Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-12-12
To the Congress Of the U. States.

convention of the citizens of central Iowa,
which recently assembled at Iowa City, resolved to
memorlalize the Congress of the United States for
liberal 81 ant of the public lands in alternate sections
situated III SAID state in aid of the const uvt,on OF
railway from Davenport on the Mississippi rive
the Missouri river, IT o. near Council Bluffs; and
charged committee, raised for the purpose, with
the duty of drafting memorial expires sve of the
views and wishes OF the convention, and Of the pc
pie of the State at large.
II is therefore urged upon the attention of your
honorable body. that an immediate railway connex.
ION OF the two mighty rivers Of the north west, at
the points above indicated, not only indispensa-
e to the ultimate develnpement of the vast natural
resources OF the State OF Iowa. but is an urgent me-
cesSty tn the people who 1cio inhabit interior.
The I'm xanred rapidity of the interior settlements;
the unparalleled redundancy all the production
oil agricu.tu al labor, resulting from easily titled and
extremely fertile lands, and the untiring energy OF
the citizens who have made and are continuing TO
make Their homes upon the inland plains of Iowa,
all render the speedy construction of such work.
matter OF the first importance TO their social and
commercial wants.
Necessary and important as this road undeniably
would be, considered isolated work, to the
agricultural, mineral, m nuiacturing and CONNER
ciai interests of the interior of State its imor-
lance is magnified, and the necessity of its con-
structlon becames imr erativr, when viewed con-
nexion with works of y Ii le character, which are
verging to completion east. and about to be COM
nienced on the west OF us, on line with the route
OF the road In question. A railway connection of
the Atlantic ria the great Lakes Chicago, AMI the
mighty Mississippi. at two three points on our
eastern horter, s about to be consummated, where
By that portion o. our citizens who have easy ac-
CESS to the river will have choice Of markets for
the surplus productions Of their fruitful industry;
while the commerce of the Oriental Indies and of
all the APPENDICES Of the Pacific, is about to he
vIted TO our western boundary. through the almo.,
miraculous agency of the steam locomotive. Thus
situated with reference to existing and prospective
faculties uf communication beyond the limits Of our
State. regard the construction of the great work
| IN behalf OF which speak, being indispensa-
BILE to our prosnerlty and essential to the mainte-
nance of that rank among the sisterhood of States
to which, with properly developed resources, we
are entitled.
In work of the character and commanding i'm
portance OF the road in question, il would be in
consistent with the proverbial energy of our peo-
pie, to hesitate at any combination of natural nhsta-
cles 10 be overcome in its prosecutions; yet mas
much as we are invoking aid from those who can
hardly possess knowledge of the facts, we can
state that the route OF the proposed road is
,nenty favorable, and that its cost, per mile, under
suitable management, could hardly exceed three
fourihs the minimum cost of similar roads in the
United States.
Keenly sensible, as we are. however, of the i'm
mense advantages which would flow from the con.
struction of this road are constrained to admi,
to your honorable body, that the period of its
peton will be remote unless the limited means OF
Iowa, are seconded by the reasonable aid, which
through the public domain within her borders, we
ask Of the National Congress. Obvious causes rem
der the building of this road a work beyond the i'm
mediate available means of the State, Of her citi
Gems. As a comm ,nwealth, are il our infancy
without revenues adequate to the work, and adverse
to debt; and there is not that redundancy OF capital
among our people, that exists in the older portions
of the Republic, where works of this character are
| easily accomplished by individual and corporate
means. On no part of the habtablr globe, however
is human industry producing, relatively. more, OF
population augmentng in greater ratio than here
and to this unheard of acceeration of population
and productinn,is TO be ascrihed the fct that work
Of this character is really necessary to people who
have not available means to construct it.
We therefore ask your honorable body tn make to
the state of Iowa, at present session. after the
manner Of gratis which hsve been made to other
states. liberal grant Of the public lands within hei
borders, for the specific object of aiding in the
struction Of the uboye mentioned railway.
Dec. 1, is49.
Which, on motion, was adopted.
Ordered, That these proceedings be published in
| the newspapers Of this city, and that the several
papers in Iowa he req,.es ted to publish the same!
| Ordered, That the chairman be instructed to for.
ward to each of our Senators and Representatives r
Congress, copies of the proceedings of this commit
tee. Adjourned.
JOSIAH II. BoyNEy;5 Sec.
Es.The N. Y. Herald says the present cabinet is
politically, insolvent. A capital, sufficient to last
the wing party for twenty years, has been squan
dered away in six months; and there appears to be
| general desire now for change, beginning witt
the state department. Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay
are each spoken OF as the possible successor Of Mr.
Clayton.
POLITENESS IN PARA DISE.--Our poetic histo
rims go back sometimes to first principles for thei
IA is, as will he seen by the following epigram:
When first the manly heart Of Adam felt
| The mower Of beauty, il began to melt,
! And. gazing on his rib, he falter'd "Madam,
| am your most obedient servant-Adam."
oLnop had