The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-28
TIL u r b p u B Lie.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN G.. MILLER,
Of Missouri,

the Pabhc Domain to aid IN the construction
Of certain Railroads therein.
The House having taken up for consideration
the bill, the SPEAKER said the gentleman from
Missouri Mr.. MILLER) was entitled to the noor.
Mr.. MILLER said Mr.. Speaker, before the
vote is taken upon the motion which has been nadc
by the honorable gentleman from Tennessee, Mr..
JoNEs,) to refer the bill, which was reported Dy
the chairman Of the Committee on Public Lands,
(Mr. HALL,) my colleague. together with the
amendments which have been offered to that bill,
desire to submit few remarks to the House. !
am fully aware that the subject of the disposition
of the public lands has been ably discussed by
some of our wisest statesmen, and they nave sned
upon it the bright light of their own brilliant IN
teects They have 30 clearly pointed out the true
policy of this Government with regard to granting
lands to the States for Internal improvements
through public domain, that but little is lett
for to say. But, sir while this subject may be
wanting in novelty TO attract and secure the aten-
ton of this House, we have attained Tar more IN
the entire and complete success o' no longer
doubtful experiment. The wisdom OF the poiicy
has been pointed out and fully established py the
grants of public lands heretofore made for works
Of this character. Since the first acquisition OF
territory by this Government down to the present
day. the question of the disposition OF the public
lands has elected much debate in the halls OF Con
gress--debate in which the strongest lnteilects
have met in fierce conict--debate IN which many
polished shaft has been shivered, but by which
brighter page has been added to the political MS
tory of country. Such, sir, was the debate
without referring to ohersin the other end OF this
Capitol in the year 1880, upon the celebrated reso
lutions of'Mr. Foot
But while this subject has been thus discussed,
while men and statcsInen have differed upon the
best disposition which should be made OF these
lands, believe there has been very general con-
| Currence OF sentiment among men OF all parteS,
and from every section of the nation In regard 10
this policy of appropriating granting the pubic
lands for works Of internal improvement, In open
ing roads and cutting canals through the pubic
domain
here beg leave, before passing to the merits OF
this bill, to state, that though my own State, Mis-
! souri, has been somewhat tardy in the commence
| ment of these great works OF internal improve
ment, she has never involved her credit; she has
never surrounded herself with embarrassments
and difficulties by engaging IN wild schemes oil IN
ter nal Improvement And she does not now come
to you ask a charity your aid in the construc-
ton of a work of local interest; but che comes to
you with consciousness OF the justice OF her claim
! ior great national work, in which every section
of the nation is interested. She comes to you ana
asks that that Justice which you have meted out to
others may be awarded to her.
! MIR. Speaker this bill, which presume has been
laid upon the table OF every member OF the House,
proposes grant of lands to two roads within the
| limits of the State OF Missouri. One OF these roads
commences at the city of Hannibal, upon the Mis-
sissppi river, about one hundred and thirty miles
above the great city OF St Louis, and near TO the
city Of Quincy, in the State of Illinois From that
point the road has been surveyed to the city oil ST.
Joseph, upon the Missouri river about five hundred
or five hundred and fifty miles above the city OF ST.
Louis Ii will be seen from this statement that this
road intended to connect the upper waters OF the
| Missouri river with the better navigable stream OF
the Upper Mississippi This road, by actual survey
| upon a straight line, is one hundred and seventy
| eight miles in lcng tn, but il may be found. upon
| the location of the road to be about Two hundred
miles in length Ii will be found, further, II gen.
tlemen will take the trouble to refer to the map OF
the United States that this road is upon the paral
lei of latitude which embraces the capitals OF some
of the States of Missouri. 1t is the lati.
tude Of Springfield, Indianapolis, Columbus, and OF
-. ffNaI
| from the city OF Quincy, which understand lie al
ready in process of construction, this road Will
connect with the road at Columbus, in the State OF
| Ohio, thence connecting with the road TO Pltts-
burgh, thence with the road 10 Cleveland, and
| thence to the great city of New York.
| The other road commences at the city OF St
| Louis, a point one hundred and thirty miles south
| from the beginning point of the Hannibal road. IL
| will be found by gentlemen who will refer TO the
map Of the country, that the beginning point OF
this road il in the same latitude OF other great and
important cities and towns, and in the latitude OF
| other roads which have been completed. or which
are in progress of completion. There lie already
company Incorporated FOR the construction OF road
| from Cincinnati TO St Louis; and, since left my
home in the West in November last, a contract has
been made by which the road which is TO connect
Cincinnati with st. Louis will be completed IN hve
! years Gentlemen who have travelled in the West
| know how important is that conncxion with the
eastern States. ] understand that II is in contem-
platiOn to construct rOhd from Parkcrsburg TO
Cincinnati This road will bc, as the St Louis road
is upon the parallel of Parkcrsburg and Baltimore,
and connects with the great railroad which termi.
nates at this capital. The other end oi the road
terminates at the western boundary line OF the State
OF Missouri
beg leave. Mr.. Speaker, to ask the attention
OF the House 20 some important facts IN cOnncn-
ION with this grant. We do not ask II for roads
which have never been cOmmcnccd-ior roads
which are barely Incorporated, and whose exist
encc can only be known by the act Of incOrporo.
,ion. but we ask it for roads which have been
commenced-roads which have capitals OF mil
lions of dollars with which 90 begin the work,
and roads which we hope, by the aid OF this Gov
crnmen, to be able to complete IN i've or Six years
The road from Hannibal TO the western bOun-
Diary line Of St. Joseph, at she Missouri river, has
been Incorporated, and a subscrpuon OF stock has
been taken Ivy private individuals and counties to
the amount Of $500 00O and at the last session OF
the Legislature of State ita credit was loaned
TO that company in the sum OF l,5OO,OOO-that
credit TO be made available by the bonds oi the
State, to be issued in sums amounting to SoO,.VO,
10 be paid out 10 the company a the road pro |
gresses; making, therefore, a present available !
apital 10 that company, with which 10 begin the
work, of near 81 800 900. On the 81 of November
last tho work was commenced, and the fret spade |
fol of earth thrown up by tho president of that
road. The other road-tho road commencing at
the city Of st. Lous-has made greater progress |
than the Hannibal road. II was commenced on the |
fourth of July last. IL has capital, as am in.
formed by the secretary of the Board of Directors,
amounting to \ 200 by private subscription
and the subscription OF the city of ST. Louis and the
credit of the State in the shape OF its bonds, Tor
4 500 900, with the undotstanding that when IN.
divdual subscription shall have raised the amount
of stock to S2UO0,OO0, the bonds of the State TO
like amount shall bc issued by the Governor of the
State making available capital OF Si,OOO,lO0
with which 10 commence the work. Near forty
miles Of the work is under contract, and bave
been advised, since have been in the city, by the
secretary of the Board OF Directors, that by the ih
OF July next cars will be running upon that road,
and that by the Let OF January, 1888, the whole
/ forty mles will be completed. The length OF that
4 road is about two hundred and eighty miles in
direct line; but as ] remarked with regard to the
other road, the engineer upon that road reports
il will be about three hundred miles in length, ac
cording to the survey of the route, at cost OF
| $4,000 per mile, making the aggregate cost oil
| the road to put il in condition for running cars
| upon it, 5000, 900; and of that amount we have
an available capital of S4OOO.OOO, or two thirds
Of the whole sum. And now Missouri comes
to this House, 90 this Congress, and asks that
| a portion of that great domain which lies within
the limits of the State of Missouri oil that