Asa Whitney, back in 1844, was one of those enterprising men who envisioned a railroad, stretching across the United States from ocean to ocean. And although the rails had not even reached Chicago at the time, Whitney began seeking possible routes that would reach from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Coast.
In 1845, Whitney went before Congress, recommending that a survey for just such a rail be authorized. He even organized an expedition himself. Starting from Milwaukee, he and his party crossed the prairies and ventured on to the Great Bend of the Missouri River. Upon his return, Whitney again went before Congress, this time presenting them with first hand geographical details for a route across the nation. It was his plan, as he explained to the members of Congress, to build this railroad at his own expense if the government would grant him a land grant sixty miles wide from Lake Michigan to the Pacific. He had no doubt that by selling off this land, as the rails advanced, that he could meet all expenses and costs.
Whitney did not see the main impediment to this railroad as being mountains to be crossed or the vast empty prairies, nor the unstoppable extremes of nature as detouring obstacles. He saw only one major obstacle in the prospective path of his proposed railway--Indians, those proud and fierce fighters of the plains whose land titles had not yet been extinguished. Well, Whitney was in error as to the landscape or the weather causing major problems, but he was certainly correct concerning the Indians. However, in his attempt to convince Congress of his plan he assured this political body that the Indians were "ready and willing to sell all that may be desirable for this object, and for a very small sum." And he was wrong again. In this case Whitney was either a blind fool or was well aware of the misleading words he addressed to Congress. He was correct when he stated that the Sioux were "numerous, powerful, and entirely savage." Perhaps he should have amended his words to: the Sioux were just as savage as the whites, but he didn't, possibly leaving it up to time to reveal that aspect of history to come.
His plan for overpowering, and convincing, the Indians was to drive them and their buffalo northward, pointing out that the whites could then be successful in removing them to reservations where they could be civilized. Not to say whether this idea originated with Asa Whitney but this whole civilization and removal plan seems to have made a lasting impression with many in power as well as those with very little power.
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