The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-07

! 4 Mr. BALDWIN sug gested TO the senator from Ken
lucky maj II was communicated in the treaty
{ Mr. UNDERWOOD resumed. 1t is said that ii is com
munieated IN the treaty. That may be so, bat ii escaped
my attention But IN reference TO this particular road
nave understood that the altitude about 300 feet II
may be more or less but call 300 feet That is very
LOW grade 10 overcome, If II be not higher than that
but Col Aper who IS at the head OF the engineer depart
ment has been appealed to, according report made by
the Naval Committee of the other House. and that infor-
nation has found its way SIR, into papers here. That is
the most reliable information which have received upon
this subject. II there be other inormaon going more
into detail from the mutudnous engagements which
have attracted my attention, have had time to look
at 1T therefore take the statement find it. Sir,
what does Col Albert state He states that according
the manner OF constructing railroads in Massachusetts
and tine amount OF expenditure for their construction, it
has been found that upon average, $is920 per mile
has been sufficient tor their construction
Now, you perceive that Colonel Albert does not pre-
tend to contrast any particular road IN Massachusets
with the proposed road the sthmus He does not
say that he has the facts information upon which that
comparison can be made On the contrary, manifest
that he does not possess the facts upon which the
comparison is to be made. He then takes the cacu-
alion that the roads of Massachusetts upon an av-
erage have cost Sis.9a0 per mile. and when est
ishmus. he adds half of that sum for the climate,
for the higher price Of labor for the difficulty OF obtain
ing supplies, and for all the other difficulties which this
company have to encounter in constructing railroad
the line, compared with what they would have to
encounter in constructing railroad in Massachusetts
Thus he concludes, without having the data with which
10 make the comparison that the addition OF half
would make the amount Of the cost OF constructing this
road about right In that he gives the of 73 $50
per mile as the cost of this road
The next question is, how many miles to be con-
sncted alter we have got the estimated for miIe
And then, when you have ascertained the number Of
miles, multiply them by the cost for one mile, and you
get the aggregate total cost OF the entire road
Here sir, without survey to fix the distance
without survey locating the point of departure from
one ocean to the point OF termination upon the other
inf atm hart
says he supposes the distance may be ffty-two miles
tIftytwo miles at 53,3S0 per mile make aggregate of
H. as the entire cost OF The road Tor the whole
that S3Sl5,760 include? According to Colonel Abert's
information, given 10 the Senate, which may be found
in these documents it includes the construction OF
the road, the grading, supplying all the malerals-the
wood the iron, and The rails. 1t includes the ocomo-
ves and all the apparatus necessary to put the road into
complete operation
Now sir, how much could be saved in the cons.ruc-
lion OF the road, if the estimate had been inepend
ent OF the price OF the cars, locomotives, and other fix
lures, | am not prepared to say The documents
furnish me data; there no means of cacula-
ton; but certain II is, and it must be known to every
senator that the price OF locomotives, cars. and other
hxture5 constitutes very considerable item in the
expenditures Tor the purpose OF constructing rail-
roads But if this amount TO million, you would
reduce the expenditure necessary to construct this road
ready for independent of the and locomotives
to less than the you about 10 give to this
pany to aid them in constructing the road mention it,
sir, in this point of view; mention il to show that the
sum of money which you would give this company to
make this road is sufficient TO make the road out of the
government money; and when the road is made out OF
to Boston or Baltimore for freight cars put them on
board ship. land them at the depot and put them the
road without costing them anything than to pay the
engineer for running the cars and then they ready
to make their profits
That is the view, sir, OF the subject which have
stated do not know what deduction is TO be made for
the purchase OF this apparatus have no means OF
telling but you may deduct much less than million for
all that; and still, when you take that from the aggre-
gate, according to Col. Albert you will have money
enough to make fftytwo miles; and then this company
will have nothing to do but to purchase the locomotives
and commence their operations,
Now, sir, it does to me that this is new prn-
cpe-makng roads under the guse OF contract, and
this way furnish money enough to pay for the construc
ton of Them and the companies have only bear the
Sn s ans Got ws o make s profits o 1
not be better, sir, to adopt the old plan OF taking
stock ourselves, and owning it after the road was
built? But, sir, we have become wise enough
in the progress of this system Of internal Improvements
to give gratuity to company, instead of furnishing the
means and entering into copartnershp with that compa
NY and holding claim upon the road ourselves, used
to be the case at the time such appropriations were made
for canals and roads that were to be constructed.
1t is time for the country to look into these things.
This form of legislation WILL in some shape or other 90
on 1t cannot be arrested The interests of the country
will allow il to be arrested, and am happy see in
the recent presidential canvass that gentleman who
hosted the free soil flag and marched under it, in his aid
dress the people of the United States had yield his
former position that subject and come to the doc
trine OF internal Improvement Sir internal improve
ments must be carried in shape other. All
these projects for making railroads to California but the
bursting forth of that sentiment which actuaes the hearts
of this people, and must have its execution in the
sruction OF railroads where they required and vet
looking at this bill in the shape in which it presents
ITSELF it mere evasion OF that old principle which used
TO be recognised and undersoodan attempt to get
it indirectly, which it would be well for TO march
right up to and meet in the face of day
do not sir, charge the friends of this bill with de-
signing anything Of this Sort spoke of the effect sir
mean no imputaton upon their motives. | think they
conscientious as myself in the views which they
take of this bill, but think the effect of it is just
Well, sir only consider for moment, you please,
how much capital these gentlemen could get by the
pay $780, 900 year. View it, if you please in that light
a moment What your government stocks selling for
at this moment' At.9 10 pei cent above par. Your
six per cent government stocks are seling at this mo-
meat, at or 10 per cent above par How much money,
sir will your $250000 per annum get at this interest of
per cent? One million for every sixty thousand dollars
making 1920 900; leaving $4,000 for contingencies
This sum, according to the highest estimate,
than pays for the road and all its fixtures, and leaves
considerable surplus besides What then, you doing
enough per annum to pay interest upon capital exceeding
four millions OF dollars, out of which the road can be
constructed, with all the apparatus and considerable
surplus left and that, you do under the idea that il is
a mere contract.
Are you paying money for equivalent It must be
manifest to every SENATOR that the idea OF paying tor an
equivalent is altogether 1t Is not the principle
character of this bill to pay for an equivalent what
them is the bills 1t is grauIty donation TO ho-e
men to enable them to make Improvement, IN whch
if the public interests require IT. we ought 10
have a road there and not only there, but elsewhere
will be finished, but when other avenues snail De opened
to the Pacific What, then, is this ball 1t Is, SIR a