composed of three-fourths silver and one-fourth copper, and to weigh twelve grains and three-fourths of a grain; that the coin shall bear such devices as shall be conspicuously different from those of the other silver coins, and of the gold dollar, but having the inscription "United States of America," and its denomination and date; and that it shall be a legal tender in payment of debts, for all sums of thirty cents and under. And that no ingots shall be used for the coinage of the three cent pieces herein authorized, of which the quality differs more than five-thousandths from the legal standard; and that in adjusting the weight of the said coin, the following deviations from the standard weight shall not be exceeded, namely, one-half of a grain in the simple piece, and one pennyweight in a thousaud pieces. Approved, March 3, 1851.

ALTON AND SANGAMON RAILROAD.

It affords us much pleasure, after laboring more than three years in the cause of internal improvement in the West, to receive assurances that several of the great lines of railway that have been, for some years, in contemplation, will be commenced during the present season. Though continually alive to every popular movement relating to works of internal improvement, we have not considered that a notice of all the meetings and resolutions respecting the many projects that have been discussed in the western States, would be profitable to our patrons. The weekly and daily newspapers are the more appropriate organs for disseminating information upon such topics. It is our province to discuss the great principles involved in a thorough system to note the progress of all its parts, and, preserve the facts as matter of history. Keeping these objects in view, we have desired from the commencement of our Journal to make it the repository in which may be found in future times a complete history of all the great works of this vast region: and, to enable us to do justice to this department of our labors, we respectfully solicit the co-operation of all who are engaged in prosecuting not only the construction of railways, canals and plank roads, but of such as are engaged in manufacturing, mining and other pursuits connected with the development of the resources of this broad and fertile valley. The thought has frequently occurred to us that those engaged in public works expect too much from us as journalists they are pleased to see their labors noticed, but will not. give themselves the trouble of furnishing the facts without solicitation; and even in many instances where we have applied to them for

facts, our requests have not been responded to. We trust, however, that our correspondence with those engaged in prosecuting public works, will be placed on a better footing as they progress.

In connection with this subject we beg to tender our thanks to J. I. Shipman, Esq., Chief Engineer of the Alton and Springfield Railroad, for a slip from the State Register, containing an account of the progress of that work. But having previously received the Alton. Telegraph containing the same article, preceded by some interesting remarks by the Editor, we copy the article as we find it in the Telegraph, with a few alterations which we find in pencil mark in the margin of the slip.

We have long regarded the Alton and Springfield road as indicating great sagacity on the part of its projectors; and we admire the enterprise and public spirit of those who have been instrumental in pushing it forward with so much energy.

Should this work be continued to Bloomington on the east, and Peoria on the west, it will secure to Alton a commerce that must make it one of the important cities on the Mississippi. And well do the enterprising citizens of that place deserve the fruits of their labor: for they have set a glorious example to the other towns in this region which we trust will incite them to the undertaking of similar enterprises.

"It will, we are sure, be as gratifying to the friends of Internal Improvement in our State at large, as it must be to the stockholders of the Alton and Sangamon Railroad Company, to be informed of the rapid progress of this important work towards its completion. Such information we feel authorized to give, not only as the result of our own observation; but also, by the parties themselves, who are more immediately charged with its superintendence.

But seven months have elapsed since the first excavation was made. During this comparatively short interval, favored by a remarkably propitious winter, the entire line between Alton and Carlinville, thirty-six miles in length, has been graded; viaducts, culverts, and the necessary buildings for the use of the road-which will compare favorably with the best in other parts of the Unionhave been, or are nearly constructed; and the ties, rails, &c., purchased and partly delivered on the levee at this place. Of these a portion are laid down on the line, ready for use.

A locomotive engine, purchased by the contractors for their own purposes, is daily expected here; thus preparing the way for those now in progress of construction, and the passenger and freight cars soon to follow. And we think we hazard but little in expressing the opinion, that the track to Carlinville will be in traveling condition in all the month of July, and thence to Springfield in

November next-the Chief Engineer having nearly or quite concluded his survey by the most eligible direct line authorized by the recent act of the Legislature.

We are credibly informed, that the work so far done, as well as the quality, weight, and form of the rail, the ties, engines, passenger and freight cars, are of the most modern and approved character; and that nothing has been omitted by the enterprising contractors, to merit the approbation of the stockholders, and the traveling public, in the fulfillment of their engagements.

It is doubtless generally known to our readers, that the Alton and Sangamon Railroad Company have obtained amendments to their charter, by acts of the last Legislature, authorizing the extension of their road to Bloomington, in one direction, and in another, to Pekin and Peoria, the importance of which cannot be too highly estimated. We sincerely hope that it will be so considered, not only by the stockholders of the road, but also by our fellow-citizens at those interesting points of connection; and that strenuous exertions will be made by one and all to insure the early consummation of an enterprise, which has such a bearing upon the future welfare of the population to be thus united.

It is understood that an early preliminary survey will be ordered to be made, by the Board of Directors, of both these contemplated branches of our road. In the meantime we rely confidently upon the manifestation of the same public spirit of liberality, on the part of individuals, as well as of the cities, towns, or counties, to be benefitted by the completion of these lines, in the contributions which it will call for, which has distinguished the subscribers to the Alton and Sangamon Railroad Company.

We cannot, perhaps, close this article more appropriately, than by inviting the reader's attention to the following, copied from the State Register of the 8th inst., which furnishes sundry additional items of interesting information on the subject of the Railroad, and which will repay a careful perusal.

Our town, as well as the State at large, being interested in all that relates to the construction of the Alton and Springfield Railroad, we have taken pains to procure from the most reliable source, accurate statistics respecting the progress of the work to this date.

The grading of twenty-three miles is completed, and on the remaining ten miles, the work is more than one half done. One thousand tons of rails, or track for about eleven and a half miles, have been delivered at Alton, and the residue of the iron for the entire road to Springfield, is delivered at New Orleans. Twenty thousand ties, or sufficient for over nine miles, have been delivered at Alton; and contracts for the whole road have been entered into, and sufficient to extend the road to Carlinville is now ready for transportation.

Two steamboats, the Newton Wagoner and Patrick Henry are

constantly engaged, and other New Orleans steamers are employed in the transportation of iron, ties, and other materials for the road. All the lumber for the station houses, engine and machine shops has been procured. The foundations for the depot buildings, engine house and machine shop, &c., at Alton, are laid, and the walls up ten or twelve feet. Ten freight cars have been delivered at Alton, and contracts made for all the engines and cars, which are now constructing in the best shops in Massachusetts. The average force on the work, during the winter, has been about seven hundred

men.

The masonry-of which a large amount has been done-is still building in the most permanent and durable manner, and in all respects equal to that on the New York and Erie, the Hudson River, the Harlem Extension, and the best constructed railroads in New York and New England. In the crossing of streams, permanent stone arches, varying from fifteen to forty feet span, have been made, instead of wooden structures-except at the crossing of Macoupin creek, where a wooden bridge of one hundred feet span is proposed to be used. The ties are of very large size, and of the best quality of cedar. The iron is of an approved pattern of H rail, weighing 56 pounds to the yard-the same weight as that used on the best Massachusetts roads and only four pounds less than the heaviest pattern used on the New York and Erie railroad.

The contractors have commenced laying track at Alton, and are now carting iron and ties, beyond the heavy work near the city, to the prairie work beyond, which extends, uninterruptedly, for twenty miles, and which is now ready for the rails.

A definite location of fourteen miles north of Carlinville has been made, and the preliminary surveys necessary to decide on the remainder of the line to Springfield, have been completed.

The land surveys to obtain the right of way from Carlinville to this city are being made, and offers of land for a depot and machine shop, &c., have been made by our citizens, and forwarded for the consideration of the board of directors."

We learn that at an election for Directors of the Alton and Sangamon Railrod, held at Alton, 17 April, Messrs. H. A. Coit, J. B. Danforth and J. D. Dakin of New York, and Virgil Hickox, Esq., of Springfield, and Edward Keating, Esq., of Alton, were elected Directors.

TERRE HAUTE AND ALTON RAILROAD COMPANY.

We perceive from the Alton Telegraph that a meeting of the Directors of this company was held at Shelbyville, Ill., on the 10th inst. for the object of discussing the means and adopting measures for prosecuting the work. In his address the president stated that:

"All the incipient steps had been taken towards a full and liberal compliance with the requirements of the general law. The articles of association had been drawn up in the regular and prescribed form. The names and numbers of shares, to an amount exceeding one thousand dollars per mile, had been subscribed and registered. The Company had been organized by the election of a Board of Directors, and appointment of its officers. The ten per cent. had been collected and paid in to the Directors as required. And the articles of Association, with the name of every subscriber and the number of shares annexed, together with the necessary affidavits, had been filed in the State Department. These prerequisites having been carried out as preliminary to an application for a special charter, the action of the Legislature has been even more favorable than could reasonably have been anticipated. A charter has been granted, by an almost unanimous vote, liberal in its provisions, well adjusted to the wants of the Company, and conferring all the powers and privileges that were or could be desired. The charter for the Terre Haute and Saint Louis road has been again vetoed by the voice of the same Legislature, by a vote so decisive, and in a manner so fortunate, as to preclude all hope of its ever being resuscitated, provided that we now make such an efficient commencement of the work upon our road as will amount to a sure guarantee for its early completion. The Vincennes and Saint Louis interest, have, heretofore, acted in concert with the Terre Haute and Saint Louis interest. But now, having obtained their charter, they will be, henceforth, identified with us, and will be, in all time to come, as antagonistical to the other as we can possibly be. But, as has been already intimated, supineness and inaction on our part, may, and probably will, result in ultimate defeat.

What, then, is to be done, and how are the resources to be provided for the accomplishment of our work? I answer, that it can and will be most surely effected by applying our own shoulders to the wheel, by making a united and vigorous effort at home to put the ball in motion, by calling for individual and county subscriptions to an amount sufficient to make up the sum of five hundred thousand dollars. When this amount is raised at home, it will inspire confidence abroad, and will insure the procurement of foreign aid. But even without foreign aid, it is believed that the judicious application of five hundred thousand dollars would go so far towards grading the entire line, and placing it in readiness for the