Show MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS IN RELATION TO THE PACIFIC RAILWAY to the honorable the senate and house of representatives of the united states in coni 1 gress assembled GENTLEMEN YOUR MEMORIA LISTS the governor and legislative assembly of the territory of utah beg leave respectfully to I 1 represent to your honorable body that it is with no ordinary feelings of interest that I 1 we witness the progress of events which appear probable to result in the construction of a railway across the continent it is not deemed necessary at this late day clay to urge the importance and necessity of this great work nor even its practicability fo for r these are questions which the intelligence of the people and their representatives senta tives have freely and fully discussed and happily disposed of by the action of 14 congress Congre s in authorizing autho rising to ascertain 1 n the most practicable route hence OUT oar main object in this memorial is ao give our candid views on what we deem the best route for the location of the first line lindof of railroad from the missouri river to the pacific ocean this we shall do from reliable information in in our possession and in the briefest manner that our judgment will admit without entering into the detail of distances elevations and depressions which can sly only be satisfactorily determined by the careful survey necessary to finally locate the route without further preface and with all due deference renca in our judgment the route in in question should commence t council bluff city keep up the main platte to its south fork and up the sonth donth fork to the proper point for diverging to the summit odthe zack black hills in the neighborhood of what is known as the box elder pass or commencing near the mouth of the kansas and keeping up that stream to the republican fork and up that to where you leave it to reach the same pass A glance at the map will show the difference of distance between the missouri river and said pass by the two named routes to be very trifling ind and the grade would be equally low and the amount of timber grass ass quality of soil climate and facilities fo for rr settlement are almost or entirely identical the box bos elder pass is a wide low depression in the black wills hills with very gentle ascent and descent from this point the route is across the southern portion of the level well wall watered and grassy La vains plains to the medicine bow bute thence by y gentle grade across the north fork of the platte to a low beautiful pass on the summit of the rocky mountains called bridgets bridgers pass here the route reaches the eastern outcrop out crop of the rich and thick bituminous coal beds of the extensive region drained by the water of muddy and bitter creeks where strong indications of rich iron ore beds were also noticed and pursues its easy gra grade eft across green river er near the mouth of henrys fork an affluent f from rom the west whose outlet is I 1 just above browns hole thence up henrys fork and across bear river and weber river by its lower kanyon into kamas prairie and down the ti gos or provo river into utah valley from le the mouth of the kanyon of provo river by the north end of utah lake to walkers river pass in the sierra nevada the face of the country is nearly a deadle doad devol vol with the exception of short isolated ranges of mountains which could easily be turned if any where found on the line from all we can learn walkers river pass is the most eligible in the sierra nevada anywhere north of walkers pass which is near latitude 35 0 and of course much too far south between walkers river pass and san francisco on a direct line there is no unusual obstacle the most moat ins any map will demonstrate th the e route above indicated to be the shortest most direct and most central that can be located between the missouri river and san francisco by way of any practicable mountain passes passe s now known from the box elder pass to the rich valleys skirting the west base of the wah satch mountains independent of the inexhaustible haus tible coal beds and aud strongly strong y indicated iron ores of bitter creek there are more favorable localities for settlements on and near the line indicated than on any other between the same paraU parallels els of longitude unless a route is made extremely crooked and solely with a view to accommodate such i locations the mouth of the gos or provo kanyon 0 opens ens immediately upon the eastern edge of 91 utah tah valley and near provo city which w will i 11 ere long be rich and powerful through throng h 8 skill kill and labor well applied to its abundant resources this is the most eligible point for branching through a rich chain of f fortunately located valleys to oregon on the one hand and san diego on the other from longitude 0 SO to the sierra nevada there is but little chance for settlements of much importance on any biroute route hav having g thus briefly expressed our views upon tenall this all absorbing subject we be gleave beg leave with all deference to express our firm conviction vic tion that the desired action on this subject by your honorable body to render this a national work is almost unanimously demanded by the whole country and is eR entirely constitutional all of which is respectfully submitted the committee returned and by their chairman hon 0 hyde asked leave to present the following preamble and resolutions WHEREAS the nineteenth century is calling with a peculiar and imperative voice upon the genius genias and ente enterprise astry of earths devoted sons to apply the hand of industry and perseverance to develop her treasures beautify her face and render renaer the passage of her children more easy and pleasurable through h her extensive territory and wa WHEREAS the western continent is first and foremost in the great improvements of the present ent age aud and 1 1 WHEREAS the united states of america have earned a name by works of internal improvement that can never beshi and acquired a fame that is envied by au ali nations aud WHEREAS the or crowning owning act of masterly enterprise ter prise now remains at the foot and door of I 1 our favored nation the construction of a RAILROAD across our widely y extended dominions and I 1 WHEREAS we are anxious that our country 1 should pluck and wear the laurels that are bending towards them all along the line of the contemplated tem plated railway 1 THEREFORE 1 RESOLVED that we are highly gratified with the action which congress has taken in or dering surveys to ascertain the most practicable route upon which to locate the great national rail road from the missouri river to the shores of the pacific ocean and also with the spirit manifested by the citizens of the states generally to cooperate co operate with congress in carrying out a work so important desirable and necessary I 1 I 1 2 RESOLVED that thai we deem it expedient for the safety of the union and the general prosperity of the nation that this road be prosecuted to a final completion without delay I 1 3 RESOLVED that it is in the power of the united states by the speedy completion of this work to secure within the great interior of the country the trade of the pacific doean and the countries bor derin thereon 4 RESOLVED that it is inexpedient in us as a gr great eat and enterprising people longer to deg neglect securing the advantages accruing from railroad ro ad transportation from the Mii missouri to the pacific coast or longer risk being anticipated by the opening of other routes and channels for that trade 5 oRE RESOLVED SOLVED that we the citizens of utah territory orv conceive that congress and officers of the general government can never feel themselves at home until they extend the means of railroad conveyance to the pacific slope of the continent and the great basin 6 RESOLVED that we will aid so far as may be in our ur power the construction of this road 7 RESOLVED that the building of this road should be a national undertaking and is is worthy the attention of the general government that congress should appropriate fifty millions of dollars this session to aid in the construction I 1 thereof 8 RESOLVED that it is wholly inexpedient to locate this great thoroughfare through a sickly country where it is not susceptible of settlements when it can call be reasonably avoided 9 RESOLVED that having reclaimed the wilderness and established civilization government and flourishing settlements settle dents in the great interior 0 of f the continent where no navigable river penetrates that we claim at the hands of the general government as aright the location of this road through the heart of our settlements the more especially as it coa conduces duces to the general interests of the enterprise as well as our own 10 RESOLVED that we deem the route indica ted in the memorial of the governor and legislative assembly of this territory to congress the best and most feasible one that we have any knowledge of 0 f and it is our united and firm conviction that it combines the most advantages is the most practicable and direct that can call be found and will concentrate far more and greater advantages to the convenience prosperity and well being of 61 the whole country thun than any other I 1 11 1 RESOLVED that whereas we have defended ourselves against the thieving and hostile indians of this territory at our own expense and charges thus far we have succeeded in establishing civilization north norih and south the distance of four hundred miles and transported sported over the plains by wagon at an enormous expense and outlay 0 u day all the means for the same that could not b be epro procured cared hera therefore 12 RESOLVED AGAIN agai 4 that in addition io the superior eligibility of the route for said railroad by box elder pass medicine bow bute bate henrys fork of green river prairie and tim or provo prove kanyon we view it an act of justice due from the general government to the citizens of this great interior basin to establish sid s dd road upon this central route 13 RESOLVED that we possess in this territory to ry mechanical genius and ability nowhere surpassed agricultural rat resources highly advantageous and hardy operatives inured to mountain life and climate not a few and upon all these sources liberal drafts may be successfully m made a d 8 to execute a work so much desired by every citizen of utah I 1 14 RESOLVED that our mineral waters issuing from the base of our mountains and boiling up LP on our plains plaids with every temperature from boiling heat ca freezing point will be profitably sought on as a source of health by thousands of ofin it vo valias a lids from other countries provided they can come c me with the ease and speed of railroad conveyance ve 15 RESOLVED that while we deplore the fate of the late lamented capt gunnison and a portion of his men who fell by the hands of merciless savages while in in the faithful discharge of their duties we congratulate his successor lieutenant beckwith upon his being able to continue the labors of the expedition and to forward in due time to the department at washington a full report of the same 16 RESOLVED that the business of the country and the actual necessities of the people imperatively ively demand the immediate construction of 0 this road and require the favorable action of congress to aid therein 17 RESOLVED that operations for its construction st It should commence as nearly as may be simultaneously at each terminus and at all feasible intermediate points along the line 18 WHEREAS the citizens of utah territory have by their representation in the legislative assembly unanimously i thrown their influence in favor of the above andic indicated aad route THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER Fuit THER RESOLVED that this territory possessing as it eminently does every facility incorporating rich veins of coal and fields of timber an easy grade through a country far more susceptible of settlements than any other practicable route through a climate te where malignant and contagious fevers or diseases are comparatively unknown and connecting as it does the great central routes already located through the united states to the missouri river in a generally direct line with walkers river pass and san fr francisco alcisco an cisco combines in a great degree every inducement for its speedy construction ana availability to meet the pressing demands of the age moved by geul J M grant that the citizens of utah EN MASSE have maturely natu rely considered and do concur in the memorial in orbal of the governor and legislative assembly to congress upon the subject of the pacific railway and nd that we do also adopt the preamble and resolutions reported to this meeting and that they be published in the deseret news and sent by the honorable almon W babbitt to our delegate in congress the hon john M bernhisel who is requested to procure their publication and distribute the same to the die members of congress carried unanimously after the reading of the foregoing resolutions geni james ferguson de delivered livere a beautifully eloquent address upon the tb subject he seemed to think that the british lion was not dead and that he might yet roar from the north west mexico was whipped hipped but might not remain so the aas russian asian bear might growl on our borders and a railroad through the heart and centre of our vast territory would enable the government to send immediate aid to the extremities of her dependencies if necessary besides the vast trade to be secured within our own coni country of itself was an adequate consideration the remarks of the honorable secretary of the territory mr babbitt were most applicable and covered much of the general ral ground although applying more par t ica benei I 1 ar 1 y to the circumstances of this people and their prospects yet they bear a most important applicability to the interests and prospects of all at the close of this speech speech the bands played alternately with angelic sweetness some of our favorite airs I 1 closing remarks and benediction by ron hon 0 hyde this meeting was got up on very short notice and altho the weather was cold and much snow on the ground and no fire in the tabernacle yet that large place was filled and so great was the interest felt upon this subject that even the ladies would not remain at home the first citizens of the place both male and female were present and all voted with a spirit and resolution that so said id they wanted the railroad this way and intended t to 0 have it if possible |