Argument in favor of the Southern route answered II.-LEWIS AND CLARKE'S EXPEDITION TO AND FROM THE PACIFIC.-Objects of the Expedition-character of its leaders. Notice of the character and customs of the Indian tribes on the Mis- souri river---topography of the country. Great Falls of the Missouri Gale, of the Missouri.-- passage of the mountains---the mountain scenery. Sources of the Columbia. Descent and description of Clarke's River---Great Dalles---Pacific Ocean. By J. LOUGHBOROUGH, ESQ. a member of the Saint Louis Bar. III.-RAILWAY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE MISSOURI RIVER.-Topography of the route--Comparative distance, and cost of a railroad on the north and south sides of the Missouri---area drained by the streams on the north and south sides---Coal on the By B. A. ALDERSON, ESQ., St. Charles, Mo. IV.-NEW MADRID, MO.-History of its early settlement---its early inhabitants---Earthquakes. County of New Madrid---soil and products---Expoats for the year 1849 By Wм. S. MOSELY, Esq., New Madrid, Mo. VI.---WOOL GROWING IN THE SOUTH AND WEST.---Wool growing in Tennessee. Adaptation of the State of Mississippi to Europe. Cost ana mode of making wire fences. Durability capacity to turn PORK PACKING FOR THE YEAR 1849-50, number of hogs slaugh- tered in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee, in 1848-9 and 1849-50. THE IRON TRADE --Quantity of Iron produced in Pennsylvania in the years 1848 and 1849. Annual returns of the Scotch iron tråde—pri- ces of bar and pig iron, California, from the United States, and number of vessels and emi- gran's arrived in California to 29th January 1849, Exports of breadstuffs from the United States in the year ending June 30 1849, COMNERCIAL REGULATIONS THE WESTERN JOURNAL. VOL. III. OCTOBER, 1849. NO. I. ART.-I.-PACIFIC RAILWAY-THE BOSTON PROJECT. The remarks contained in the August number of the Western Journal, in reference to the Boston project of a railway from St. Louis to San Francisco, have called forth a communication from a committee of citizens of that city in defence of their scheme: the respectability of the source whence this project orignated entitles it to consideration, and we cheerfully comply with the desire of the committee in giving their address a place in our journal, but in doing this we must be allowed to discuss such points, as in our judgment appear objectionable. It cannot be expected that any one scheme can be devised that will meet the entire approbation of all who are friendly to the principal measure; and hence a free discussion of objectionable points may be regarded as necessary to produce unity of sentiment, and concert of action. The following address containing the plan referred to, was submitted to a public meeting of the citizens of Boston by P. P. F. Degrand, Esq., in April last, and was unanimously adopted. RAIL ROAD FROM ST. LOUIS TO SAN FRANCISCO. TO THE PEOPLE OF THF UNITED STATES. FELLOW CITIZENS: "I propose that a company (COMPOSED OF MEN, IN WHOSE INTEGRITY AND STEADINESS OF PURPOSE, CONFIDENCE CAN BE REPOSED, BY THE NATION,) be chartered by Congress, to construct a Rail Road from St. Louis to San Francisco, with a capital of 100 Millions of dollars, and that this company, (after having paid in $2,000,000,) shall have the right to borrow United States 6 per cent. Stock, to such an amount, (not exceeding $98,000,000,) as may be sufficient to finish the Road and carry it into full operation, with a double track. I propose that Congress give to this Company, a strip of the Public Lands, 10 miles wide, on the North side of the Road, and the Land for the bed of the Road, and for Depots, and the right to take, from the Public Lands, Wood, Gravel, Stone, Iron, and other materials, necessary to construct the Road. THE ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN WILL SECURE THE COMPLETION OF THE ROAD, IN AS BRIEF A SPACE OF TIME, AS MAY BE PERMITTED, BY ITS PHYSICAL OBSTACLES:—AND WILL SECURE THIS BY A SINGLE ACT OF CONGRESS, free from the chance of future freaks of Legislation. THIS IS THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF MY PLAN,-and it is free from the objection of absorbing the private resources of active men; and free from the risk of halting, in this great work, at every step, for want of tangible means. I propose that, immediately after the Surveys are made, the Company proceed to construct this Rail Road on the whole Route, going to work, at once, on as many different parts as practicable and building at difficult points, temporary Rail Roads, to be used while the permanent Rail Road is constructing :-and actually bringing into use the various portions of the Road, as fast as completed. The Company being thus in possession of tangible means, and acting under a sense of the imperative necessity of giving to the public the facilities of Rail Road travelling, as fast as practicable, will very soon reduce to a moderate distance, the inconveniences of a Land Journey to California, and will secure the completion of the entire line, in the briefest period practicable:--and in the interim, the Mail-Stage and the traveller, by the Land-Route, by following, as near as convenient, the Track marked out for the Rail Road, will avail themselves more and more, every day, of the comfort and protection, naturally incident to the incipient stages of civilization, which accumulate on the line of a Rail Road, from the very moment it is begun, to the day of its completion. I propose that, while the Road is constructing, A LINE OF TELEGRAPH BE ESTABLISHED, as far and as fast as practicable, to transmit intelligence for the purposes of the Road, and for the Government, and for the public generally. I propose that no stimulus, stronger than Cold Water, be allowed to be used, by the officers and men, employed by the Road, or by the Contractors. This Rule has been found of inestimable value, in Building and carrying on the New England Rail Roads, in the construction of the Boston Water Works, and in the Navigation of New England vessels. I propose that, at points of any difficulty, two separate sets of men (relieving each other,) be employed, to secure the continuation of the work, night and day, and that, at the most difficult points, three separate parties of men (working, each of them 8 hours a day,) be employed, to secure continual work, without interruption, either by meal-times or by night, employing, in all cases, as many men, as can work to advantage, and having all sorts of work going on, at the same time, for the purposes of the Road, both on the Route of the Road, and elsewhere; so that there may be no delay, which can be avoided. This course was pursued, in bringing the Waters of Cochituate Lake, into Boston, from a distance of 20 miles, through two summits and great physical obstacles :— and in the unprecedentedly short space of 2 years and 2 months, from the day the first spade struck the ground, to begin the work, the City and its Citizens found themselves, in the full use of the water, flowing through a work, calculated to endure for ages. The importance, in a pecuniary point of view, of using the Road, at an early day, is shown by appendix B, by which it will be perceived, that the extra expense of travelling, between the United States and California, is estimated at $67,750,000 a year, over and above what it will be after the Rail Road is in use. The arguments, in favor of the plan, are fully elucidated in the appendix. By moving for this plan, the friends of the measure will, by one single effort, Viz., "the passing of the act," secure the completion of the Road, in the shortest possible time; whereas, if they adopt any plan, which relies on funds created by the Sale of the Land; or on a large amount of funds, from private individuals; or on funds to be, from time to time, appropriated by Congress,—they will impose upon themselves the never-ceasing labor of Sisyphus, and by the delay waste enormous sums for the Nation. To secure the Loan of the United States Stock, made to the Company, and to secure the carrying forward, in good faith, of the contract made with the Company, the United States may, if they desire it, take a mortgage of the Road, and its appurtenances; take 1-3 of the stock; and appoint one third of the Directors, following the precedent so successfully practiced, by the State of Massachusetts, in the case of the Boston and Albany road, (commonly called the Western railroad,) in which case, as in the contemplated charter, the railroad Company do provide punctually for the payment of the interest on the public funds Loaned to them, and also are to provide, and are providing, by a sinking fund, (and occasionally by extinguishment by purchase,) for the Payment, at maturity, of the Principal of the Public Loan. The $98,000,000 of the United States 6 per cent. Stock, loaned to the Company, being Coupon Stock, payable in London, will, (as have the Massachusetts Sterling 5's, in the case of the Western Road,) furnish, at any time of need, Exchange on England, to be sent there, in lieu of our specie, and operate as additional capital, to be used by the Citizens of the United States. The $98,000,000 of United States Stock, loaned to the Company, (being made payable at the Rate of $2,000,000 per annum, after 50 years,) will be paid off, by the Company, with perfect ease, either by actual Profits or by the creation of new Stock, to represent the amount paid off. THE OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF MY PLAN IS THE CREATION, BY A SINGLE ACT OF LEGISLATION, OF ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AMERICAN LABOR, BY ORDERING, IN THE VERY CHARTER, THAT THE MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROAD SHALL BE EXCLUSIVELY OF DOMESTIC ORIGIN. THESE ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS OF TANGIBLE MONEY WILL NATURALLY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BE DISTRIBUTED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR, THE MANUFACTURES, AND THE AGRICTLTURAL PRODUCTS OF EVERY STATE IN THE UNION, AND WILL SET THE WHOLE INDUSTRY OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY IN MOTION. The moment this Rail Road is made, it will be the great thoroughfare for the Mail and for passengers, from Europe to the Pacific and to India. The saving of interest (by the saving of time) and the saving of insurance, for gold and silver and for valuable goods, will secure to the Nation a great profit and a vast trade. Whether we consider this Rail Road as an indissoluble bond of Union between greatly distant parts of our widely extended Empire; or as a means of averting European Wars and Wars with the Indian Tribes; or as a means of transporting the Mail and communicating Telegraphic intelligence; or as a measure of Internal Commerce, so vast, so varied, as to defy all precedent; or as a measure for National Glory, obtained without waste of blood or treasure, by constructing and completing, in a brief space of time, the Great work of the Age,we are irresistably led to the conclusion, that National Glory and National Interest alike dictate the adoption, at the earliest day, of a measure calculated to obtain, for the present generation, the honor, which posterity will award to those who secure, for all future ages and by this single act of Legislation, the immeasurable benefits flowing from the existence of this Great Work." P. P. F. DEGRAND. We fully appreciate the importance of securing the means of carrying out this great work against the "freaks of future legislation;" and we admit that all works of this nature can be accomplished at less cost, and in a shorter time, by individual enterprise than by the general Government; but there is, in our opinion, an insuperable objection to Mr. Degrand's scheme, for it may be regarded as certain, that no act of incorporation can be obtained from Congress for this purpose; and we look upon any cheme which is based upon such an expectation as perfectly hopeless. But even if no doubt existed in respect to the power of Congress to create a corporation for this object, still, we think there are strong objections to the policy of its doing so. Will the people of the United States consent that $100,000,000 shall be placed in the hands of an incorporated company, and that this company shall control the transportation of all the commerce between the valley of the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean? For ourselves, we have none of that instinctive horror of corporations, which seems to afflict many people of the United States. So far from this being the case, we regard corporations as important agents of civilization; and in many respects necessary to its advancement. But corporations are animated by but one idea, and in cases where dividends constitute the main object of the corporators, this idea is pecuniary; and in carrying it out, their conduct is rarely ever restrained, or modified by patriotic or moral considerations; and as much as we desire the construction of a railway to the Pacific ocean, we should object to its |