Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-05-31
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.

The Executive Committee, appointed
by the Iowa State Convention. held at
Iowa CITY on the -- Jan. 1848, submit
the following report to The Congress Of
the un,led States, as directed by said Con-
, vention.
The Legislature Of the Stale Of Iowa
having memorializcd Congress for a grant
Of alternate sections Of land to aid in the
construction Of a Railroad from Du-
huque city via Cascade, Marion. Falls of
Cedar River, Iowa City, Mount Pleasant,
to keokuk, at the foot Of tho Rapids of
the Mississippi River, it will be unneccs-
sary for this committee 10 ente: at large
into details in regard to the advantages
or such read TO the State, and the general
government, as much Of the arguments
in its favor are embodied in that memori-
n, and officially commented. The IN.
dersigncd. however, have received a
number of interesting STATISTICAL reports
from the df1eren: committees appointed
on the line Of the contemplated road
which enables them to lay before Con-
gress facts and figures touching the great
objects to be attained by such a grant Of
land to the State Of Iowa, as will empow-
er her, at no very distant day, to con
strucl thoroughfare through the centre
Of her population, and over as rich and
growing country as any in the great
Valley OF the Mississippi. From Wash
ingtnn County, I'VE are informed by the
Chairman Of the Committee, Norman
Everson. Esq } the country ,hro' which
the road will pass, is gener rally level prai-
rie. furnishing already a vast amount OF
agricultural productions.
The Committee for Linn county, by
their Chairman, George w. Gray. Alex.
Ely, Sec'y, have also submitted valua
bic amount Of information, showing con-
clusively that the construction Of the
Railroad in question would be Of infinite
importance to the State.
Also. the proceedings Of public meet
ing Of the citizens Of Jones county, sign
ed VIM. Johnston, Chairman, has been
furnished US, together with the repor. Of
the Chairman Of the Committee for Du-
buque County, L. II. Langworthy. Esq,
corroborating the opinion that the pro.
jccicd road from Dubuque to Keokuk,-
point below the two distractions to the
Mississippi er,-would add greatly &c
the intcres, Of the people generally, in
crease the value Of the Public Lands, and
| furnish an outlet for .an amount Of sur
plus produce unsurpassed by any othel
portion Of the Union, while at the same
time there will be an inlet for merchan.
die to supply" the demands Of runner
Gus and increasing agricultural people
Extracts from these will be seen in the
| Appendix to this Report. "
We respectfully represent, then, to the
Congress Of the United States, the wis,
dom and proprlely Of granting to the new
State Of Iowa, in conformity with .hc mo-
mortal Of Its Legislature, the land in
question. Individual enterprise is now
being eyerted in constructing Rail Road
from Chicago through GaIena and the
mining district. TO the Mississippi river
near the city Of Dubuque, within the
State Of Illinois. BY continuing this line
westward through the interior OF Iowa,
which can only. be accomplished by the
assistance of the general government
there would be continuous way to the
Atlantic cities, and 10 the grea, southern
markets. the remaining public lands would
be rendered valuable; energy would ex.
pand its wings, and industry meet rs just
reward. :.
The undersigned need not enter into
arguments to show the propriety ofgrant.
ing alternate sections Of the public lands,
for the purpose Of Rail Roads to the States
in which they a:e situated. This has
W. think. been ably advocated by Judge
Breeze and others III lhs United States
Senate 10 review Of v hose arguments,
the attention Of Congress Is respectfully
invited especially our members, Hon s
Letter and Hon. VIM. Thompson. That
3 mutual interest exists between tho &c.
neral government and the citizens Of The
nsw States y admitted ~ most Of our
,xisc bfstesn,en. ~ granting the land