The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 81, 1882.
sENApE.


soesder the bill Is D granting the right OF way and
masog grant OF land 10 the State OF Iowa in aid OF
The construction OF certain railroads IN said State which
"fI Tbs PRESIDENT stated the question 10 be upon
substitute reported from the Committee on Public
Mr. HUNTER | should like TO know from the sen
a,or who reported this bill how much land it is pro
posed 10 appropriate under IT.
b; and will answer the senator from Virginia, Mr. Hun
TERI that according TO an estimate received from The
General Land Office two years since, when this bill
passed The Senate, would grant TO the State of Iowa
about 100000 acres OF land for the construction OF rail-
roads II is several hundred thousand acres less than
was granted 10 the State OF Illinois for her principal road
The Committee on Public Lands have bestowed much
time and consideration upon this BILL for the thai,
they wished 10 make The model bill Of the session. II
views Of the senator from Kentucky, (Mr. UsDERwooD
who usually examines with great whatever is com.
miled TO hls charge In all its essential provisions it
conforms to those of the Illinois bill which passed two
years ago. and will add that all the other bills reported
from the Committee Public Lands at this session for
railroads have been made TO conform to this one In It's
present shape il received the unanimous sanction of the
Committee on Public Lands.
will remark for the benefit of my esteemed friend
from Virginia, lMr. HUkTERl-as know he sits heavily
upon the money chest OF this government and diskes
almost equally much to part with hi, his dol
larstha he will not lose great deal by the grant which
this bill makes TO my State. There is contained in this
bill that onerous and outrageous clause that all from
the States have bad 10 submit TO- to wit the two
and lfdOar clause for the remaining or government
sections OF land and when you give us a grant OF
100000 100000 of land 10 aid us in the con-
strucon OF our railroads, you impose tax upon our
people BY requiring them to pay two dollars and half
per acre for the lands which the government has remain
ing the lines OF the roads, instead OF dollar and
quarter, as il now is. We really asking grant of
but little, and hope the Senate will pass il without any
special opposition from my friend from Virginia, Mr.
Mr., HUNTER. | do not think we should tax the con.
stqens Of my friend from Iowa, Mr. DoDE;] and if
ia ho pnf
dlhonal reason tor laying this matter until can
examine i little further. There seems 10 be great
many applications for grants Of land TO aid in The con-
shucion OF railroads, and before long we shall have
probably granted away in detail all that portion of the
public lands from which are likely to derive reve
nue. Now, believe, if this thing is to be DONE it had
oeler come up as SYSTEM and we could then what
we are dong hope the senator will consent to post
pone this bill until some future day. that we may have
more time TO look into it. This is 10 itself an immense
grant, and we should examine it well before make
Mr.. JONES, OF Iowa. most sincerely hope the Sen.
ate will not postpone this BILL Mr. President but that we
will pass to-day, and before the Senate shall adjourn
This bill precisely similar in all its provisions to that
which was passed in September last for the States OF
Illinois, Mississippi, and Alabama-for what is called the
athe session OF lSiS-4g and which passed through
this body without opposition, the principles involved in
having been thoroughly discussed when the Chicago
and Mobile railroad bill, TO which have referred, was
passed.
This bill makes provision for the right Of way and
grant OF land Tor the contemplated railroads in Iowa.
Qhe northwestern terminus OF the Central railroad,)
the city OF Keokuk, and from Davenport, The terminus
OF the Rock Island and Chicago railroad 10 or near the
Council Blufs on the Missouri river, the most direct
economical, and feasible route for railroad 10 California
and Oregon, for the construction OF which there appears
to be but one opinion IN the minds OF the people OF the
whole North and Northeastern States OF the United
States.
The ais OF the bill is wrong, as it indicates gran. of
and when in fac, there grant at ALL unless It be the
100 feet each side of the railroad II makes no grant
OF gratuy TO The State, since the alternate sections re-
served by the United States doubled in price, and be-
come therefore, heavy burden or tax upon The settes
along The line OF these roads And these
sections cannot be entered upon by the spectators who
deal IN bounty land warrants the general government
certainly greatly the gamer in the passage OF this bill or
in making these quasi grants as they will receive for the
whole tract, including the grant. 81 25 per acre,
instead oil from go TO rs cents per acre, which
IS the maximum cost OF the land to those who
locate bounty. y.land warrants upon them And 81,
the lands for many miles either side of these rail-
roads will not only be enhanced in value, has been
demonstrated to have been the the grants as they
are termed 10 Illinois, but the lands for thirty forty and
even fifty miles, each side, will be- in consequences OF
the proposed construction OF these roads, brought into
market and sold many years before they otherwise would
II the passage OF these bills granting lands 10 the
Saes Tor aid IN the construction OF these railroads, be
deHed, the lands along the lines OF the roads will be
covered by the holders OF military bouny-land warrants
and hereby preventing their sale at The 81 25 per acre for
e whole Of then including those said to be granted to
The Construction OF these railroads will not only be OF
immense benefit TO the pioneers who have settled in the
country through which they pass but 10 the whole
country in the great increase OF the commerce and trade
lIade between the Siates-Nonh and South East and
WesAas well the nations OF the other hemisphere
10 which these roads, and others that will follow
ihen, are TO lead. And not only will they benefit in
commercial point OF view, and in opening the way TO
the sale OF millions of OF land to the OF them,
now Inhabited by Indian naiIons but they must become
OF Incalculable Importance when another war shall be
wsged against our common country.
lhls bill having been upon the desk of my honorable
friend from Virginia Mr.. HusrRRl for the last two
years. and having followed him in the printed public docu
ments OF the Senate TO his home in the Old Dominion,
mink he ought not to ask for its further postponement,
but permit now 10 be acted upon even II IL cannot have
hs sanctlon-lhe which very much regret
Mr ATCHlS0N. wish to say few words in rea-
uon 10 this mailer. There is another very onerous pro-
VISION attached 10 this bill besides the mentioned by
,he senator from Iowa, Mr.. DoDeE1 The government,
as ne says and has shown grants nothing donates nothing
gives nothing Yet this bill provides-and believe it is
model bil-hat upon these railroads the government
stores and troops shall be transported free OF charge
That provision, il adopted will be peculiarly onerous
upon The roads OF the States of Missouri and Iowa. from
me Mssissppirver the Missouri rver and across the
stores io New Mexico and California will be transported
over This very road referred TO in this BILL and the Mis-
SCUM road IDclusively Now, intend 10 the sense
VI ihe Senate upon this question, and shall move
strike out that section DO not consider that this bill
grants very great favor II is nothing more, 40 far as
ae pecuniary consideration is involved, than grant of
me sh OF way 10 construct these railroads through the
public lands That is about all Wehave the alternate
ecuons Number one Is given to but number two is
Pud up 10 50 so per acre, and so on.
But there is another consideration 10 be thought OF
Un Yesterday w ma