of General ]. u. b. Stuart ia now
the third principal. From Staunton,
April 13, 1913, wrote for Mr.. Thompson
a paper entitled "Stars and Steamers"
which he issued in the Southern Literary
Messenger for June, 1913, page 3H. From
that paper few extracts are presented:
cat the great Memphis convention over
which Mr. Calhoun presided, in Novem-
ber 1915, no interest was so strongly
represented, nor so boldly advocated, as
that of internal improvement by means
of railroads. The Atlantic and Missis-
sippi were to be speedily united by new
lines Of railroad from Charleston and from
some point in Virginia TO Memphis. From
this great stem innumerable branches
were to shoot off to the Gulf Of Mexico
and its tributaries, and to the heart of
Tennessee and other States, whilst the
great stem itself was to be pushed on
westward from some point in Arkansas
or Louisiana, and ultimately reach Call
fornia."
"Mr. whitney, author OF a scheme for
a railroad to the Pacific through the
more northern parts of our territory, was
at the Memphis convention and some or
the northern delegations were indoctri-
mated with his views. Part OF his views
were worthy Of universal espousal. He
could hardly exaggregate the value and
Importance Of turning the tide OF trade
travel, and correspondence with the
populous East through the United States.
ana having visited China and informed
himself also from other authentic sources,
he was a credible exhibitor OF the com
mercial advantages to be secured by us.
OF all these there was no doubt"
uHousvsr. Mr.. whitneys earnest
efforts can hardly remove the objections
IN his acheme, though I believe Congress
has saveral times been very near en-
bracing it. The scheme OF captain
wilkes IS Of more recent concocton' or
az least Of more recent promulgauon' ana
was set forth by him in publication on
the subject. 4, a.. Go,
.vacntion of a connection by railroad be-
tygsen the Pacific and the Mississippi VAL
10 will ho the selection OF the termlnL
think that Lieutenant Maury Favored
Nfonterav as the terminus on the Paclnc.
nreferred either San Diego or san tran-
cisco He had directed public attention
20 TIE great advantage Of sailing over
the oceans along great circles OF our
aIohe one day I asked him why the
same principle would not apply TO trans
variation overland, for tho earth was
es ronoh a sphere where the land was as
,ybars "the waters cover the sea- lie
sai6 that being a sailor and thinking so
.,s,,eh oe the oceans, he had not thought
20 thet. hut the same principle would
oar1,, IN land and ought TO be invoked
,,hera natural features and great con-
trnil,n, interests did not preclude Its
desired that Richmond and st. Louis
sho,,id both be on the great highway
acro~s our Continent. I took globe ana
svos surprised to ind that great cifcie
,,vnr a between Richmond and Monterey,
IN california, passed north OF 81. LOUIS
Ara vet both Richmond and ST. Louis
90 now substantially on seVeral steer
hirhways from the Atlantic TO the Pacinc.
That article on STARS and Steamers.
IN the Southern Literary Messenger, Tor
lure 1875 page GAG, contains the follow-
ing paragraph: -,
stunandous schemes, as nearly every day
no,y brings forth 10 develop the destiny
~ our great country, It Is calculated to
,naLe him repine at the fate which may
nrevent his witnessing and enjoying their
reel,zation. Richmond herself may be
one terminus OF an Atlantic and Pacific
route. She Is only little north Of Mem