Intercommunication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans [pp. 164-176]

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ROUTES.
A comparison of time has not yet been had, which would be greatly
in favor of the northern route. A mild or southern climrne enervates
the system, so that, thle world over, we do not expect the same habits
of laborious industry or thle same action, as vlwhere necessity forces
all man's energies and efforts. Therefore we could not expect the
same speed or regularity of operation, and from Mlazatlan to China
would require from twenty to thirty days longer for a sail vessel,
than from Oregon to China; in fact the better route for a ve.sel from
Maizatlan bound to China, would be via Oreg(on; and for steamers
the only- route, the only means of supp)ly for fuel.
As regards local or southern interest, iwhichl I think manifests
itself in MIr. Forshey's remarks, it should not be permitted to enter
into this subject AT ALL; it is purely a national questioln, in which
all and every part of our w-idle-spre(ad country is to share equ(ally.
The means proposed for its accomiplishmlent are nattional, and all
ha.-e a claim to an equal share in the great results promised, which
cannot be attained on anry other than the route proposedl. But I
feel mynself wNarranted in sav ingf that the southern interest has not
been considered or understood in IMr. Forshcy's remarks; believing
I lave alrealdy shown that tatking( Charle(ston as the terminus on the
Atlantic for both, and nmaking C(htarleston the only point of interest
in the route, that thle advarntage would be in favor of the northern
route of 30 day-s in timie, in distance to China of'2,342 miles, of
82 53 per ton weight for transit to the Pacific, and $9 03 per ton
veight aain for transtit to China.
.And is tlis all that Charleston wvould gain by the northern over the
southern route? With this roa(l commenerced, South Carolina, (Geor via, Alabama, Tennessee and( Kepttucky, wvould push their united
eflorts to compilete a road on to Illinois, where an approp)riationl of
government liands (on the line inow unoccupi(ed an(l vitlhout means
of communication wxith markets) nearly wvorthless, and about being
red (IIuce(l )by tllhe gra,(luation bill to, say, 23) cents l)er acre, wvoul( comp)lete a roadl( to join this northern route at the p)(int wlhere it crosses
the Mississi)pi, at the same tie bI)ringing( into use antl( value thle inmense amount of goxverinment lands through the entire centre of that
,,ireat State. WIhat would then!)e the position of Charleston?,VhIy,
iii a(l(tition to her full share of the conmmerce of all the *world over
this great hii,,hway of nationls. she vwould( have a flood of all tlle vast
proluctts of the rich States of Mlissouri, Illinois, Indtiana, Kentucktly,
Tctlnc ssee. and others, pourim(z in a torrent of comnmerce, of )rosl)erit- ll( and wealtlh, firom that imlmcense valley which she reaches at the
c'ryw cente (t}r e jntion of t.e two great rivers, d(istrant less than
Ot) lmilies), a rich )(asisi cap;!)le of sustaining four-fold( the l)u)I)lation
of tile same space on anyv otlier part of the globe. It vould( fill to
overI-lowiilmo her -whlarv es anI wiarehouses in a manner scarcely
(dreamled'. of nowr. Can there be any mistake in this? None; because
aill titt is wanted for its fullest reailizi-ationll is tl,e cheap) means of
t:'ala-it w'hic~h ti,is rouite'al)nie (can affoird, and thle certainty of realizatiolt wxould lo,in( folrth alple a. anplls fI)r its acc(;pl)slishnent.
Lo{ok a-t dlie ftct, tlhat fro, Ptrairie dum llin to (h:rleston, ten
]):irr'ls ~'offil,ur m.ay )e trl';.>ls)irtel tbr.ic0 9(, or.' on* dollaor and ten
cc!its cr b:rrel, ril,:'i:i( b-lot Tl)ou,t thl(rcc.1;-s' te, and in the sname
175