Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-03-25

| st. Louis, point one hundred and thirty
miles south from the beginning point of the
Hannibal road. 1t will be found by gentle
men who will refer to the map of the coun-
try, that the beginning point of this road is
in the same latitude of the other great and
important cities and towns and in the lati-
tude of other roads which have been COM
pleted, or which are in progress of compile
ton. There is already company incorpor-
ated for the making of a road from Cincinnati
ii to st. Louis; and since | left my home in
the west, in November last, contract has
been made, by which the road which is to
connect Cincinnati with st. Louis, will be
completed in five years. Gentlemen who
have travelled In the west know how impor
tant is that connection with the eastern
States. understand that it is in contem-
plation TO construct road from Parkers-
burgh to Cincinnati. This road will be, as
the St. Louis road is, upon the parallel of
Parkersburgh and Baltimore, and connects
with the great rail road which terminates at
this capital. The other end of the road
terminates at the western boundary line OF
the State of Missouri.
beg leave, Mr.. Speaker, to ask the at
tention of the House TO some important facts
in connection with this grant. We do not
ask it for roads that have never been COM
menced-for roads which are barely incor-
porated and whose existence can only be
known by the act of incorporation. But we
ask it for roads which have been commenced,
roads which capitals of millions of dollars,
with which to begin the vast and noble
work, and roads which we bopc by the aid
of this Government, to be able to complete
in five or six years.
The road from Hannibal to the western
boundary line of St. Joseph, at the Missou-
ri river, has been incorporated, and SUBJ
scription of stock has been taken by private
individuals and counties, TO the amount Of
: $S00,0OO; and at the last session Of the Leg
islature of our State its credit was loaned to
that company in the sum of 81 100000
J that credit to be made available by the bonds
of the State, to be issued in sums amounting
to $50, 900, to be paid out to the company as
the road progresses; making, therefore, a
present available capital to that company
with which to begin the work, Of near 81
100000. On the Sd of November last the
:, work was begun and the first spadetul OF
earth was thrown up by the President Of
that road. The other road-the road COM
: mencing at the city of St. Louis has made
greater progress than the Hannibal road
I 1t was commenced on the 4th Of July last.
1t has capital, as | am informed by the Sec
retary of the Board of Directors, amount
ing to 81 ,552 200 by private subscrl Ption
and the subscription Of the city OF st. Louis
and the counties upon the line Of the road.
Il II has also the credit of the State, IN the
Il shape cf its bonds, for s 100000, with the
n understanding that when individual sub
: scription shall have raised the amount Of
stock to s,2,00O,000, the bonds Of the State
: to a like amount shall be issued by the Gov
S error of the State making an available cap
n ital of 100000 with which to commence
r the work. Near forty miles OF the work is
= uuder contract, and | have been advised,
since have been in the city, by the secre-
: tary of the Board of Directors, that BY the
:, 4th of July next, cars will be running upon
d that road, and by the lst of January 1858
IS the whole forty miles will be compleicd.-
l. The length of that road is about 2SU miles
: in direct line; but as remarked with re-
IS gard TO the other road, the engineer upon
J. that road reports it will be about 800 miles
l, in length, according to the survey OF the
n route, at cost of S20,0C0 per mile, making
the aggregate cost OF the road to put in con-
le dition for running cars upon it, $6,OOO,OOO;
v of that amount we have an available capt.
at tai of SS4 ,OOO,O00 or two-thirds of the whole
at sum. And now Missouri comes to thi:
y House, 10 this Congress, and asks that ;
r portion of that great domain which lie!
I'd within the limits Of the State Of Missouri
Of Of that domain which is to be benefited, as
OF | hope to be able to show by the construc
Ir tion of these roads, shall be granted TO aic
al us in the construction of these great works
n of improvements. The territorial possessions
or of this Government, embracing the lands ce
c. ded by some of the old States, the lands ac
es quired by the purchase of Louisiana am
We Florida; and by the treaty of Guadalupe Hid
H. algo, constitute a domain such as has talel
ne to no other Government or people OF ancien
H. or modern times. But here, sir, | speal
ds not alone of the vastneSs of its extent, but
of speak of the fertility and eXuberance of il
es soil; speak of the salubrity OF its climate
" speak of the richness, the variety, an
We extent of its mineral production; speak c
he the great length Of its rivers, as indicatin
- the vast extent of that domain--a domai
ed which embraces an area of | ,584 ,0OOOOO {
cr acres, as appears by the report of the Com
If missioner Of the General Land Office
ill And out of this 1854 100000 Of acres
is there has only been sold by this Govern
he mcnt the amount of 100000 of acre
bic leaving of conscquencemorc than 81 400
,ad 600, 1000 Of acres still the property of TIL
nc Government. know that gentlemen of II
tn, Eastern States who have never visited IL
he great valley OF the Mississippi, can, by lool
tn. ing at the map before them, form very il
ill adequate conception of the vastness OF Il
the extent OF that mighty valley.
pa l remember an anecdote, which is relate
pi- by very distinguished divine in the Sta
lri. OF Kentucky, believe a very near reiati'
an of All honorable member upon this floc
md which is illustrative of the idea have a
ci- vanced. That gentleman travelled ie
ldy years ogo over the continent of Europe a