The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-25
RAILROAD IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

] RAILROAD IN LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI.
| Mr. SHIELDS With the unanimous consent of the
Senate will ask leave 10 take up Senate biIl ass ma
king grant OF lands to the States of louisiana and
ssisspp IN AID Of the construction OF railroad from
IN the State OF Louisiana. TO Jackson, in the
State OF mississippi By mistake Of mine the other day.
the bill was laid upon the table want TO rectify the mis-
take now, If can, for the benefit Of gentlemen from
The PRESIDENT The Senate Committee did not re.
port the bill referred to it.
Mr.. SHIELDS. Yes. sir, the mistake was mine
The bill was then read by the Secretary
The PRESIDENT The bill is before the Senate as
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. MI President, have an amend
many bills were passed. granting lands to Illinois, In
diana. and believe TO Ohio, for the purpose OF aiding in
the construction OF railroads Now, sir, there is rail
road project-a bill heretofore offered for the considera
tion OF CongresstO connect Louisville and ST. Louis
pass through the States OF Indiana and Inoishe whole
way, too ltis road which would be highly beneficial
sHe s = ~ .eis .'A''s'ns s'.''''o Stats
! Mr.. SMITH. Will the honorable seuator permit me
e make single 5 remark wish to know ihe honoa
bill upon the table for the present. to take up bill we
have W nearly .4,I;> eomple.ed' m
| are some ten or fifteen minutes yet to go on.
| Mr., SMITH ask permission OF the Chair to do it.
| it is not unusual
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD | am perfectly willing to hear
the request but there is little time to go will
| MI. SMITH. AT one O'Clock we have special order
and some private business wish TO bring up the spoil
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. A gentleman at my left SAYS he
has another amendment to offer TO the bill under consd
eraton and give way seems to be the general wish
of the Senate; rather, will move myself TO lay il upon
the table, with view TO take up the French spoliaon
bill.
Mr.. DOWNS hope the gentleman will withdraw
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Let us take the sense of the
Senate. There is another amendment to this bill.
The question being taken the motion to lay up~n the
table, II was agreed to upon divsloRayes 81 90
BILLS PASSED. s"
| The following engrossed bills severay read
! third time and passed:
bill Is l0D 10 provide for the ascertanment and
satisfaction OF claims OF American citizens for spolations
committed by the French prior to the 3lst Of Jdy 1901
bill (s 423) for the relief of John B. Barton and the
other surviving children of the late Gen. VIM. Barton.
PUBLIC LANDS RAILROADS.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD Mr.. President now ask to take
up the bill just laid upon the table
The Senate proceeded 10 consider said bill IS 393
in committee OF the whole
Mr. U. said will proceed again to explain my amend
ment stated TO the Senate that during the last ses
sion of Congress various bills passed granting lands
TO aid in the construction OF railroads in the interior OF
illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, During the same session,
sir there project upon foot to make similar grant
OF land for the construction OF railroad from Louisville
upon the Ohio, TO ST. Louis. That bill, for
other, acted upon and do not perceive why
should not receive the favorable attention OF the
Senate that bills received for the construction OF roads
lying north OF the Ohio river and further in the interior
Now, sir, OF all the roads which could well be con-
struc,ed by the aid OF Congress, there is no road
which would be more beneficial TO the people repre-
seat than the road from Louisville, through Indiana
and Illinois, to ST. Louis. Upon that road, char
tered by the State of Illinois, there has already been
expenditure Of some three hundred thousand dollars
Whether there has been any expenditure east OF Mount
propose this bill simply givegran the States
of Indiana and Illinois, TO aid in the construction OF this
road from Louisville to ST. Louis or to Alton. that have
been given for the construction OF other roads
through the interior of Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio
this application upon the ground that this road would
be essentially beneficial to the whole State OF Kentucky
and Missouri And allow TO remark, sir, that IT this
road constructed will enable merchants and travellers
to spend something Ike twenty foar hours longer IN
Louisville and ST LOUIS and then, sir, to get upon the
branch of these roads, extending from State TO the
other, and upon the intersection OF the Chicago and Cairo
railroad. and then to the mouth OF the Ohio. and
Join boats going to the Mississippi riyer-an advantage
OF the West No other road that can be constructed
will effectively give this advantage TO the mass oil
The people residing west OF ,he Aneghany mountains
commenting upon the advantages which the construction
of this direct line of communication from Louisville TO
ST Louis will give n,ersectng, II WILL the great road
from Chicago to Cairo Every one familiar with the
geography OF the country-every one who will look at
the map OF the counrymusi see the immense advantages
that mus, result iron the completion OF road OF this
kind look upon it, sir the most advantageous road
that possibly be constructed out OF the public domains
to the large of the western people II is Infinitely
superior to many oil those for which similar grants have
aready been gwen to that which | now ask. | have
tax the bill which has been usual 10 pass IN relation
10 these roads, and amended il TO make II conform
TO the objects have in vew leaving out the title and
enactng clause, except Be 1T further enacted" pro-
pose 10 add il amendment TO the ball now under
consideration,
The Secretary then read the proposed amendment, as
follows:
Sac And D, further enacted, That there be- and is
hereby, granted the States Of Indiana and Illinois in the
aid Of the construction Of railroad from Louisville, 10 the
State OF Kentucky, by New Albany In Indiana, and Mount
Carmel the Wabash river, to Alton, With branch 20
our every alternate section Of land Designated by even
numbors for sections in width each side OF said
roads and in portion of said lands may have been
sold by the United States right OF pre-cmP'lon may
ton the States select from the lands OF the
Unted States contiguous 10 the tier OF sections aorc
said much land in alternate sections as aforesaid MS
will make the whole grant equal in quantity 20 oneha o.
That alternate hereby granted 10 said states,
their proceeds shall be applied 70 the construction ol
said roads, and TO no other purpose whatsoever.
Spc Ind b. 10 further enacted That the sections and
par of sections Of and which by such gaot shall rema n
to the United States within six miles each side o SAID
roads be sold or less than double the minimum
price Of the public lands when soid
Ssc q hrd be further sNacfsd That the said lnnds
hereby said States shall be subject 20 the ds
posa legislatures thereof for the purposes aforesaid
md no other and the said railroads shall be and remain
public highways for The use OF the OF the unlteo
States toll other charge upon the transportation
| of any property or Of the United states
Sac 10 And be IL fwfsr sracied, That II the said ra
roads shall not be com pleed within - years, the said
which may be received upon the sale of any part
lands by said Stacs the title 70 the una
the State making the sale remaining valid and the ue
the residue OF said lands sha reinvcst IN the united
to have and hold the in the same manner ns u hi'
act hnd not been passed
sro H. Ind BE- IL hfher e~aeied That the said States