The daily union., 1852-05-13

RsatiUs 10 RAILROADS ia Mssisspps and Aabama and pro-
pone ths construction Of Aaantie and Pacific yaa,eay
from Charleston. South Carolina. via Viksbarg 10 San
Dege on ne Pacific; deitUered In he House ~ Repre-
SenatiUes, May 1852
Mr.. FREEMAN, from the Committee on Public Lands,
reported back without amendment, and with q recon.
mendaion that il do pass, the following Senate bill which
was read and referred to The COMMITTEES OF the Whole on
the state OF the Union and ordered TO be printed viz s.
72 An sc granting the State OF Mississippi the right
OF way and donation public lands for the purpose OF
locating and constructing railroad from Brandon TO the
eastern boundary of thai State. in the direction OF Mont
gomcry, Alabama"
Mi. FREE NAN said:
Mr. Speaker: This bill for the Mississippi road has
passed the Senate three tines and has failed in hs House
endar before Congress adjourned hope therefore, that
the House will indulge me with an attentive ear, while
state few OF the leading facts connected with this en-
terprise
The road from Brandon to the Alabama line passes
through portion OF the public lands. and is ninay-hrse
miles in length il has been surveyed and located and
the State is now engaged IN grading the road The pub
lie lands through which this road have been in mar
ket seventeen years. and are the poorest quality of pine
OF taxes have been required to ascertain the quantity
and the value per acre OF all the public lands in that
State hold In my hand the official returns of those
officers from which It appears that the average value Of
the lands in ten counties adjoining the line Of this road
twenty-five and half cents per acre and unless this
road is built they cannot be sold at all Hence will be
that the federal government have much TO gain and
nothing TO lose BY making this grant
From Brandon, west to the city OF Jackson, the State
has completed thirteen miles Of road and made part OF
sisspp river, railroad has been in operation for many
years. 90 that these roads, when completed, will span
The State, from vicksburg, on the Mississippi river, 70
the Alabama line The State OF Mississippi has already
invested 100000 in these roads. The Stale OF Alabama
has chartered road running from Montgomery, the
capital Of that State, to connect with the Mississippi
road at the line ct the two States and has made large
loan OF money TO company to construct that part OF the
road From Montgomery. Alabama, to Savannah. Geor-
gia and to Charleston, South Carolina, there is con-
fpuou I'M Of fr1Ir pxc fftV miles from West
to Newman, Georgia. These fifty miles already nearly
graded and will be in operation in the course Of year The
completion OF these roads connects the great valley OF the
Mississippi with the Atlantic at Savannah and
Charleston From these points we have already seam-
boat and railroad communication with all the Atlantic
Cities and thence to the interior OF all the Atlantic.
northern and western States and Territories the east
side of the Rocky mountains.
RAILROAD FROM vIcKsBURG TO SAN DIEGO ON THE
PACIFIC.
The Committee on Public Lands propose, by bill
directed TO report 10 continue this southern chain of
railroad from Vcksburg. the Mississippi river. directly
west TO Shreveport Red river and thence the Texas
line survey of the route from the Mississippi river
across the State of Louisiana TO The Great Bend on Red
river. has been made by w. H. Sidel civil engineer
der the direction OF the federal government He reports
that the route is in all respects feasible and that rail-
road with single track. with iron weighing sixty pounds
10 The yard and otherwise we'll constructed wifi cost al
the rate OF 1888 per mile.
| am informed by the delegation this floor from
Texas that the legislature Of that State has already
eight miles in width for the entire length OF the road TO
aid its construction through the territory Of that State
the road through the heart of this great agricultural
region, and am authorized 10 say that any reasonable
quantity of ands necessary insure the construction OF
the road, will be freely given by Texas
SURVEY OF CAPTAIN MARCY.
In pursuance OF an order of the War Department, an
accurate survey OF the country from Preston on Red
river, through the centre oil Texas Ell Paso del Noe
has been mode by Captain Marcy. of the Typographical
engineers and the ofcis report Of Captain AIN Marcy will
from 1863 to 2s3 OF The first session Thry.frs, Con.
gress.
The following description Of the country will be found
at PIP. 224-5,-6.-7:
BY reference the map, /, viii be that kept
the plain upon the head branches Of the Colorado and
The clear fork OF the Bazos Here we found smooth road
over gently unduaing of prsries and timber and
abounding with numerous cear spring branches for
Sunaed q miles, and IN many places covered , with large
fuel The soil cannot be surpassed Tor fertility The grass
eubous sed beaby naesd IL as a bs
sites that can be desired fo making fine agricultu
viii con,sn very dense population .' L only pes,aa
ary for our farmers IT, and have protection from the
ncursons OF the Indians to settle 1t at once"
"As there is grass this all Of year
1t can be travelled at any lime. is rue that the old
grama grass dries up early in the spring. but appears TO
cure like hay and does not lose It's nutritious properties
"From all learn Of the other routes to California
am induced TO believe. that should government
future time determine upon making national road ofany
description the continent the southern
have travelled is emnenily worthy Of consideration We
hnd upon none Of the northern routes much water, tim
Der, rich, fertile soil, upon this There many
more mounsins opass over and during part OF the year
they buried in deep SHOWS.
have been kindly allowed the perusal Of letter writ
ten by an officer Of the srmy-an attentive and expert
enced observer OF has recently passed that
portion Of the northern between Fort Kearny and
Fort Laramie In which he speaks OF the country in the fol-
lowing language
".The country between Fort Kearny and Fort Laramie
lis vast, unduatDg sandy desert--but little wood or
wafeoally destitute oil interest," and utterly worthless,
and must remain so forever never can be Inhabited TO
any erent there is soil, and the seasons TOO
= short
"The distance between places is three hundred
and sixty five miles In place. wood for cooking has
10 be carried for three utive days In wagons, and in
several places IL 10 necessary to carry water.
" The road from Independence after passing through
Santa Fe
" Lieutenant Colonel Emory that the srsbe soil
upon this road extends degree longi
souri, river California, II would pnss through very bar
country, which could not be settled improved
whereas constructed through the country have
passed over, from Dona Ana Fort Smith, with the pro-
tecion which chain Of military posts along the roue
would Afford would open Of beautiful country
the notice Of sgrcsltursts and would be settled in
very short time.
The advantages which this possesses others
adsps H. In preemnent degree, to tho construction OF
railroad. For the have mentioned, and from all
the examination aud consideration which have been able
to give the subject cannot resist the strength OF
convictions that any experienced and impartial engineer
alter thorough and careful Reconnaissance OF all the di
fcrent roues would give this the preference
any other.
. From Dons Ana or Ell Paso where crossed
Red rivera distance OF hundred mes-thcre are