Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-11-25

When they are gone, all Is gone forever. More
than 1900 miles without timber, mostly very pool
land, could never be settled without the road
first, to give the only means of communication
with civilization and markets.
! will now explain the simple plan by which
| propose to carry out this great work. AS
have before sad do not ask Congress to grant
to me one acre of land until the road is built in
advance. | first build 10 miles of road at my own
expense, which will cost $4,000 per mile. One
mile of the land 60 miles wide is 38,400 acres
which, allowing for waste land and expense OF
sale, will at 8 ,25 per acre produce about S40,-
000--suficient to build two miles of road-
When the ten miles of road is completed 10 the
satisfaction of a commissioner appointed by the
government, then and not till then, | take
miles, or one half of the lands with which to
reimburse mysef-the other half with the road
to be held by the government, or sold as the de-
mand for settlement may require and as Con.
gress shall direct, at public auction in lots OF
| from 10 to 100 acres and SO on, for the 500
miles, or so far us the one half will furnish means
to build the 10 miles of road, and afterwards on
TO the mountains, and to the ocean. When the
entire 60 miles wide Of the poor lands do not
furnish means to complete the road through them,
then the fund which may have been created from
the sale of the one half Of the good lands be-
fore named, or the lands, shall be applied to this
purpose; but in all cases the 10 miles of road
must be built in advance of receiving any loans
or money.
If thought preferable, the lands might be con
veyed directly by the government TO settlers, as
fast as parts Of the road may have been compile.
ted, agreeable 10 contracts made by me with the
settlers, subject in all cases 10 the approval Of
the commissioner, and requiring his certificate
that the work had been done. In this manner all
objection to land monopoly would be avoided, as
the lands would not come into my hands, or OF
those associated with Inc, at all.
The road being built from the public lands,
would, when done, be public property, and not
subject to tolls beyond sufficient to keep it in
repair and operation. But in order to attain the
object we aim at, to make it the thoronghfare
| for the commerce of all ASIA it will be necessary
to keep it under one general management, SO
that IFS operation may be regular and punctual,
from one end to the other, which should be d.
rected by Congress, under Individual manage
ment and responsibility, the same as the building
of the road.
1t will be perceived that this plan does not
propose any reward for carrying on and compile
ting this great work, except in the lands at the
government price, for the actual outlay; and the
government cannot in any way be held respon-
sbe for lis success, Failing, the government
loses nothing. l take on myself the hazard OF
making the lands yield sufficient means for the
work; failing, get nothing. have therefore
asked for the balance, should there be any after
the road is completed, but not till then. To pre-
vent the government from being subject to any
expense either for the road, or for its operation
while 1t may be considered as an experiment,
have proposed that the surplus lands, if any, be
held subject to the road until so far established
as to be able by its earnings to provide for itself
and to obvate the objection TO the road being
owned by the government, | have proposed to
pay when so far advanced as TO make It's com
pleton sure,) 10 cents per acre for all the lands
but to be held by the government so as not to be
applied TO any other purpose than the accom-
plshment of this work Congress to provide the
mode of sale of the lands and to fix and regulate
the tolls Of the road at each session ever after
Thus it would be national road, entirely Unde
the control of Congress, yet not involving th'
government in any expenditure, creating or caus
ing no government patronage, or political party
| influence, but carried on purely as an indiVldua
enterprise.
1t has already been shown that this plan il
founded entirely upon the wilderness lands Blu
| | think all must be persuaded that the facilities
which the road would undoubtedly give 10 7et,le
ment, would furnish means quite as fast
could be applied to its construction, and its bull
ding would be OF vast benefit to the settlers
! With this road commenced, how changed
would be the condition Of emigrants. Now thel
land upon our shores, and from their inexperi
ence in strange land, their little means arr
soon wasted. Many become burdensome to oui
citizens, and those who go TO the far west ar,
obliged to select their home remote from an
means Of communication with markets, withou
any reward for labor until the first crop is grown
and then the cost of transit takes all. Nothing
is left for an exchange for other comforts and
necessaries of life He is surroundvd with al
abundance of earthly products, and still wants
He does not get reward for his labor, 10 ali
in sustaining the other branches Of industry
But commence this road and the emigrsn Mt wou
f have fixed point of destination. He would no
be detained in our cities, but pass directly o.
through our rivers canals and the Lakes to hi
, new home If he had fifty, one hundred or NOR
dollars, he could give one half towards payinl
!, for his land the other half would build his cab
in and get in his first crop. Then his labo
would be wanted on the road 10 pay the balanc
J for his lands. The next season his crop will b.
wanted by those who came cs he came the sea
son before, and il he has q surplus, there is tn
road to take it TO market Those who com
without money, could with their labor on tn
road purchase the land, and they too would 500
become independent And what would be tn
moral influence? Necessity often, yes, alnos
always, tempts man to vice and crime ; but plac
f hun where his labor receives lis just ami prope
reward, a. you elevate him | care not how low h
may have been, you raise him 10 what his Crea
tor intended him to be, u MAINLAND he may rea
an offspring respectable, honorable and capabl
Of filling the highest places in the land.
1t has been objected that such work canno
be built and carried on through wilderness.
answer IF it was not wilderness could nc
have the lands-the only means for such work
and propose by the work TO change the wilder
ness, the waste, to cities, towns and villages. an
richly cultivated ields.
1t Is also objected, that our country Is not oil
enough and is without population to embark in a
enterprise SO vast ] answer: we have alread
about 5000 miles Of railroad in operation bull
in the last 10 years at a cost of about Sl60000
600; that our population is at this time II 600
600, and will double in twenty two years. lfw
have been able up to this time, with our smal
population and sipaller means, to complete tn
+; 5000 miles oil railroad, by doubling our popula
tlon and consequently doubling our means, W
shall be quite as able to double the miles of rail
, read. The comparison is greatly In favor c
the future, because many Of our present railroad
, are exclusively the means Of travel, and hav
not developed sources of production and wealth
/ Our increase OF population in twenty two year
will give for this road and the Pacific Coast !,
, 100000, and still leave 100000 for the oil
, States.
} But let US see what we do want for this road
. make nv calculations and predicate the who'll