The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 4, March, 1903-December, 1903Oregon Historical Society
History
The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 4, March, 1903-December, 1903
Oregon Historical Society
Oregon -- History -- Periodicals
Congress may provide for the occupation of it--for the
formation of a territorial government--they may establish
posts and a military road across the mountains, and
encourage emigration in every possible manner, and the whole
will not contribute so much towards its settlement as the
negotiations of a treaty with China, opening to us a market
for our products in that country. If the one now before
Congress has done so, Great Britain may set her claim to the
Columbia--it will be a claim for but a short time. Our
shipping, farmers, merchants, and tradesmen will soon find a
road to a country possessing the advantages the west side of
the American continent would possess, in that event, and but
a short time would elapse before China would be supplied by
American skill and industry, from the mouth of the Columbia,
with all she would admit.
The _Weston Journal_, March 1, 1845, under heading, "Oregon
Territory," speaks of a bill introduced into the Senate proposing that
Oregon include: All the territory lying west of the Missouri River
south of the forty-ninth degree of north latitude and east of the
Rocky Mountains, and north of the boundary line between the United
States and Texas, not included within the limits of any State, and
also over the territory comprising the Rocky Mountains, and country
between them and the Pacific Ocean south of fifty-fourth degree and
forty-nine minutes of north latitude, and north of the forty-second
degree of north latitude, etc. [!!!]
* * * * *
From the _Weston Journal_, March 1, 1845.
RAILROAD TO OREGON.
The _Philadelphia Ledger's_ Washington correspondent says
that Mr. Whitney, of New York, contemplates the construction
of a railroad from the western shore of Lake Michigan, in a
direct line through to the Columbia River, covering the
distance of some 2,100 miles, which shall be the point of
debarkation to China.
The cost of the road, when completed, is estimated at fifty
millions of dollars, and twenty-five years would be required
to perfect the scheme. Eight days would be about the
traveling time from New York City to the terminus of the
road, and if [steamship?] facilities were employed, some
twenty-five more would convey one to Amoy, in China, so that
by this short cut, a journey across the globe might be
accomplished within the narrow limit of a single month.
By the establishment of this means of communication, we
should be enabled to command the Chinese market, and to
extend our commerce with South America, Mexico, India, and
other parts.
And, in addition to the vast results that would necessarily
ensue from this work by the force of circumstances, we should
secure the transportation of the English trade on account of
the great shortening of time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account