The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-12-26
RAILROAD coNvENTl, N.

in Iowa City on the 5th inst:
| Resolred, That the interior Of Iowa, is
peculiarly susceptible TO improvement by
Rail Roads, and her position and the inter-
est Of her people demand such improvements
that their construction would not only
accelerate her onward progress in inter-
prise and refinement, but would promote
the sale Of vast quantities ofihe public do
main within her borders, which is now
comparatively useless. Aud that ia view
Of this consequent enhancement in the va
We of such lands, and Of the great facilities
which such roads would furnish to the Co.,
ernment in the matter Of transporting her
troops and munitions to and from her exieD-
sive line Of frontier settlements, we hold il
to be just aud polite, that Congress should
make to our state liberal grant Islands in
aid Of the said roads hereinafter mention:
| ed.
Resolred, That the constructed Railroad
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, up
on the parallel Of lake Erie, The South bend
flake Michigan, Council Bluffs and the
Sonh Pass, is, in our opinion, much more
entitled to the immediate and favorable con-
sderation Of Congress, than the half dozen
inter-oceanic routes through dislan, foreign
countries which so unjnstlv monopo!ize the
patronage mud attention Of our government; i;
and MS citizens Of productive state which
is interested by that parallel, and situated
remote from either Ocean, between the two
miehiiest rivers upon the continent. We
earnestly invoke the action of the national
authorities in its behalf, and point them 10
our magnificent public domain, as the legti-
mate source whence to obtain the means Of
constructing il.
Resolred, That our Senators and Rep
resentatives in the Congress Of the United
States, be requested bv this convention,
earnestly and unremitlingly TO urge upon
the attention Of their respective bodies at
the present session, by urging the passage
into law, the Sennte bin Of the last scss-
ion, the just claims and expectations ofthe
people Of Iowa, fnr liberal grant Of the
public lands in aid Of the construction Of
the contemplated Rail Roads from Dubuque
to Keokuk, and from Davenport to Council
Bluffs, upcn routes which shall be found 10
be the most practicable, and most conduc-
i've to the interests Of the people Of the in
terror Of the State.
Rcsolred. That the uniiaging energy
with which the people Of the east are push
ing forward their various lines Of improve
ment, towards the Mississippi river oppos-
ite Dubuque and Davenport, affards rs a
reliable guarantee, that within very short
period, the citizens Of iowa, viii! have un-
interrupted Railway communication, at all
seasons Of the year, with Baltimore and
Washington. ria Indianapolis and Wheel.
ing, with Philadelphia ria Cleveland and
Pittsburgh, with New York. ria Erie and
Dnnkirk, with Boston ria Buf',lo aud Al
hanv, and with almost every other part of
the republic, upon numherless lateral roads !;
and thai the various works which are be-
ing rapidly extended towards US by these
rival cities, for the purpose Of conciIiat'ng
our trade, will not only afford us every de-
srabe means Of Transit aud traffic, hut will
vastly augment, bv increased facilities, the
tide Of emigration from every part OF the
east 10 the fertile plains Of Iowa.
Resolred, Therefore, that the people Of
the interior Of Iowa, have right TO oantici.
pate the speedy prolongntion Of the above
named Rail Roads into and across the state.
and to expect from Congress, as the owner
of many millions Of unoccupied acres with
in her borders, that liberal degree Of MD in
the premises which has been extended TO
other western states Tor internal improve
men, purposes.
Reso!Ued. That m experience Of four
teen Years, occupyinga period Of war a.
well as peace, haa demonstrated that The
deposits Of the surplus revenue Of 1886
aiming the existing States, was simpl.
equivalent to gratuiiy to the States re-
ceivug the snme--that those states have
ever since been, and still are using untold
millions of this fund for cducationa! and
internal Improvement purposes, without
any apparent prospect Of Fe-apporiion-
ment thereof, whereby Iowa would be ena-
bIed to obtain her share Of the common irca-
sure--that, in addition, we have to COM
plain Of unjust Determinations to our pre-
indice, in The matter Of tho recent land
donations to, our older sister States, and
that, with these various considerations pro-
perly urged BY our representatives upon
tho attention Of Congress, we are un
willing to believe that our present nppiica.
tion can encounter denial or delay.
Resolued, That the memorial to Con-
gress which is herewith presented, he sign.
ed by the President and transmitted bv the
secretary, accompanied by the printed pro
ccedings Of this convention, 10 our delega-
tion in Congress, with request that the
same NAV be presented 10 the Senate and
Hone Of Representatives Of the United
States.
MEMORIAL.
The people Of the state Of Iowa. by their
dslcg ates assembled in state convention at
Iowa City, on the fifth doy Of December.