New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-29


cdedly against any speculation that MI
Whitney must from mere interestdoevery-
thing to prevent it. This road differs from
any before attempted in being built through
a savage country two thousand miles in OK
tent. 1t can advance no more rapidlythan
it can carry civilization along with it. 1t
involves by necessity scheme of coloni-
cation yaster than any yet undertaken. 1t
must bring into action without delay an in
dustrious and Independent population, cul-
tivating the land on each side, supplying
food to the laborers, and furnishing bust
ness for the working part ofthe road. And
this people must be induced totill theirland
ty all the stimulus of proprietorshiP, and
all the advantages ofcivilized communities.
For the success of the whole enterprise will
depend on the population being as dense as
possible, and on the industry, good order
and prosperity it attains.
Now, let these considerations be well
weighed, for they put land speculation out
of the question. Not merely the immortal
glory of achieving so magnificent an enter
prise-beside which all triumphs Of con-
ouerors and all previous works of art are con-
temptible and petty-but the simplest self
interest must compel Mr.. Whitney to see
that all the lands sold become directly the
property of actual cultivators. Anything
else would be fatal to his project,
But says one of our friends, you
are a land reformer, and contend apparently
with as much earnestness as any one for
the freedom of the public lands and the
cessation of trade in the soil; how, then,
can you support such a measure as this 2"
Our doctrine about land is that the soil
is necessary to the support of life, like air
and water and is accordingly the common
property of the human race: as such it is,
strictly speaking, not proper subject of
trade between individuals. But improve
ments in land are the result of labor, and as
such are properly individual property, and
may be bought and sold without violating
the absolute principles of justice. Now
take the immense tract proposed to be set
apart for this road, and in its natural state
it is comparatively worthless for purposes
of habitation and culture. The greater
part indeed, lying in the center of the Con-
tinent, must remain unoccupied for want OF
access to markets. Why, even in some of
the most fertile lands proposed to be taken,
wheat may now be raised in abundance,
without the possibility Of It's bringing more
than thirty or forty cents bushel; but
open the road and wheat will at once rise
to dollar, and SO of every species of pro-
duce. Thus the actual productive value of
lands along the line will be doubled ormore
than doubled, not by any Fictitious means,
but by a permanent public convenience
whose usefulness must constantly become
e.oa4A. THE increase of value, which re-
suits from human labor and ingenuity, is
what is actually sold when the land is sold,
and its price would not be diminished were
all the rest of the public lands thrown open
without pay to actual settlers, as we shall
do our best to have them. In fact, by this
scheme, the building of the road is made
actually to create the capital which pays
for it.
1t does not seem to us valid objection to
say that when all this done, the road built,
thousands on thousands of the poor of all
countries owning farms along the line and
settled in happy communities, and when
the intercourse and commerce of the Globe
are crowding this mighty highway across
our continent it does not seem to us OBJ
jectionable that then Mr. Whitney should
realize a large fortune as the fruit of
genius and perseverance SO grand and
benefcent. We do not believe that he can
care for this; but still, ifany man ever ought
to be rich, it would be he, after having
carried through that work.
|
So much by way Of answering the OBJ
jections of our friends to this scheme
Now let us suggest single additional con-
sidcration, which, as we think, ought alone
to secure for it their most hearty support.
According to Mr.. Whitney, the road will
be carried on forever on what is plainly
true principle. That is to say, it will have
no dividends nor interest to pay on capital,
but only its own repairs and current ex
penses. Thus it will charge for freight
and passage no more than the actual cost
and will be open to all the world, as the
worlds highway should be, not as source