The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-03


nate sections along the line OF the canal, but could bt
selected elsewhere. | saw al glance that IL was i'm
possible to apply the principle OF alternate sections to il
because The whole work is confined IN space OF less
than one mile The land, therefore, must be taken il
tracts elsewhere The question arises, will the
lection of 900 acres of land for this purpose enhance
the value Of The public lands OF the United States more
Than the value OF that quantity OF land9 Upon little
reflection. am clearly satisfied that il will produce that
resutthai the enhancement of the value Of the public
ands will be materially greater than the 100000 Of
the refuse land in the State OF Michigan say refuse
lands, because it is well known that in the Stale oi
Michigan the best land has long since been taken up
The lands that left Of comparatively little value
when we speak in reference TO the best lands OF the
country Besides, sir, these lands liable to be
taken up by soldiers warrants, which selling in
market al $l5 for hundred and sixty of land
Hence that the value OF the land must be very
small when come to assess the amount that the fand
The principle upon which / support the bill is this,
Above the falls OF St. Marie the borders of Lake SUI
peao ,hsIe arc many Millions M h q acres p paois lands
that lake. some 600 or 500 miles in length, remains
vacant, except here and there tract of mineral lands
which have been disposed OF. These lands
sble; you cannot approach them by land by water.
The lakes cut off all communication by land between
that country and the peninsula OF Michigan. There is
road unless 60 than thousand miles around,
by which you reach the lands of Lake Superior And
you cannot reach these lands by vessels consequence
OF these distractions Make canal Of three fourths OF
send a-vessel from Buffalo to Fond du Lac Lake Su-
peIor You open 50o0000o or 100000, ,Oo0of acres of
public lands, which are now vacant, to accessible
market by making this canal OF less than mile in length
These lands comparatively valueIess without this
canal, but they will be valuable opened.
This short piece OF canal opens communication with
the whole country above the falls 1t is for that
that think that the enhancement OF the value of the
manning lands will be infinitely greater than the value OF
,hs donation now ,s asked or shall therefore vote for
bills that it is proper to donate public lands for public
Improvement; that the result of that Improvement will
be make the lands of the government Of the United
he
donation had not been made.
As for constitutional difficulty see none The con-
disposal of the public lands There is only moral obi-
CATION that that disposal shall be made in good fathhat
when they make grant ii shall be done for the benefit OF
shall be enhanced in value by the grant, instead of being
diminished then it is not only constitutional, but a
moral and equitable disposal Of the committed
hands Taking this view OF the subject, and believing
that this grant will greatly enhance the value OF the fund.-
have not the slightest difficulty in giving my support TO
this bill.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts Mr. President have for
great while heard this opinion maintained in the Senate
and elsewhere that the United States gamers by
bestowng their public lands upon public Improvements
and am not quite sure that we have got pretty
strong evidence OF that this session by the very large
grants of lands, we have made. l entertained the
opinion myself that where alternate sections were granted
the puolc ought to gain sonethR Rg by II in the price
OF the land left; that ii they gave away one half, the
other hall would bring money to indemnify the
United States for what they gave away.
Now, sir, DO mol rise to oppose TINS measure admit
its importance, and do not to say, this moment
whether will or will not vote for it, | certainly shall
not say intend 10 vote against il al this time. But
would be glad to get little information this subject
In The first place, should like 10 know The public
lands are open to entry 81 25 acre erywhere land
II this Is the liked and determined prce,) how the
United States TO be benefited by this opening Of the
ket except far il may facilitate and give greater
despatch 10 settlement The price is fixed and deter
mined and how are you 10 increase the value oil these
lands! know there is form Of sale at auction; bu
that everybody has long since learned, merely nom
nal And should Ike 10 know again, where we provide
Tor The alternate sections, unless IN the b we provide
Tor the increased value OF those sections which pre-
served, how there is any possibility OF the United States
enrchng itself in any way by this process. And
should be glad to know one thing more, wheihe
these lands ordinarily if they left open fo
settlement, are not usually occupied by that class
ment the line of Improvement is laid down., or desig
mated so FAR enable them to do ii, And should b,
very happy TO be enlightened upon another point. W.
have been granting lands great while and now should
Tor, would state TO the Senate what public works hav
been accomplished by this process What canals, wha
railroads. what great public improvements, at any time
have been accomplished byihis process and brought int
active use so that the public could enjoy them. wou'
like TO hear an answer TO that and would be very happy
II there be any work that has really through this facility
been brought into existence, TO know it, There wou,
then seem 10 be some argument IN favor OF this thing
know, sir. there are some works completed
But | will make remark | do not intend U
enter into this matter; but the remark Is ihs; As la
as we have experience in the construction oil publn
works, IL takes money toi bulld them you must rae
money TO do it; and l have never seen public worI
| constructed without the aid OF money Well, SIR
you go into a new country, and you propose TO max
road ou, of land Where you 10 get your money U
do II with The Improvement must preccde the enhance
OF price-the enhanc OF the vue-and there
fore, whoever undertakes 10 construct road, must g
with capital enough in his pocket TO keep the land unit
the Improvement Is made. Otherwise, how can he EMO
any OF those advantages which represented TO us
rise out OF the increase of the value OF the land thoug
the facility thus given And, again, wish 10 make on
more remark and that is this: that OF all the hode
which undertake public improvements | think exper
has shown that States and the United States anon
tbem the least competent to undertake them with an
skill with any knowledge Why, SIR, is II not par
and portion Of the history OF the tha almost ever
State that has undertaken 10 carry systems OF this so
into execution has fallen into great embarras smenis by u
Almost every one, sir Wen, then. all this would seen
TO be sufficient evidence that State not ody that
we'll calculated Ia carry into execution schemes OF thI
description Private corporations and assocat pms OF IN
dvidusIs, all history has shown, are better dapted
these purposes want TO be satisfied IN the fr II place
that the enterprise will be carried into effect ut som
assurance that we shall obtain the canal before vot
for the appropriation OF the lands would very cheer
fully give half million e OF land provided SCI
some distinct assurance that great great public bench
is going to result-that great public work like tina
which projected in this going TO be carried int
execution. would not give upon the idea that we arr
gong 10 raise The value OF public lands or that w
are gong 10 benefit the treasury manner whatever
You may promote The prosperity o the country by render
log the settlement OF It rapid, and thus bnng tn
lands INTO more Immediate demand but that is about al
you can DO
Mr. DOUGLAS. will reply to the inquiries OF h'
senator from Massachusetts, He desires TO know wba
canals have been constructed of the grants OF land
that have heretofore been made to different States,
VIII inform him Sir, in all probability you would no