The Oregon Railroad

Our readers will remember Ihat according to Mr. Whitney's project, this road is to commence on the western shore of Lake Michigan, and extend to the mouth of Columbia river, a distance of 2,100 miles. The estimated cost is $7ö 000,000,and the time required to construct it is 25 years. The project hns been more fnvorably received by the press than wc anticipated; and it seenis to be generally agreed that sucha road will be built, whetheritbe done upon the suggestion of Mr. Whitney, or not. The magnitude of the undertaking is not so great as to be any serious obstaele. An appropriatjonof $3,000,000 a year f rom the national treasury - being less than half the amount annually squandered on the navy - will finish the road in a quarter of a century, which is, perhaps, as soon as it would be extensively useful. Vast changes will take place within that period. Our settlements will be extended well on towards the Rocky Mountains: capital will be very greatly augmented, and our population, according to the ratio of increase hitherto, will amount to forty-two millidris. Mr. Whitney, líke a business man, is about ascertaining the feasibility of the project by exploring a part of the route. In a letter to the Ëditors of the National Intelligencer, he says: "It is my intention to pass over, examine, and partially survey seven or eight hundred miles of the proposcd route for the Railroad from Lake Michigan to the Pacific. I shall leave New York about the 20th of May for Green Bay, follow the Lake down to Mihvaukie, thcnce west to the Mississippiriver, and return to Sh Louis. Several young gentlemen of high respectability and eddcation will accompany me, and it will please me to have our number increased. The excursión will be pleasant, beneiicial to hcalth, and useful in the knowledge to be gained of that vast country; and, should the project for the railroad succeed, those who now accompany me can be usefully and advantageously employed in the great work. It will please me to have some young gentlemen of the South join us; and 1 shall be happy to communicate with any so disposed."GT6" The Madisonian (now called the U. S. Journal) says that during the late political campaign, the Democratie Association of Washington city prepared, printed and distributed three milUons and a half of polilical tracts and pamphlets! The greater part of these, we presume, were sent the mail, frank cd by members of Congress. This privilege has been found so convenient for electioneering purposes, that at the last session a majority of the members voted to continue in it. tt In the last Congress, Virginia was represented by four Whigsand eleven Demócrata. -At the late election, 14 Demócrata' and 1 Whig werc elected.