The republic., 1851-01-29
Letter OF mr.. whitney.


they must be sought
Letter OF Mr.. whitney.
WAsHINGToN, d. c., January 26, 1851.
With all that has been written and published,
and with all the explanations that have been made
still it Sppears that my plan for the construction of
railroad to the Pacific is not understood, 10 in
tentionally misrepresented. fair reading and
understanding of the bill reported to the Senate
must. think, satisfy any unprejudiced mind that
the objections urged without foundation, and
cannot be sustained, or even made to apply to the
bill. Objections urged that it is granting too
much power to an individual; that it ia monstrous
to give such an immense tract of land to one man,
and tie it up from settlement; that to place the
management OF such work, for its construction
and operation, under the control ofo man, would
subject the people its line, and far its in
huencc could reach, entirely to his will, and might
prejudice our institutions Of free government.
Now, do not ask for, nor does the bill grant to
me, any powers, corporate otherwise It does
not grant or convey 10 me of land. II does
not give to inc the control over any land or power
over any person or persons whatever.
fair and lust understanding of the bill is this,
and more, do desire or intend that ii should
mean more. That i am by it permitted to construct
railroad at my own risk and expense upon land
Belonging to the people of the United States, from
Lake Michigan to the Pacific ocean, and the land
on which the road would be built and laid would
still belong to the people Of the United States and
could never be disposed of for any other object
purpose than for the use and operation of the said
road The road thus built upon the lands belonging
to the people would be always under the control Of
and even disposal by Congress, and be kept ia
operation, not by the Government but as an ndi-
vidual enterprise, without ch.rge upon tho public
treasury, and without charge upon transportation,
except sufficient only for the expenses OF its opera
ton and repairs-this to be fixed and regulated by
Congress. The landlord must be blind indeed to.
his own interests that cannot sec the vast amount
of benefits that such work would be to his entire
domain.
The bill sets apart and sells thirty miles in width
each side of said road, from the lake to the Pac
good and bad, at ten cents per acre, amounting
to 900 to be paid for into the treasury cash;
and the road, with all its machinery, is held and
pledged as security, with other stPulations restric
tions and conditions, guarding all the rights and in
terests of the people and Government, well as
curing the construction Of the road and its success
full operation free road to the people of the
whole Union but does not convey to or give
me the control Of land Now,
the process for carrying into effect this great
enterprise is very plain and simple ii both creates
its own means and provides fur its support in itself
and in its operation.
The road from the lake to the Pacific will not
exceed 2,030 miles For 500 miles from the
lake the lands are of the very best quality; then
there poor lands to to the Pacific, where say
there ono hundred miles Of good; hcre, then,
are nine hundred miles of good land at both ends
together; and this nine hundred miles, by sixty
wide, must be SO managed as to make 1t produce
the means to construct 800 miles Of the road; the
building of the road through the poor lands will,
beyond doubt, bring sufficient amount of them
into and value for settlement to furnish the
means for the other two hundred and thirty miles
of the road. Now, to effect this object, and guar
antee to the nation its successful accomplishment
the bill divides these good lands into sections, each
of ten miles by sixty--each 234, 900 acres. com
mence the work by locating the route from the lake
TO bridging place the Mississippi, and as
far beyond as may be necessary to secure
the lands tnen commence the grading of tue
road for one more hundred miles, this com.
mencemcnt will require an outlay Of several
ton of ten miles of the road conformnble in all
spects to the stpulations in the pl and requiring
outlay of $200,000 morej and if to the full sat
sfacon of the commissioner, and also to his salts
faction that the work is being continued beyond
for the construction of another ten mile section
then permitted TO SELL not take, five miles by
sixtyl920 acrcs the half of the lands of the
ten miles section through which the road shall
have been completed, and under the certificate Of
satisfaction from the Government commissioner,
the Land Office will grant titlesnot to me, hut 10
those to whom may have contracted a sale, as ac-
tual purchasers and settlers; and the Government
still holding the lands Of the other half OF the
ton as fund to 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 that the building OF the road would
increase their value for settlement so that the one
half of tho lands would furnish means to build the
nine hundred miles Of road, and the other half re-
main constantly and daily increasing in value,
sure fund to construct the other nine hundred
miles of road And the bill expressly provides
that until patente shall have issued from the Cen
eral Land Office, no titles from or contracts made
by said Whitney ehall be considered as binding on
the Governments" 90 that the lands remaining un-
patented would be the same if belonging TO the
Government absolutely.
The simple operation Of all this would be that
after shall have completed each section of ten
miles of road, then am permitted to contract sales
for onehaf Of that ten miles by sixty of land--say
five miles by sixty-l02, 900 acres and, under the
certificate Of the commissioner, titles from the
General Land Office would be granted directly
TO the actual purchasers who will enter into pos
session precisely If the purchase had been made
directly from the Government, and they become
landowners the same precisely as all who purchase
from any control which may be charged with
desiring to hold over them; and they and their
lands become parts and parcel of the State or Ter
ritory in which located, subject only 70 such
laws as they themselves see fit To make, Their in
forests in the road would be in the gr. at benefits
which il would render by taking their products to
market at low tolls. 1t this consideration
which induced them to purchase lands on its line;
hopcsand not disappointed
from improper management or high charges by the
road. The least reflection must satisfy any candid
mind that railroad operated as is proposed to ope-
rate this, with no tolls for dividends, can never
have any control over the people on its line.
First, it IL not to be built and operated by the
Government, or by an Incorporated company, per-
petually seeking to extend and strengthen its
power and political influence, not only over the peo-
pie on the line Of the road. but over the whole
United States, and absorbing the entire action of
Congress to effect it, corrnpting and influencing
the Legislatures Of tho States through which II
may run, for further monopoly and exclusive privi.
legc.
charging tolls for divivcnds, and no exclusive
powers or privileges, the people on its line would
always control ih operation and make such laws
| n their riehts and iuterost miaht demnnd: and