The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-26

frontier citizen may have hearing, not that
we by any means concur In his structures!
To the Editors Of the Republic.
VAN BrnEN, (ARK.) Nov. 5, 1850
GENTLEMEs 1t 10 only after long delay that
| we get your much admired paper The fault is
| somewhat in the mail arrangement; first, because
we have no direct mail route, and next, on account
| OF Encouragement by postmasters, mail carriers,
| &c 1t may be thought that are great way
OIL OF the seat OF legislation, Of commerce. trade
| manufacturing, banking, agriculture, learning,
the arts and sciences religion, and even of civili
zaton, which ID true in measure; and yet we
are geographically near the centre of America,
and are one of the States of this glorious Republic
though almost overlooked forgotten. Every
year seems to lessen us, asltState in the estima
ton Of statesmen Of other States yet at the same
time, this State possesses much mineral wea th
as Pennsylvania, as much good soil as one half of
| the States, and nearly much water power and
navigation as any State, and quite as good health
as any State so thnly settled. Still we are much
behind other States of the same age as ours in i'm
provements and agriculture. Why is this? Is it be-
cause people do not select their Cons of
the right sort fear this is one cause, and think
| that, by change OF politics, we may reap some
slight advantages.
We are republicans, and feel the Importance OF
equal Legislation and equal rights. but if passing
bill giving lands to railroad from Chicago to Mo
bile, and also giving hnds Missouri or rather to
the city of ST. Louis, to aid the real estate owners
and merchants of hose three cities (St Louis,
Chicago, and MOBILIZE to build up their interest, is
right, then we wrong. You say Congress
ought to pass such laws and make such nppropri-
atoms will enhance the value Of her unsold
vii
or at least survey route to California, and
tain if it would not be practicable, according TO
your reasoning, to make appropriations for rail-
road through vas territory belonging to the
United States exclusively. In the cases alluded to-
you run through a country nearly all sold and
what Is not sold is not worth twenty five or
nifty cents per acre. In this we contend that Con-
gress Is acting wrong. The Of this appro-
priation is not TO male the public lands valuable;
II Is Jor other reasons. We notice that the lines
proposed are TO run nearly parallel TO steamboat
navigation the greater part of the way, and at no
very great distance. No, sir it is not for national
advantage, but for individual aggrandizement that
these appropriations have been made. We are not
opposed to the principle of Congress giving lands to
'ur' aiirOaus through ucOuntry, all nearly All her
own, for the purpose Of enhancing the value of the
land and causing an early settlement; but let it DO
new country entirely. Let Congress appropriate
every alternate section Of land on route to Cali
iornla' and none would complain Let that body
"select too the nearest, cheapest and best" route
that the greatest number Of people would settle on
and go about it, II this course were pursued, one
half Of the land would bring more than the whole
will We are paying in California millions of dol.
lars now for nocesssries from other governments
than our own, while, If we had railroad TO the
Pacific, from the heart ofthc United States we would
supply California with bread and meat and implo-
ments of husbandry, and mechanic arts, and re-
ceiye handsome revenue from foreign travel. Let
I'd see if this or Whitncy's plan ia the best we
think they are both good, but the beat that can
be devised. Let every person who has plan sug
gcst 1t, and let Congress determine which 10 bert.
Let Congress grant charter 10 n company with
capital Of sixty millions, which will build it, and
authorize the Secretary ofthe Treasury subscribe
whatever amount the people will not to raise the
amount necessary, or let Congress loan the COM
pany what they lack in getting up the stock at say
five per cent, and have lien ON the road n the
company begin at each end, It will pay more than
the interest for three hundred miles of each bopin-
ning-ssy at the Pacific and the Mississippi river
In two years six hundred miles might thus be in
operation. Suppose the company to borrow all the
money Of the United States in the shape of twenty
or thirty thousand five per cent. bonds. and sell
them at ten per cent. premium, this will pay inter
est for two years, by which time the six hundred
miles might be paying six per cent interest. Then
borrow again of the United States another third or
fourth, and sell it at the same premium, paying
interest for two years again. by which time another
six hundred miles might be operation and paying
interest; snda again TO the last Of the inssments,
when a railroad will be built two thousand miles
long out Of Uncle Sans good credit, enhancing the
value Of property individual and national, ms much
As the whole cost Of the road the moment il is fin
i'hed. And what great matter is this after all :
One man could carry out the whole scheme.
Whitney could do it, and so could others with I'm.
Gle Sans assistance. +. b. BISHOP