The republic., 1851-01-29

through Congress. they would fix the tolls, or
for transport, as low as their wants and interest
might require.
Az to influence over laborers: First. For build
Ing the road the labor would not be stationary. As
fast sections Of the road might be completed and
its machinery put into operation, that section may
be considered as under the control of the actual
settlers ts line, who will that it is operated
in all particulars to promote their interests but the
laborers who have constructed the road will have
become The settlers on its line. or removed TO con
struct another section.
In this country labor is independent, because Of
q choice Of employment; and the laborer will not
work any longer for man, in place, than
10 for his interest; the laborer s quite ndepend
ent as his employer. And secondly, the amount
OF transitory labor required to operate such road
would be small in numbers, compared with the ac-
tual settlers on its line.
The bill provides "lhat should any settlements
take place before the route for the road is located
on lands which are within thirty miles each side
of the road, then such settlers shall be entitled
pre- emption rghts, and subject to pay 81 % per
acre for all such lands settled upon; and thus it
will be seen thu the lands not tied up from
Element.
Now, here is plain, simple, business propoai-
tion for the accomplishment OF this great work,
without any outlay by the nation, or tax burden
upon the people; on the contrary, it will place more
money into the treasury for these same lands than
can be received in any other way. But, it is said,
il may fail; and suppose it does fail' The fret ten
the lands Of the next ten miles to be nearly vau
able and desirable for settlement the first; and
70 on through the good land, decreasing in value
only in proportion to the increase of the cost Of
transportation of products to market But sup
pose it does fail The nation will have parted
with nothing, hazarded nothing, and lost
thing. On the contrary, the nation will have
gained even by its failure at any stage after it's
commencement, because, should it be completed
for fifty, one hundred, miles, the road itself
could be sold at any time for more than the lands
parted with would amount to at the present price
Of soldiers bounties, and for double the sum that
be received by the Government for the same
ands besides, all the lands parted with for the
half of the distance of the road completed would be
settled by industrious population, with the road
a cheap means of transport for their products to
market; and this, without any means of transport,
is now the great object aimed at by many states.
men and politicians. and besides the alternates, five
miles by sixty the onehalf of all the lands would
remain untouched, unsod, and enhanced in value
by the operation of the road, and from the settle
ment of the other half before parted with, four
fold the present value of both halves that even
by failure the nation would be greatly benefited
over any other disposition possible to be made Of
these same lands.
It is admitted that the road may be continued
through the good lands, and urged that large for
tune will be gained by it. and that reaching the
poor lands there will be inducement to GO and
the work vii then stop. This is, in my opinion, one
of the strongest arguments in favor OF the complete
success OF the plan. Now, on the fret part OF the
route there eight hundred miles Of very best
land the face Of the globe; and it, is admitted,
the one half in altcrnatcs, five miles by sixty Of this
eight hundred miics will furnish means to con-
struct the eight hundred miles of road is it not Ger.
tain that the other half would be increased in value
by the operation Of the railroad through it, well
as from the settlement Of the frat half, to far
greater amount than the first half at the first sale,
and equal to construct another eight hundred miles
Of railroad even at an increased cost that Of
the first eight hundred mes And is it not also clear
that the building Of this second eight hundred miles
pf u-nr ana enff rond dS
value for settlement? This objection ia not that
this result cannot, but that it will be produced, and
that may gain fortune By it, Now, those WHO
urge this objection may be very sincere, very hon
est very wise, very far-seeing, and very patrioti
but how stand the figures Let see. Eight
hundred miles Of railroad to be buita the bill spe
cities, is necessary for such work, and would
be for my direct and remote interest, would cost
$40. 900 per mile, or S 600 .O00 The ight hum
dred miles by sixty of land will give 3O,720,0o0
acres, and the one half which should be allowed
to take, 600 acres, and any the best of which
now be bought in soldiers bountes. and in lots
of one hundred and sixty acres, for sixty five
cents per acre, amounting to but $9,9S4,O0O
Now, must take these lands altogether, good
and bad, run all the risk of selling and settling
them, and by my means and efforts in building
the road through them, raise their value to my
tual outlay of $l6,000,000; and the objection is,
not that may not do this, but that, BY my own
means and efforts, may succeed in raising their
value much beyond this, that may gain inn
mense fortune, sufficient to satisfy my ambition.
and the work must then stop. Now, this may be
wisdom; 1t may be craftsmanship; it may be
patriotic, and it may be a valid objection; but
must confess that cannot see il 30, because be-
lieve there are few indeed who will not admit that
the lands which am to take are not now, as they
are, worth half what shall be obliged to expcnd
for the construction Of the road through them and
believe that it will be admitted, that the road
through the eight hundred miles of the good lands
would be worth TO the nation all that estimate its
cost, Sl6.OOOOOO Now, if raise the value of the
half OF the lands from 1854 900 to the 900,
ask, have not my efforts gained to the nation
6,0l6,0 900, besides having Effected the settlement
OF an immense wilderness, which could not other
wise be settled for ages! And beside, the other
half of tho lands would be increased to stil
greater extent, and the means to con-
tinue the road through the poor lands. But the
objection ie, that may increase the value of the
half which tako to sum far beyond the fig
ures have named, and it would be my gain; but
suppose should increase its value to one, two five,
ten million dollars would not the other half be
enhanced as much or more, and add go much more
to the means to continue the roads These objeCtors
may be all right; and have yet to learn that,
der free Government like ours, based upon indi-
vdual enterprise, with the full and uninterrupted
possession and enjoyment of the fruits of the labor
of both body and mind, and no Government mono
poles to check and absorb the stimulants to indus
try efforts, and enterprise, il ia dangerous to per
init individual to gain for the nation millions in
wealth, with advantages which cannot be esti-
mated, because, in so doing, he may gain some
thing for himself must confess, that this is
new feature In repuhilcanlsm winch have never
learned.
Now, this objection admits the complete success
of the plan. for, II should make immense
fortune from taking the one half of the good lands
through which the road shall have been completed,
the other half would certainly furnish means to
tinuc the road beyond through the poor lands BUTT
supposcs. what will not admit that there would be
an inducement for me to stop the work, that
would doso, under any circumstances of gain. Ihave
object, no desire, but the complete and success
ful accomplishment of this great work, and am
willing to devote my life to it without hope of gain
ration tothosc who know no God but money; such
men, however, must know that such work
not be accomplished without cash means 10 a large
amount; and they also know full well that cash
means cannot be procured from tho lands, except
from the expectation of gain from the enhancement
Of their value by the work itself That the build
ing OF the road will greatly enhance the value of