The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-08


sales rose 10 Ohio to s692 426 90 IN 1893; in indi
ana TO s693 500 40 and inulllnois TO S450, 242 TO-
mainly attributable perhaps 10 the great Improve
uieht in steam navigation by which their rich plains
could be easily approached through the rivers and
lakes which bound them, yet stimulated, uDques-
tonably, by those projected and completed improve
ments The territory known 10 1900 as Indiana,
comprising Illinois and Wisconsin, had but 4,675
inhabitants in that year, mostly confined TO the
French settlements on their principal rivers The
great surface beyond them was the pasture grounds
of the buffalo and the elk, with no sound Of human
industry TO enven the solitude Before that mighty
revolution in intercourse which American genius.
developed, a Journey from the Atlantic seaboard to
the great West had all the errors OF an East India
VOYAGE and was undertaken with as muSh careful
preparation. What was, but few short years ago,
Journey of peril, is one OF pleasure and COM
merce, arts, and civilization now display their peace
fI triumphs throughout the whole valley. That
the common benefit has been promoted by appro-
prating from this trust fund, TO improve IT, not only
in regard TO the money which the people Of the new
States have paid into the treasury for the lands,
Guiding the direct taxes and duties they have also
paid, but in respect to the increased strength afford
ed 70 the r,,h -eerssy bv the DEVELOPMENT az the
"Greal West" outstrrpsage, = %, the brightest
visions of our most sagacous sAt~ysnen, no ono can
deny; and that il has been unattended with any vio
lation fhe constitution OF the country, all must adj
NIT.
When IL rs COnslucfou tudl, OF the 10 "a 100
acres of land to which the Indian title has been ex
nguished, OBS, 100 900, or Whereabouts yet remain
the property Of the United States--much Of 1t re-
mote from timber and from naylgable streams, yet
fertile, and possessing great agricultural advantages,
embracing it does that great calcareous basin of
the Mississippi-a valley more than imperial, and
whose powers Of production are unparalleled lit
will be admitted that the interests Of the United
States as connected herewith and Of the States in
which they lie, of sufficient magnitude to attract
the serious attention Of Congress-. And when II is
further considered that the United States claim the
presumption to 800 900, 900 more, (now cover
ed by Indian titles,) extending from the Missouri
river to the shores of the Pacific ocean, embracing
every variety of soil, climate, and production-vc-
getabe, animal, and mineral-the more intense
must be the interest with which so vast a subject
should be regarded. The policy heretofore pursued
has in the three States Of Ohio Indiana, and Iii.
nos, up to the close of the past year, brought into
the national treasury $50 ,3l2, $50 A, divided as
follows: from Ohio, 500 239, 1873 SO; from Indiana,
Sl9 ST. 462 So from Illinois, sl7 424 659 %; and
leaving unsod Of the 84008, 1913 acres within them,
and which have been and in market, 20, 1874
acres, and divided follows: In Ohio, SS5, 767
acres; in Indiana, 3729659 acres and in Illinois,
1880, 34S acres, These lands have been in market
FIVE years aud over-the largest portion of them
twenty years-to which is to be added the lands not
yet broush hit into market, amounting, in these three
States, TO several millions Of acres.
Thus it will be seen that very large portion Of
this trust fund is yet remaining in the State Of Hi
nois, more than moiety Of which has been in mar
ket near a quarter Of century, and distant from
navigation and scantily supplied with timber; and
the question is, how can Congress best promote the
interests of the aggregated States, for whose use
alone it is now held, in dsposing oft
In view Of the facts already presented, the COM
mittee cannot hesitate to recommend liberal grants
out of this great resduum to aid in the construction
of ID ngbf . b,t which xri
be made accessible and saleable; and they submit,
with great Difference the judgment of others, that
il is neither fair nor just that ne State, unaded,
should construct such works, however much she
may need them. The United Stntes are to be ben
Gifted by Them and should contribute in proportion
to their interests thus TO be advanced. This
to be dictated alike by justice and sound policy; and
on the ground Of impartiaty-on the principle Of
treating the new States alike-tbe committee think
the State of Illinois may fairly claim at the hands Of
Congress the grants named in the bill.
To Ohio, the oldeat sister 81 the new family of
States, doweress and portioniess as she wsk when
she entered the Union, there have been given, for
various purposes, 129497S acres. out of area Of
80 1927 square miles; of which ,l60 1872 acres have
been granted for internal Improvements by roads
and canals.
Illinois has an area of s., 055 square miles. If,
then, the dimensions of State, marking, as they
do the extent of the interests of the United States
within it to be benefited by such grants, affords
basis for the extent of such grants, then Illinois is
entitled, for internal improvements, to ,639 656
acres. She has received 500, 900 acres only. If
compared with Indiana, which, with an area of
Sc $50 square miles, has received l,606, 40i acres,
Illinois would be entitled to 2, 420, TAO acres. The
bill proposes to grant to her 400 acres namely,
for the Central railroad l,464, 900, and for the
Northern Cross $50, 400 acres.
Before Congress determine on the propriety
of the grants asked for it necessary to have some
,,labr Of tho 10 hich
the lands are to be applied. The committee under
stand they favorte projects of the people Of the
State of Illinois, and occupied the most prominent
place in their great system of internal Improvements
commenced in 1887; and they have looked forward
to their completion with confidence, yet not without
apprehension that their own unaded means would
be insufficient to complete them.
The Central railroad is in length from the juno
ton of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, pursuing
nearly the line of the third principal meridian
north to the termination of the Illinois and Michi-
gan canal thence northwest to Gaena, the centre OF
an inexhaustlble lead region, 457b miles The cost
of its construction was estimated by competent
gneers at 80 800, l45 or 1896 per mile, and there
has been expended upon it, principally in clearing
cut the track, in grading, and embankments 81 ,0l6,
904 80.
The Northern Cross railroad is projected to ex
tend from the city of Quincy, on the Mississippi
river, through rich portion of the State, by Spring
held, the seat OF government east 10 the line uVu
ing Illinois from Indiana, and is, in its entire length
on the surveyed route, 1884! miles The cost of il
construction estimated at i'll ,976 1885, or 80 40t
per mile. Upon it the State has expended 81 1854,
2l2 &c. completing with it 81 continuous miles o.
road from Springfield west to the Illinois river, fur
nishng il with locomotives cars, and other necessa
ry appendages, and in grading portions of the re-
naming distance, purchasing the right Of way, sites
for depots, and other necessary buildings On both
routes many Of the most difficult and expensive por
tons of the work have been finished, and the belle
is entertained by her public functionares that with
some aid from the United States, they can be com
peted in few years. The country through which
they designed to pass is admirably adapted, it II
said, to railroads, and to no other kind of works
there being streams to feed canals and no ston'
for turnpikes, even if il we're desirable, at this ad
Vanced stage Of improvement throughout the world
to construct either as the great thoroughfares o
transit and commerce.
Without the extravaganza which, few year
since, entered into all calculations connected will
| internal improvements, the committee are incline'
to regard these works Of much general as well a
local importance. The first, connecting at tn
mouth the Ohio, and running north through tn
.NlAt