Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-07-19

is the Indian country, where the lands
cannot be sold, or appropriated to this OBJ
ject. Beyond that point, they are gene
rally barren and unfit for settlement. On
this route, the timber for the road would
have to be brought down the Mississippi
from the upper part of Wisconsin, at
very heavy expense.
Col. Benton's bill proposed to appro-
pirate the whole avails Of the sales Of the
lands OH the line of the road, and one-half
OF the proceeds of the sales of all other
public lands. This would not seem to
provide means sufficient to build the road.
Ii the lands on the line of the road amount
to but little, the amount applicable TO the
road annually, must be little more than one
million of dollars. Until the sixteen mil
lions of land-bounty scripts out of market,
the public land required cannot be expec-
ted TO exceed from one and half to two
millions. The expenses Of the road on
this route, with the difficulty Of obtaining
the timber, including the repairs while
the road is progressing, would not proba-
bly, be less than one hundred millions of
dollars. With so slender fund, it would
not well be constructed and if commence
ed, the natura! result would be, to throw
the work entirely upon the treasury.
The road is to be constructed by the
government, and to be under its control
and management. This would not only
greatly augment the expense Of its con-
struction and management, but give rise
10 great frauds and corruptions, and create
such dangerous expansion Of executive
patronage as might 50 disgust the people,
as to induce them TO abandon the project,
after millions had been expended upon it.
1t is doubtful whether the people will ever
be willing TO coniide such vast machine
as this road would be, to Congress or the
President. 1t would, of course, become
an engine of party, andgive sudden and
dangerous preponaerance to executive
power and influence, already too strong,
and daily becoming more potent.
The great and distinguishing advantage
Of the route from Lake Michigan is, that
it passes over eight hundred miles of the
best land for settlement, more than five
hundred Of which is without timber. The
greater portion Of this land is still unsold.
The landwithin the frs. portion of the route
will not onlyturnish timber for the road ,bu!
for buildings and fences for those who may
settle on the line of the road, which will
supply facilities for transporting il; as the
road is extended. This portion of the land
will likewise furnish the means of con-
structing the road, not only through its own
limits, but west OF it, through the barren
country to The South Pass. These lands
are being fast taken up, so tia, it will
soon be too late 10 carry out the plan of
Mr. Whitney. Vixen the lands in Wis
consin and Iowa are sold, bordering on the
route, his project is at an end. The last
Congress ought to have investigated this
subiec, and have passed the bill. il salts
fled OF the prac,icabili.y and advantage of
Mr. Whitneys plan OF accomplishing this
great natichal work. To what other use
can these lands be applied, which will be
be productive of such important results
snch vast benefits 10 the whole country,
and for all time to come? The setting
apart these lands for this road, cannot very
materially diminish the revenue from the
public lands, as the opening of the road
will extend settlements, and bring other
lands into market, which could not other
wise have been sold in a century, if ever.
Was there ever nation so favored? We
have presented to us an opportunity Of
throwing the commerce of all Europe
with the East, across this continent, and
making New York the grand emporium
Of the trade of the world, and Of render
ing all nations tributary to us. A trade
which would give new impulse to all
our interests which would difuse over
the whole Union more wealth than all the
golden,sands of California.
There is a tide in the affairs Of nations,
as well as of individuals, which, taken ut
the flood, leads on to fortune. Shall we
want wisdom TO avail ourselves of the adj
vantages of the wealth and prosperity
which Providence has spread out before
Jus Such has not been the American
char acter. These vast advantages are not
only presented to us, but Providence has
also furnished the means of securing them
almost "without moneyand without price,"
We are invited to put forth our hand and
take them. Was ever any people so fav-
ored before? And this national prosper
ity offered TO Us, is not TO be enjoyed at the
expense Of the oppression and degradation
Of amy other people, or any portion OF the
human race. The wealth Of old Spain,
drawn from the mines of Mexico and
South America, involved the blood of mil
lions, and the enslavement of the unoffend-
ing inhabitants of continent. No won
der that prosperity thus obtained, did not
command the blessing of heaven, and that
the streams of gold, acquired at such
sacrifice, instead Of ferliizing the land en-
joying them, only paralyzed its industry,
corrupted its morals, and in the end. i'm
poverished, weakened, and degraded the
people. But with the prosperity to our
country which this enterprise offers, would
be connected immense advantages and
blessings to the poor and oppressed Of all
nations. 1t would create new and un-
limited demand for labor, and open vast
region for the settlement and abodes ofthe
destitute of our own and other lands.
Cannot the public mind be elevated to a
just appreciation Of the great results, the
vast benefits of this great enterprise?
When objects and advantages so vast to
a. ,~a ,x,ifhi, our raach