The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-07-11
Cne GAZETTE.
ALFRED SANDERS, EDITOR,
DAVENPORT:
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY Il, 1850.
UDoNATION. OF PUBLIC LANDS.


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4DoNATIONn OF PUBLIC LANDS.
we published last week the "Bill granting 'ne
ripht of way, and maxim: grant OF land 70 Tue
State Of Iowa, in aid Of the construction Of GER
tain p,;lroads in said State" This bill has pass
ed the Senate, and by reference 10 the diuefen'
Iocofoco sheets OF the State, the reader will lind
;,s .ublication ushered in BY letter from Hon
Geo. w. Jones, ia which he assumes the credit
ofhaying introduced it into the Senate, etc. The
bill win doubtless pass the House, as it has been
drawn up in a shape so unexcentionable-to the
members-that no one OF them who reads It al
tentively can possibly objecttoit. We say moth
ing al this time Of the allusion we made last week
of certain influences behind the throne-ihe most
exceptionable feature to US in the whole bill
but speak OF it briefly as 10 what it comedies to
the State OF Iowa.
1t grants every alternate section OF land desig'
mated by even numbers for six sections IN width
on each side oil said roads. This is certainly
muniiicent grant and will amount to some mil
are due our Senators for having obtained SO
princely gift, and TO the members OF Congress
for having consented to its donation.
But upon further examination we find that the
sections and rarts of sections Of land, which by
such grant shall remain to the Y. States, within
six miles on each side OF each Of said roads, shall
not be sold for less than double the minimum
price OF public lands when sold. So no. it is no
donation after all, bat far business transaction.
Government gives one acre Of land that another
may be doubled in value, expecting at the same
tine to open up market for her own broad acres
Now we should think that having 'traded
even," with the certainty OF obtaining full price
for her lands and the prospect of having them
brought into market at an earlier period than
they otherwise would have been, Congress would
have been content with the advantages that would
accrue 10 government and have allowed the peo-
pie Of our State TO progress with their works.
Not so. we find that the construction of these
continued from each of said points until compile
ted. The object OF this proviso is doubtless to
hasten the work, that Uncle Sam may speedily
realize his So, so per acre on the lands reserved.
If this be doubted, the rroviso causing all sold, if
the works be not finished in ten years, 10 revert
to the L. States, leaves not the space for doubt
But Congress il appears SO far from making
donation Of lands 10 Iowa, actually refuses give
them to her for fair equivalent, although that
equivalent i rendered secure by previously requ-
ring the roads TO be completed in certain space
of time. Further, government wishes to specu-
lac upon this transaction. and in order 10 get all
the advantages possible makes herself doubiy
secure, ihus When the roads finished they
are to remain public highway for the use Of the
government of the L. States, free from toll or 9TH
er charge, upon the transportation of any proper
ty or troops Of the q. States, and that The L.
States mail shall at all times be transported on
them at such price as Congress may BY law di-
rect. In virtue of them not being completed,
that Congress may be perfectly secure in the trans
action, at the end Of ten years our State is bound
10 pay to the y. States the amount which may be
received upon the sale Of any part Of sal lands
b. Iowa.
This donation of lands then amounts to regu-
lar business affair. If Hon. George w. Jones
could not have succeeded in obtaining anything
that sayored Of donation OF laids,'' be should
have left bargain making to some one possessing
the Yankee requisites 10 drive goa! bargain.