Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-17
CALLED SESSION OF THE 1EeIsIATuRE,
OFFIoE PAcIrIo RAILROAD,
ST.. Louis, june s, 1852.
HIS Ereellency, a. n. King,

cIh '---l Hau lne nVnOr on lne 9th inst, oil
transmitting 10 you copy Of a resolution unan-
imously adopted by our Board Of Directors (ev-
cry member present but one) respectfully ask
ing your Excellency to conyoke the Legislature
of the State, with the purpose Of enacting such
laws as will be necessary in order the more ef-
fectually and economically to improve and apply
the grant of lands made by Congress on the Sd
inst, in aid Of the construction Of the Pacific
railroad and Of the Hannibal and st. Joseph
Railroad. Since that letter was forwarded, I
have had the honor Of an interview with the
Lieutenant Governor, in my office, who was
particular to enquire into the precise nature of
the necessity Of convening the Legislature with
reference TO this grant, in anticipation of the
regular session, which we well know takes
place in about seven months hence. Adding
what ! learnt from this conversation TO what |
knew before, of your determination against
called session, merely for the purpose of divi-
ding the State into new Congressional Districts,
with reference TO an appointment under the CEN
sus, have felt that it was important that you
should appreciate clearly any necessity that has
arisen, which, if it should not outweigh that
consideration, would, when added to il, consti-
tute sufficient reason for your promptly deci-
ding in favor Of the call. 1t may, however, oc-
cur TO you upon reading the act of Congress
and from an outside view Of the matter, that no
Legislation appears to be absolutely necessary at
present, provided the President of the United
States will withdraw the lands from market un-
til we can make the final location of our road,
as the regular session would seem to come in
time to appropriate the lands to the purposes for
which they are intended.
The real necessity for legislative action is TO
be found in the present position of the Pacific
Railroad, with reference TO the last part of the
proviso Of the first section of the ac. of Con-
gress. The part allude TO is as follows:
GA copy of the location, made under the di-
rection OF the Legislature, shall be forwarded to
the proper local land offices respectively, and
the general land office at Washington City, with
in ninety days after the completion of the same,
TO be recorded"
The location of the line or route, and the point
of termination on the western boundary, though
sxed and designated by this company, IS io,istt~
less done by authority Of the State" as re-
quired by the act, yet the 'copy of the location
seems 10 be vequired 10 be "made under the di-
rection Of the Legislature" within ninety days
after the completion of the same.
When the line or route of the road is definite
ly located, the grant covers every alternate Sec
ton, designated by even numbers of six sections
in width on each side of the road. Thus the To-
cation of the line also locates the granted sec
IGons. But in case any of the sections thus COW
cred have been previously sold by the United
States, or that the right Of pre-emptiOn has been
attached to the same then it shall be lawful for any
agent or agents to be appointed by the Governor
to select, subject to the approval of the Secreta-
ry OF the Interior, from public lands most con-
tiguous TO the tier of sections above specified, so
much land in alternate sections or parts of Sec
tions as shall be equal to such lands as the Uni
ted States have sold, or to which the right of
pre-emption has attached, provided that the lands
so located shall not be further than fifteen miles
from the line of the road; and all the lands thus
granted are to be held by the State for the ex-
elusive use and purpose of aiding in the con-
struction of the road.
There seems to be nothing in our charter
which can be construed into a direction of the
Legislature to make a copy of our location until
the road is completed, when we are required 10
file plat thereof in the office Of the Secretary
Of State.
The first section of the act of Congress grants
the right Of way, provided a copy of the loca-
tion, made under the direction of the Legislature
shall be forwarded 10 the local land offices, and
the general land office, within ninety days after
its completion.
The first step now TO be taken is, 10 conclude
all cur experimental surveys, and procure par
pdSSu, as far as is Immediately practicable, the
right Of way through private lands. The con-
cluding surveys were ordered before the passage
of the land bill. Our own safety and economy
looking to the steady prosecution of the work
beyond the present division, required this. We
have had recently nearly 1000 men on the first
division. The present contractors are bound
q a. n,.sv Il Al
November, and it is very important that lettings
for another division should take place in time tC
transfer the men, tools, teams, &c., to the mex
division, Immediately after they have finished
their work on this. To permit them TO disbanC
before we are ready with another division
would be 10 throw, upon the starting of another
division when ready, the labor, trouble and cos
of the commencement OF work upon new road
1t was our intention TO be ready for another d
vision the ensuing fall, even if the land gran
had Dot been made. Suppose, then, we are pre-
lpared for lettings upon another division mex
fall; of course the line will be previously def
nitely located. Then comes in this proviso
which requires that, in order TO avail ourselves
of the right Of way granted by the General Gov
ernment, we must forward to the land offices anl
the general land office, copy Of the location
made under the direction Of the Legislature
within ninety days after its completion.
Now it is obvious that if we are obliged 4
wait until the regular session of the Legislature
which does not convene until the first of Janu
AIRY, oar whole work may probably be throw
, back at least five months. Present contractor
must know early whether there will be an,
more work for them on this road at the conclu
sion Of their present contacts, else Shey viii
necessarily look to other works. perhaps in 9th
er States, They could hardly be retained (
commence upon new division in mid-wint'i