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30th CONGRESS, 1st Session.
[SENATE.]
MISCELLANEOUS. No, 28.
^ MEMORIAL
OF
ASA WHITNEY,
PRATING
For a grant of land to enable him to construct a railroad from lake Michi gan to the Pacific ocean.
JAN VARY 17, 1848.
Referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:
\
Your memorialist begs respectfully to represent to your honorable body, that he presented a memorial to the last-session of the 28th Congress, praying that a tract of the public lands, 60 miles in -width, from lake Michigan ,to the Pacific ocean, might be set apart and granted expressly to furnish means^ by sale and settlement, to enable him and his associates to construct a railroad to connect with the above named points.
Said memorial was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals, and a unanimous report adopted " recommending the subject to the deliberate attention of Congress 'and the people, and the public lands as the only means for such a work, which should not be long delayed, as the lands -were rapidly being taken up." Said memorial is now respectfully submitted.
During the summer of 1845 your memorialist, with a company of young-men from different States, explored and examined a part of the proposed route. The object and result of said exploration were declared and expressed by your memorialist to the 29th Congress. His memorial was referred to the Committee on Public Lands in the Senate, Hon. Mr. Breese chairman. His able report was unanimously adopted by the committee, and, with a bill introduced and passed to a second reading,
ordered to be printed; your memorialist begs to submit said report with his memorial to your honorable body.
Your memorialist, viewing the great importance of this great work to our whole country, has devoted his whole time and attention to it. He believes he has examined the subject in all its bearings, and made himself master of it, and fixed upon the only plan by which this work can ever be accomplished.
Your memorialist would now represent and explain the plan by which he proposes to carry out this great work. He prays that your honorable body will be pleased to set apart 60 miles wide of the public lands (and an
Tippin &, Streeper, printers.
2
equivalent for any -which may have been taken up) from lake Michigan to the Pacific ocean, for this especial purpose. He has explored and examined
a part of the route, 'and from the lake onward for 800 miles the land is of the very best quality, but nearly 500 miles of this 800 without timber, and
then no timber on to the Rocky mountains.
That after this 800 miles, onward nearly to the ocean, the land is represented as very poor—too poor to sustain settlement; therefore the whole work is based upon the 800 miles of the first part, with the belief that the facilities which the road would create and give to settlement, intercourse and .communication with markets, would render a part of the poor lands
useful and available.
Your memorialist does not ask your honorable body for the appropriation of one dollar in money, or even for a survey of the route. He proposes to make the surveys, commence the work, with machinery, preparations, and arrangements for its continuance, and complete ten miles of road, at his own expense; and when the ten miles is completed to the satisfaction of a commissioner, (appointed as your honorable body-shall direct,) and with his satisfaction that the work will be continued, then your memorialist' would receive five miles, or one-half oi the lands on the line of the ten miles
/ i—
of road completed, with which to reimburse himself. The other five miles, or half of the lands, to be held by the government, and so on for each and every ten miles for the 800 miles of good land, or so far as the one-half of the land set apart will furnish means to complete ten miles of road. Thus the road would be completed for the 800 or more miles, and in operation -with one-half (the alternates five miles) settled with towns, villages, and cities, while the other half (or alternates) held by the government would be enhanced in value more than fourfold what all is now worth, and held or sold as the demand for actual settlement may require;
but when sold, to be sold as Congress shall direct, and the proceeds held ,as a fund to continue and complete the road through the poor lands all to the ocean; and the road and machinery also held by the government as further security tliat the work will be continued and completed. Beyond the 800 miles of good lands, and through the poor lands, when each and every ten miles of road shall have been completed,, and the entire ten miles by sixty of lands do not furnish means to reimburse for the actual outlay, then the furfd which may have been accumulated from the reserved half of good lands, or the lands, shall be applied to this purpose; but in all cases;, .the ten miles of road must be completed to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, before any lands, or money from lands sold, can be touched by your memorialists and associates.
When the road is so far advanced that security can be given to the government that it will be completed, then your memorialist and associates , shall pay to the government cents per acre for all the lands set apart for this work; but the balance, with the fund from the half of the good lands, if any, after the road is completed, shall be held subject to keep the road in repair and operation while it may be considered as an experiment, and until by its earnings it can provide for itself; then the surplus land, and lands if any, with the road and machinery, shall belong to and De the property of your memorialist and his associates and their heirs and assigns, but leaving with Congress, if necessary, the power of prescribing
h^?0^ e for .^y^-P11^ ^ids at public auction to the highest bidder, and leaving with Congress the power of fixing and regulating the
3 [28]
tolls of said road forever, after sufficient only for repairs, operation, and necessary expenses; with power also to fix and regulate the transportation of United States mails, troops, munitions of war, &c,, belonging to the government; thus making it a national road, still built and carried on
purely as an individual enterprise, without any government, political, or party machinery or influence.
Your memorialist would further represent, that one m-ile by sixty -wide would give 38,400 acres; and when the lands are good, one mile of land, at $1 25 per acre, would furnish means sufficient only .to,build two miles of good road, (as this must be,) with heavy rail, with bridges and the necessary machinery; and having the double quantity of land on the first part is the sure and only guaranty to the people that the road will be completed, and without which it would be impossible and idle to attempt it.
Your memorialist would further represent, that the distance from the lake to the ocean, on a straight line, is but ] ,780 miles; that from the lake to the pass in the mountains is 1,098 miles; and a road maybe constructed on a straight line; but allow for detour 50 miles, is 1,148 miles; thence to the mouth of the Columbia river, or to Pugot's sound, is GS2 miles; but allow for detour 200 miles, is 882 miles—making the estimated distance from the lake to the ocean 2,030 miles.
It is estimated that it will cost for a good road and turnouts, ^20,000 p(?r mile; for 2,030 miles - - - - ^40,600,000
And as the road, except this side of the Missouri, cannot earn any income, until all is completed, a further sum for repairs, operation, and machinery, will be required of - - 20,000,000
Probable cost of road, when completed and ready for use - 60,600,000, but it has been estimated much higher.
The 2,030 miles by 60 wide, which your memorialist has prayed for, for this work, would amount to 77,952,000'acres.
The 800 miles of good lands would give 30,720,000 acres; from which deduct waste land and usual expenses of sale, and allow the facilities of the road to enhance tlie value so as to average .^1 25 per acre, would yield $32,832,000. Thence to the ocean is 1,230 miles—47,232,000 acres—the greater part of which, is represented as .being too poor to sustain settlement, but allow tlie facilities, which the road would undoubtedly create, to cause it to average one-half of the present government price, (^1 25 per acre,) and deduct expenses of sale, and we have ^27,044,000 more—making together ^59,879,000, or less than the estimated cost of the road. But your memorialist believes 1'hat, by connecting the sale and settlement of the lands with the building of. the-road, and the great advantages which the road would render to settlement, he will be enabled to realize the means for the full and complete accomplishment of the work; but if the commencement is clayed even for a few months, the lands on the first part of the route (on which all depends) will be so far taken up a-s to defeat it
forever. '•
Your memorialist believes the lands which he lias prayed for are:oi no
value, (except for a small part of the first part of the route,) and believes it impossible for settlement to take place without the road first, as there are nearly 1,200 miles without timber, and no navigable streams to communicate with civilization, and no possible means to transport materials for buildings and fences; therefore settlement would be impossible, and the
land of no use to man, or value to the nation; but by taking settlement and materTals on with the road, connecting the two together, the hopes and expectations of your memorialist can he realized, but not otherwise.
The estimates and calculations which he has presented to your honorable body is not to show the present or future value of the lands, but to yhow that he has full confidence in the effect which the road will produce on
them. ' -, . —I .n - i r-Your memorialist believes that the nation at large will receive benefits
far beyond any present or future value of the lands; and as it is a work so directly and decidedly national, that a price should be fixed for the lands—not at what the government are now selling the best at—not at what even it is proposed to reduce the price by graduation, but at the actual cost to the government—that though 16 cents per acre has been named as the price for your memorialist to pay for all the lands, he considers that price as too high, believing the government can never, in any other way or time, realize so large a sum, and believing the government should not speculate upon a work promising such vast and beneficial national results. Your memorialist taking upon himself the entire risk and responsibility, should the enterprise fail, the government lose nothing, while he must lose all; he therefore feels that the price for the lands should be fixed at not above their actual cost to the government, and it cannot be expected that your memorialist and associates will pay out some 12^ millions of dollars for land^ to build this road without expecting a return for it; tlierefore if the lands set apart do not furnish means to complete the road, and reimburse the 12^ millions,, then so much more must be added to the tolls as will pay for the use of tills investment; so the government and the people are interested in fixing the price to be paid for the lands at their actual cost.
Your memorialist believes that he has fixed upon the only route across our continent where such a road can be built, where the streams can be bridged, so as to make an uninterrupted intercourse from ocean to ocean;
the only route where the wilderness lands can be made to produce the means for the work; the only route where so vast an extent of wilderness country can be opened to settlement, production, and communication' with all the markets of the world, creating and producing the only means to increase and sustain commerce, as well as all other branches of industry; the only route where the climate would not destroy our animal and vegetable products, thereby closing to us forever the vast markets of Japan, China, and all Asia; the only route which would give all our Atlantic and gulf cities a fair opportunity to participate in all its vast benefits. It will be found, from actual calculation, that the starting point, on the lake or at the crossing of the Mississippi, is nearer to Charleston and Savannah by 50 miles, than to New York, and 250 miles nearer than Boston; and the Charleston and Georgia roads are now completed nearly to Tennessee, and will be the first from the Atlantic to reach this; that Mobile and New Orleans, by proposed railroad route, are nearer than New York by 311 miles, and nearer than Boston by 511 miles; Richmond and Baltimore 200 miles, and Philadelphia 100 miles nearer than New York; and there is no other
route across our continent which would change the present route for the commerce of Europe with Asia.
A canal at Panama, Nicaragua, or Tehuantepec, has been mooted for nearly two hundred years, surveys and explorations made; but all rests
5 [28]
where it commenced, and will undoubtedly remain so. No one has examined and calculated to see if anything in distance couia be gained
and your memorialist begs to present to your honorable body the actual distances from London to Asia, via the present sea voyage, and via a proposed canal, as well as via railroad to Oregon. His calculations are for a canal at Panama, though Nicaragua and Tehuantepec are a few degrees north and west, would not increase or dimmish the distances, but the navigation and access to which from Europe would be far more dangerous and difficult than Panama.
From London to Panama 81° of longitude and 42° of latitude must be overcome, and which, in a straight line, would vary little from - - - - - 5 868 miles.
From Panama to Canton is 170° of longitude, measuring 60 miles to the degree, and is on a line - - "10 200 (i
Making from London to Canton, on a line via any canal - 16,068 "
From Canton to England, via the Cape of Good Hope, in the season of - the northeast monsoon, as follows:
From Canton, through the China sea, to the equator, is - 1,320 miles. From the equator to Lunda straits, to 12° south latitude - 750 tc Through the region of the southeast trades to 27° south
latitude and 50° east longitude - - - - 3,200 " Thence to the cape - - - - - 1,560 " From the cape to London ----- 6,900 {c
13,730 "
Again: From Canton to England, via the Cape of Good Hope, in the season of the southwest monsoon—
From Canton to the straits of Formosa ' - - - 480 miles. Thence to Pill's straits, passing near the Pelew Islands - 1,300 " Thence to Alla's straits - - - - - 1,200 "
Thence to 27° south latitude and 50° east longitude • 3,900 " Thence to the cape ------ 1,560 "
And thence to London - - - - - 6,900 "
15,340 "
In the first instance, the route by canal would increase the distance between London and Canton 2,338 miles? and in the latter, 728 miles.
The distances both for a canal and for via the cape, are calculated for a straight line from point to point; but owing to trades and currents, a sail vessel could not make either voyage on a straight line, and the voyage from London to China is estimated at not less than 17,000-miles, and it would be increased in the same manner and proportion by the canal route.
From London to New York is 74° of longitude, at 45
miles each -----; 3^30 mlles-Thence to Puget's sound or Columbia river, via proposed
railroad, is - - - - • • 2,96*5
Thence to Shang-Hae, in China, is 115° of longitude, ^
at 47 miles each, is - - - - - ^4U5
Making from London to China, via New York and via ^ railroad .----- U^a
6
For the railroad part of this route; the actual railroad distance is taken to the Mississippi, thence to the ocean 250 miles is allowed for detour. The seaport may be made by steam on a line, and a saving from London to China, over the canal route, of 4,370 miles on a straight line, and equal to more than 6,000 miles under influence of trades and currents, and for salt vessels, the distance being so great from point to point that steam could not be used, except at an enormous expense; and there -would also be a
saving of more than half in time. Again: From England to Singapore, via the proposed canal, during the
northeast monsoon—
From London through the canal at Panama - - 586 miles. Thence to Singapore on a line, 180° longitude; at 60 miles
each 10,800 t£
16,668 "
. From England to Singapore, via the Cape of Good Hope, northeast monsoon—
From England to the cape - - - - 7730 miles.
^^•^f^k ••• ^^"^" ^^ •- ./
Fhencepast the island of Amsterdam and St. Paul's, to 105° east longitude, and between 39 and 30° south latitude - - - - — - - 4,320 (f Thence to Auger point - - - - - 1,740 c:
And thence to Singapore - - - - - QQQ c
14,350 miles,
3,330 «
2,963- u
7,260 ic
or 2,318 miles against a canal.
From London to New York, as before Thence to Pugefs sound - - -Thence to Singapore 132°, at 55 miles each
13,553 miles,
or 3,115 miles less than straight lines by a proposed canal, and may be accomplished by steam, saving more than half the time. Again: From England to Valparaiso, via Cape Horn, is - 9,400 miles. From England to Valparaiso, via proposed canal - 8,978 "
422 miles difference in favor of canal, but would not change route.
By reference to a globe, it will be seen that a vessel anywhere on the coast from Panama; bound to China, would gain more than 2,000 miles in distance by first proceeding to Oregon, and thence to China. For steam, this route is the only means of supply for fuel; and it will be seen that in crossing the globe within the tropics, the degree of longitude measures fall 60 miles, while on a course from a point at 30° on a line to 46° latitude measures but 47 miles to the degree. Comment is unnecessary;
but your memorialist begs to submit an article from DeBow's Commercial Review for October, fully explaining this subject of route. It was prepared with great care and labor, and your memorialist believes its statements and
calculations of distances to be correct, and doubts not it will satisfy all who read it.
Your honorable body will see, from the map herewith submitted, that
7 [28]
our continent is placed in the centre of the -world; Europe, -with 250 millions ofpoulation, on one side, and all Asia on the other side of us, with 700 millions of souls. The Atlantic, 3,000 miles across, separating us from Europe, while the calm Pacific rolls 5,000 miles between us and Asia, and no part over 25 days from us; and it will be seen that this proposed road will change the present route for all the vast commerce of all Europe with Asia, bring it across our continent, make it and the world tributary to us, and, at the lowest tolls, give us 25 millions of dollars per annum for transit alone. It would bind Oregon and the Pacific coast to us, and forever prevent the otherwise inevitable catastrophe of a separate nation growing up west, to rise at our decline, and control us and the world. It would open the vast markets of Japan, China, Polynesia, and all Asia to our agricultural, manufacturing, and all other products. It would open the wilderness to the husbandman, and tal^e the products of the soil to all the markets of the world. It would make available and bring into market lands now too remote from civilization, and add millions of wealth to the nation. The labor of the now destitute emigrant would grade the road, and purchase him a home, where comfort and plenty would surround all. Man's labor would receive its proper reward, and elevate him from inducement to vice and crime. It would unite and bind us together as one family, and the whole world as one nation, giving us the control over all, and making all tributary to us.
Your memorialist would further represent to your honorable body that his memorial and plan, presented to the 2Sth Congress, was the first matured plan ever presented to Congress, or to the world, for a railroad to connect the Atlantic with the Pacific, across our continent; that in his memorial to the 29th Congress, the origin of that plan is dated back to 1830;
that your memorialist in urging this plan embraced all others, by declaring "the work could not be done by the government; could not be done by States not yet formed, and could not be done by individual enterprise;
because no man would invest money in a work which could not produce any income during his life time;" therefore your memorialist believes there -can be no plan for this work of which his is not the origin and foundation. His plan has now been before the public more than three years, and the expression throughout the country is universally in its favor; and the press has, almost without exception, urged its adoption, and the legislatures of twelve States, by almost unanimous votes, have passed resolutions approving and declaring it " the only feasible plan by which this great work can and be accomplished," recommending its adoption by your honorable "body, and instruct.ing and requesting their delegates " to give it their prompt
attention and support."
Your memorialist would further represent that he has devoted exclusively more than three years in this country, and nearly two years in Asia, to this great subject; that he can commence the work without any delay, and is tally satisfied that he can carry it out to its full and perfect completion on the plan he has proposed; but any material alteration would defeat the whole. He therefore prays that your honorable body will take this great subject into early and deliberate consideration and action; and, as in
duty bound, will ever pray.
ASA WHITNEY,
Of New York
"WASHINGTON, D. C., January 17, 184S.
30th CONGRESS, 1st Session.
[SENATE.]
MISCELLANEOUS. No, 28.
^ MEMORIAL
OF
ASA WHITNEY,
PRATING
For a grant of land to enable him to construct a railroad from lake Michi gan to the Pacific ocean.
JAN VARY 17, 1848.
Referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:
\
Your memorialist begs respectfully to represent to your honorable body, that he presented a memorial to the last-session of the 28th Congress, praying that a tract of the public lands, 60 miles in -width, from lake Michigan ,to the Pacific ocean, might be set apart and granted expressly to furnish means^ by sale and settlement, to enable him and his associates to construct a railroad to connect with the above named points.
Said memorial was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals, and a unanimous report adopted " recommending the subject to the deliberate attention of Congress 'and the people, and the public lands as the only means for such a work, which should not be long delayed, as the lands -were rapidly being taken up." Said memorial is now respectfully submitted.
During the summer of 1845 your memorialist, with a company of young-men from different States, explored and examined a part of the proposed route. The object and result of said exploration were declared and expressed by your memorialist to the 29th Congress. His memorial was referred to the Committee on Public Lands in the Senate, Hon. Mr. Breese chairman. His able report was unanimously adopted by the committee, and, with a bill introduced and passed to a second reading,
ordered to be printed; your memorialist begs to submit said report with his memorial to your honorable body.
Your memorialist, viewing the great importance of this great work to our whole country, has devoted his whole time and attention to it. He believes he has examined the subject in all its bearings, and made himself master of it, and fixed upon the only plan by which this work can ever be accomplished.
Your memorialist would now represent and explain the plan by which he proposes to carry out this great work. He prays that your honorable body will be pleased to set apart 60 miles wide of the public lands (and an
Tippin &, Streeper, printers.
2
equivalent for any -which may have been taken up) from lake Michigan to the Pacific ocean, for this especial purpose. He has explored and examined
a part of the route, 'and from the lake onward for 800 miles the land is of the very best quality, but nearly 500 miles of this 800 without timber, and
then no timber on to the Rocky mountains.
That after this 800 miles, onward nearly to the ocean, the land is represented as very poor—too poor to sustain settlement; therefore the whole work is based upon the 800 miles of the first part, with the belief that the facilities which the road would create and give to settlement, intercourse and .communication with markets, would render a part of the poor lands
useful and available.
Your memorialist does not ask your honorable body for the appropriation of one dollar in money, or even for a survey of the route. He proposes to make the surveys, commence the work, with machinery, preparations, and arrangements for its continuance, and complete ten miles of road, at his own expense; and when the ten miles is completed to the satisfaction of a commissioner, (appointed as your honorable body-shall direct,) and with his satisfaction that the work will be continued, then your memorialist' would receive five miles, or one-half oi the lands on the line of the ten miles
/ i—
of road completed, with which to reimburse himself. The other five miles, or half of the lands, to be held by the government, and so on for each and every ten miles for the 800 miles of good land, or so far as the one-half of the land set apart will furnish means to complete ten miles of road. Thus the road would be completed for the 800 or more miles, and in operation -with one-half (the alternates five miles) settled with towns, villages, and cities, while the other half (or alternates) held by the government would be enhanced in value more than fourfold what all is now worth, and held or sold as the demand for actual settlement may require;
but when sold, to be sold as Congress shall direct, and the proceeds held ,as a fund to continue and complete the road through the poor lands all to the ocean; and the road and machinery also held by the government as further security tliat the work will be continued and completed. Beyond the 800 miles of good lands, and through the poor lands, when each and every ten miles of road shall have been completed,, and the entire ten miles by sixty of lands do not furnish means to reimburse for the actual outlay, then the furfd which may have been accumulated from the reserved half of good lands, or the lands, shall be applied to this purpose; but in all cases;, .the ten miles of road must be completed to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, before any lands, or money from lands sold, can be touched by your memorialists and associates.
When the road is so far advanced that security can be given to the government that it will be completed, then your memorialist and associates , shall pay to the government cents per acre for all the lands set apart for this work; but the balance, with the fund from the half of the good lands, if any, after the road is completed, shall be held subject to keep the road in repair and operation while it may be considered as an experiment, and until by its earnings it can provide for itself; then the surplus land, and lands if any, with the road and machinery, shall belong to and De the property of your memorialist and his associates and their heirs and assigns, but leaving with Congress, if necessary, the power of prescribing
h^?0^ e for .^y^-P11^ ^ids at public auction to the highest bidder, and leaving with Congress the power of fixing and regulating the
3 [28]
tolls of said road forever, after sufficient only for repairs, operation, and necessary expenses; with power also to fix and regulate the transportation of United States mails, troops, munitions of war, &c,, belonging to the government; thus making it a national road, still built and carried on
purely as an individual enterprise, without any government, political, or party machinery or influence.
Your memorialist would further represent, that one m-ile by sixty -wide would give 38,400 acres; and when the lands are good, one mile of land, at $1 25 per acre, would furnish means sufficient only .to,build two miles of good road, (as this must be,) with heavy rail, with bridges and the necessary machinery; and having the double quantity of land on the first part is the sure and only guaranty to the people that the road will be completed, and without which it would be impossible and idle to attempt it.
Your memorialist would further represent, that the distance from the lake to the ocean, on a straight line, is but ] ,780 miles; that from the lake to the pass in the mountains is 1,098 miles; and a road maybe constructed on a straight line; but allow for detour 50 miles, is 1,148 miles; thence to the mouth of the Columbia river, or to Pugot's sound, is GS2 miles; but allow for detour 200 miles, is 882 miles—making the estimated distance from the lake to the ocean 2,030 miles.
It is estimated that it will cost for a good road and turnouts, ^20,000 p(?r mile; for 2,030 miles - - - - ^40,600,000
And as the road, except this side of the Missouri, cannot earn any income, until all is completed, a further sum for repairs, operation, and machinery, will be required of - - 20,000,000
Probable cost of road, when completed and ready for use - 60,600,000, but it has been estimated much higher.
The 2,030 miles by 60 wide, which your memorialist has prayed for, for this work, would amount to 77,952,000'acres.
The 800 miles of good lands would give 30,720,000 acres; from which deduct waste land and usual expenses of sale, and allow the facilities of the road to enhance tlie value so as to average .^1 25 per acre, would yield $32,832,000. Thence to the ocean is 1,230 miles—47,232,000 acres—the greater part of which, is represented as .being too poor to sustain settlement, but allow tlie facilities, which the road would undoubtedly create, to cause it to average one-half of the present government price, (^1 25 per acre,) and deduct expenses of sale, and we have ^27,044,000 more—making together ^59,879,000, or less than the estimated cost of the road. But your memorialist believes 1'hat, by connecting the sale and settlement of the lands with the building of. the-road, and the great advantages which the road would render to settlement, he will be enabled to realize the means for the full and complete accomplishment of the work; but if the commencement is clayed even for a few months, the lands on the first part of the route (on which all depends) will be so far taken up a-s to defeat it
forever. '•
Your memorialist believes the lands which he lias prayed for are:oi no
value, (except for a small part of the first part of the route,) and believes it impossible for settlement to take place without the road first, as there are nearly 1,200 miles without timber, and no navigable streams to communicate with civilization, and no possible means to transport materials for buildings and fences; therefore settlement would be impossible, and the
land of no use to man, or value to the nation; but by taking settlement and materTals on with the road, connecting the two together, the hopes and expectations of your memorialist can he realized, but not otherwise.
The estimates and calculations which he has presented to your honorable body is not to show the present or future value of the lands, but to yhow that he has full confidence in the effect which the road will produce on
them. ' -, . —I .n - i r-Your memorialist believes that the nation at large will receive benefits
far beyond any present or future value of the lands; and as it is a work so directly and decidedly national, that a price should be fixed for the lands—not at what the government are now selling the best at—not at what even it is proposed to reduce the price by graduation, but at the actual cost to the government—that though 16 cents per acre has been named as the price for your memorialist to pay for all the lands, he considers that price as too high, believing the government can never, in any other way or time, realize so large a sum, and believing the government should not speculate upon a work promising such vast and beneficial national results. Your memorialist taking upon himself the entire risk and responsibility, should the enterprise fail, the government lose nothing, while he must lose all; he therefore feels that the price for the lands should be fixed at not above their actual cost to the government, and it cannot be expected that your memorialist and associates will pay out some 12^ millions of dollars for land^ to build this road without expecting a return for it; tlierefore if the lands set apart do not furnish means to complete the road, and reimburse the 12^ millions,, then so much more must be added to the tolls as will pay for the use of tills investment; so the government and the people are interested in fixing the price to be paid for the lands at their actual cost.
Your memorialist believes that he has fixed upon the only route across our continent where such a road can be built, where the streams can be bridged, so as to make an uninterrupted intercourse from ocean to ocean;
the only route where the wilderness lands can be made to produce the means for the work; the only route where so vast an extent of wilderness country can be opened to settlement, production, and communication' with all the markets of the world, creating and producing the only means to increase and sustain commerce, as well as all other branches of industry; the only route where the climate would not destroy our animal and vegetable products, thereby closing to us forever the vast markets of Japan, China, and all Asia; the only route which would give all our Atlantic and gulf cities a fair opportunity to participate in all its vast benefits. It will be found, from actual calculation, that the starting point, on the lake or at the crossing of the Mississippi, is nearer to Charleston and Savannah by 50 miles, than to New York, and 250 miles nearer than Boston; and the Charleston and Georgia roads are now completed nearly to Tennessee, and will be the first from the Atlantic to reach this; that Mobile and New Orleans, by proposed railroad route, are nearer than New York by 311 miles, and nearer than Boston by 511 miles; Richmond and Baltimore 200 miles, and Philadelphia 100 miles nearer than New York; and there is no other
route across our continent which would change the present route for the commerce of Europe with Asia.
A canal at Panama, Nicaragua, or Tehuantepec, has been mooted for nearly two hundred years, surveys and explorations made; but all rests
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where it commenced, and will undoubtedly remain so. No one has examined and calculated to see if anything in distance couia be gained
and your memorialist begs to present to your honorable body the actual distances from London to Asia, via the present sea voyage, and via a proposed canal, as well as via railroad to Oregon. His calculations are for a canal at Panama, though Nicaragua and Tehuantepec are a few degrees north and west, would not increase or dimmish the distances, but the navigation and access to which from Europe would be far more dangerous and difficult than Panama.
From London to Panama 81° of longitude and 42° of latitude must be overcome, and which, in a straight line, would vary little from - - - - - 5 868 miles.
From Panama to Canton is 170° of longitude, measuring 60 miles to the degree, and is on a line - - "10 200 (i
Making from London to Canton, on a line via any canal - 16,068 "
From Canton to England, via the Cape of Good Hope, in the season of - the northeast monsoon, as follows:
From Canton, through the China sea, to the equator, is - 1,320 miles. From the equator to Lunda straits, to 12° south latitude - 750 tc Through the region of the southeast trades to 27° south
latitude and 50° east longitude - - - - 3,200 " Thence to the cape - - - - - 1,560 " From the cape to London ----- 6,900 {c
13,730 "
Again: From Canton to England, via the Cape of Good Hope, in the season of the southwest monsoon—
From Canton to the straits of Formosa ' - - - 480 miles. Thence to Pill's straits, passing near the Pelew Islands - 1,300 " Thence to Alla's straits - - - - - 1,200 "
Thence to 27° south latitude and 50° east longitude • 3,900 " Thence to the cape ------ 1,560 "
And thence to London - - - - - 6,900 "
15,340 "
In the first instance, the route by canal would increase the distance between London and Canton 2,338 miles? and in the latter, 728 miles.
The distances both for a canal and for via the cape, are calculated for a straight line from point to point; but owing to trades and currents, a sail vessel could not make either voyage on a straight line, and the voyage from London to China is estimated at not less than 17,000-miles, and it would be increased in the same manner and proportion by the canal route.
From London to New York is 74° of longitude, at 45
miles each -----; 3^30 mlles-Thence to Puget's sound or Columbia river, via proposed
railroad, is - - - - • • 2,96*5
Thence to Shang-Hae, in China, is 115° of longitude, ^
at 47 miles each, is - - - - - ^4U5
Making from London to China, via New York and via ^ railroad .----- U^a
6
For the railroad part of this route; the actual railroad distance is taken to the Mississippi, thence to the ocean 250 miles is allowed for detour. The seaport may be made by steam on a line, and a saving from London to China, over the canal route, of 4,370 miles on a straight line, and equal to more than 6,000 miles under influence of trades and currents, and for salt vessels, the distance being so great from point to point that steam could not be used, except at an enormous expense; and there -would also be a
saving of more than half in time. Again: From England to Singapore, via the proposed canal, during the
northeast monsoon—
From London through the canal at Panama - - 586 miles. Thence to Singapore on a line, 180° longitude; at 60 miles
each 10,800 t£
16,668 "
. From England to Singapore, via the Cape of Good Hope, northeast monsoon—
From England to the cape - - - - 7730 miles.
^^•^f^k ••• ^^"^" ^^ •- ./
Fhencepast the island of Amsterdam and St. Paul's, to 105° east longitude, and between 39 and 30° south latitude - - - - — - - 4,320 (f Thence to Auger point - - - - - 1,740 c:
And thence to Singapore - - - - - QQQ c
14,350 miles,
3,330 «
2,963- u
7,260 ic
or 2,318 miles against a canal.
From London to New York, as before Thence to Pugefs sound - - -Thence to Singapore 132°, at 55 miles each
13,553 miles,
or 3,115 miles less than straight lines by a proposed canal, and may be accomplished by steam, saving more than half the time. Again: From England to Valparaiso, via Cape Horn, is - 9,400 miles. From England to Valparaiso, via proposed canal - 8,978 "
422 miles difference in favor of canal, but would not change route.
By reference to a globe, it will be seen that a vessel anywhere on the coast from Panama; bound to China, would gain more than 2,000 miles in distance by first proceeding to Oregon, and thence to China. For steam, this route is the only means of supply for fuel; and it will be seen that in crossing the globe within the tropics, the degree of longitude measures fall 60 miles, while on a course from a point at 30° on a line to 46° latitude measures but 47 miles to the degree. Comment is unnecessary;
but your memorialist begs to submit an article from DeBow's Commercial Review for October, fully explaining this subject of route. It was prepared with great care and labor, and your memorialist believes its statements and
calculations of distances to be correct, and doubts not it will satisfy all who read it.
Your honorable body will see, from the map herewith submitted, that
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our continent is placed in the centre of the -world; Europe, -with 250 millions ofpoulation, on one side, and all Asia on the other side of us, with 700 millions of souls. The Atlantic, 3,000 miles across, separating us from Europe, while the calm Pacific rolls 5,000 miles between us and Asia, and no part over 25 days from us; and it will be seen that this proposed road will change the present route for all the vast commerce of all Europe with Asia, bring it across our continent, make it and the world tributary to us, and, at the lowest tolls, give us 25 millions of dollars per annum for transit alone. It would bind Oregon and the Pacific coast to us, and forever prevent the otherwise inevitable catastrophe of a separate nation growing up west, to rise at our decline, and control us and the world. It would open the vast markets of Japan, China, Polynesia, and all Asia to our agricultural, manufacturing, and all other products. It would open the wilderness to the husbandman, and tal^e the products of the soil to all the markets of the world. It would make available and bring into market lands now too remote from civilization, and add millions of wealth to the nation. The labor of the now destitute emigrant would grade the road, and purchase him a home, where comfort and plenty would surround all. Man's labor would receive its proper reward, and elevate him from inducement to vice and crime. It would unite and bind us together as one family, and the whole world as one nation, giving us the control over all, and making all tributary to us.
Your memorialist would further represent to your honorable body that his memorial and plan, presented to the 2Sth Congress, was the first matured plan ever presented to Congress, or to the world, for a railroad to connect the Atlantic with the Pacific, across our continent; that in his memorial to the 29th Congress, the origin of that plan is dated back to 1830;
that your memorialist in urging this plan embraced all others, by declaring "the work could not be done by the government; could not be done by States not yet formed, and could not be done by individual enterprise;
because no man would invest money in a work which could not produce any income during his life time;" therefore your memorialist believes there -can be no plan for this work of which his is not the origin and foundation. His plan has now been before the public more than three years, and the expression throughout the country is universally in its favor; and the press has, almost without exception, urged its adoption, and the legislatures of twelve States, by almost unanimous votes, have passed resolutions approving and declaring it " the only feasible plan by which this great work can and be accomplished," recommending its adoption by your honorable "body, and instruct.ing and requesting their delegates " to give it their prompt
attention and support."
Your memorialist would further represent that he has devoted exclusively more than three years in this country, and nearly two years in Asia, to this great subject; that he can commence the work without any delay, and is tally satisfied that he can carry it out to its full and perfect completion on the plan he has proposed; but any material alteration would defeat the whole. He therefore prays that your honorable body will take this great subject into early and deliberate consideration and action; and, as in
duty bound, will ever pray.
ASA WHITNEY,
Of New York
"WASHINGTON, D. C., January 17, 184S.