Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-02-28
~ Mr.. Asa Whitney has published

| " Mr.. Asa Whitney has published
letter in the Washington Republic, in
relation to his plan of Pacific Railroad.
He says that the bill reported to Com
gress, and with which he is perfectly sat.
i.fied, sets apart thirty miles in width on
each side of The road, "irom the Lake
to the Pacific Ocean," in all about sew
enty millions of acres, good and bad, at
ten cents per acre, amounting to ST.
100000 to be paid Tor into The treasury,
in cash; and the road, with all its ma.
chinery, is held and pledged as security,
with other stipulaiions, restrictions and
conditions, guarding all the rights and
interests of the people and Government,
as well as securing the construction of
the road and its successful operation as a
free road to the people Of the Union"
He adds:
"The road from the lake TO the Pachc
will not exceed 1880 miles. For 500
miles from the lake the lands are of the
very best quality; then there are poor
lands 10 near 10 the Pacific, where, say
there are one hundred miles of good:
here, then, are 900 miles of good land
at both ends together; and this nine hun
dred miles, by GO wide, mus. be so man
aged as to make i, produce the means TO
construct 800 miles of the road: the
building of the road through the poor
lanGs will, beyond a doubt, bring suffi.
cient amount Of them into use and value
for setlenen, 10 furnish the means for
the other two hundred and thirty miles Of
the road. Now, to effect this object. and
guarantee 10 the nation its successful ac
complishmen,, the bill divides these good
lands INFO sections, each of ten miles by
sixty--each $4,000 acres. com
mence the work by loca.ing the route
from the lake 10 a bridging place on The
Mississippi, and as far beyond as may
be necessary 10 secure the land.
then commence the grading of the
road for one more hundred miles; this
commencement will require an outlay Of
several hundred thousand dollars. then
complete section of ten miles of the
road, conference.-the IN all respects to the
siipulations in The bill, and requiring an
outlay of 100000 more; and if to the
full satisfaction of the Commissioner. aud
| also to his satisfaction that the work is
being continued beyond for the construc-
ton Of another ten mile section, then
am permitted TO sell, MT take, five miles
by sixty--l92,000 acres; the one half
of the lands of the ten mile section ihro'
which the road shall have been compile
ted, and under the certificate of satislac-
ton from the Government commissioned,
the Land O.fice will grant titles-not 10
me but to those whom have contracted
a sale, as actual purchasers and settlers;
and the Government still holding the
lands Of the other half of the section as
a fund 10 continue the road through the
poor lands, and also holding the road and
all its machinery. Such would be the
operation through the good lands lha, the
building of The road would increase their
value for settlement; SO that the one half
of The lands would furnish means to
build the nine hundred miles Of road, and
the other half remain constantly and
daily increasing in value, sure fund 10
construc, the other nine hundred miles
| Of road"
He says that he has studied the sub
jest long, and he can accomplish the
great work without invoicing the nation
in any debt, or burdening the people
with taxation TO the amount of one dol
lar, and give the nation free road.
which will make the commerce of the
world tributary to it. Mr.. Whitney is
certainly persesering as well as sanguine,
and he deserves iufinite credit for his
indomi,able energy.-H. Louis Mtflh-
gsncer. ...'. -"... .."