The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03

lIOOps buppIcs
must be added the cost OF the transportation Of oIhef
property The Of which have not the means OF as
cerlaning Bat the aggregate OF expenditure per ahnu
for The Transportation OF The troops and properly OF the
United States will be al least 2OO0O0O 10 lime OF peace
How much OF thai w0ud be saved by these bills cannot
be precisely ascerlaned But some aes o. Tue money
may be formed by considering that to secure an income
equal 10 the estimated annual expenditure lS2OoOOoo)
would require permanent investment yielding SIX per
cent Of s53 1888 $685. equal the proceeds OF 2e6oeo66
acres OF land An appropriation OF that quantity OF land
aid OF railroads. upon the terms proposed by me oi
under consideration would TO the Unlled States
the free transportation Of their troops and property IN
peace and in forever over 74oo miles OF railroad
wilhou, the investment or expenditure oil dollar oui
with actual gain 10 the treasury, lhe lahu yelung
more than it would produce Il sold
But in addition 10 all the advantages to which nave
adverted the United States will have The power 70 ctale
contracts for carrying the mails over the roads The bill
provides " that the United States mail shall ~ an umes
be transported said railroads., under the direction oil
the Post Office Department az such price as Congress may
direct--a power OF no small consequence Ofd,naily
there parties 10 contract but, under the Dill tue
most important part OF II is TO be prescribed by one OF
United States the greater The number and The longer The
roads that shall be constructed the better Tor the treasury
What do the old States lose by the operation And
ask that question because, during this debate, have
heard almost every gentleman who has spoken IN the OPP
position complain, as il they supposed some INJURY was
10 be inflicted upon the old States by the passage OF this
bill admit that they do not gain, except IN some con-
sequenta advantages which result from the construction
OF railroads every portion OF the country But wna
whenever a proposition is made tor the construction OIL
road in any one of the States, which IS 10 cost the
United States not doarl Sir, II they want to make
distribution of the proceeds OF the public lands, The
amount will be enhanced by the operation and they VIII
get the Of it. The greater the number and the
longer the roads which shall be constructed, the larger
will be their dividends OF the proceeds OF the laads
] This bill Mr. President is misunderstood IN another
respect Senator'S speak OF It as gfanr TO the Stale
OF Iowa, If that State was to be beneficiary The
State is made trustee to manage fund 10 pre-
scribed mode for the promotion OF great public object
and under sanctions That shall secure the faithful admins
raon OF the trust VI what beneh that 10 the oae as
unit the language OF the honorable senator from
! Kenluckyl OF what peculiar benefit will II be to the
new States, that they should have the management OF
the work with the responsibilities attached 10 the trust
They have discretion whatever IN the disposition oil
the lands the application OF their proceeds, and are ac-
counlabe to the United States If the lands the proceeds
shall be squaniered or msippied They required 10
the completion OF the road in ten years, or for
lett all claim 10 The lands remaining unsod, and pay to
the United the full amount received from sales,
though may have been faithfully applied TO the con-
sruclion o! The road.
now inquire at whose expense is the road 10 be bu'
Because honorable senators say and insist that II will be
done exclusively at the expense OF the United States OF,
in the language of the honorable senator from Georgia.
without dollar being taken out of the pockets OF The
citizens, but all of The easuryal out OF the public
lands" How that proposition Is 10 be maintained am
loss comprehend, since the United States receive
more into their treasury Than they ask for the land ap
pToprialed and reserved By the bill Mr. President the
road is be built if at ALL by the people who are TO en-
10y the more immediate advantages OF the work And
when il is constructed, be maintained and kept IN
operation at their expense and rsknol at any expense,
or risk 10 the United States, although they will have the
Tree oil the road Tor the transportation oil their troops
and property, and may dictate terms for carrying their
mails The people, by the application OF whose money
and labor the road will be constructed and the value Of
the lands appropriated and reserved augmented bear all
the expense take all the rsk, and suffer the loss, any
happen. The United States invest nothing lose nothing.
risk nothing.
But it is said that The people who travel along the road,
Tor the transportation OF property the citizens OF
Kentucky and the other cid States will be required 10
al Ia "a 18th tha ~
Iowa and the other new States named The road viii
be free Stale people. The United States alone
will have the free of them when constructed under
the provisions oil this or other similar bulls.
Another mistake into which senator's have fallen is IN
assuming that the lands granted in aid OF the roads viii
furnish means sufficient construct them. They esti.
mate the lands at from 50 50 TO $40 per up the
aggregate aud then argue that the bills propose gilt OF
that amount in money lands OF that value, Sir, that
is mistake-a very great mistake. Before the lands
be made 10 sell any advance OF price, there must be
large amount OF capital and labor expended upon the
roads al the cost OF the State people who undertake 10
prosecute the work. and not al the cost OF the United
States; though The augmentation Of the value will ben
cit them than wall those by whose labor and cap
ial IL is produced.
have before me a statement exhibiting the results
upon the hypothesis that the prices anticipated by hon
ofabe senators will be realized in the sales Before !
present IT, however, desire 10 notice an error OF the
senators in their calculation OF benefits 10 the States
They that all the lands compehended by the bill
are vacant, and that the Safe will receive every
numbered section within six miles OF the road. ap.
prehend that when the time 10 make the selection ar
rves, the land subject 10 appropriation in aid OF the road
will not exceed average four sections 10 the mile
that 10 say, that OF the lands within miles OF either
side OF the road there will not be than eight
tons per mile instead OF twelve. These four sections
would produce the OF $4,000 at the present market
value OF the land; but IL the value should be augmented
by the money and labor applied TO the construction Of the
road to double price, the land will yield only $500
aud now mile OF railroad be constructed and put
operation for that sum, cannot imagine. Ii is not
third OF the probable cost OF railroad in that section
OF country through which the Pacific railroad, called,
will pass
Assuming that the grant will secure in aid OF the road all
the numbered sections within six miles OF the road,
the State will receive hirtyiour sections for every six
miles OF the road, while thrly-sx sections will be
served and the minimum price increased TO 50 80 per
acre The whole seventy sections. il sold, would pro-
tons al the minimum fixed by the bill will yield S57 900
senator from Tennessee the reserved sections would
produce SilJ,2oo and at S0 the highest estimate,
| $3.50 400.
Tue gain TO the United States in money il the reserved
sections shall sell for only 80 so per acre. will be
$685. SO per mile OF the road II they sell al S. the gain
will be .s33 per mile and il they bring $40 per acre,
the gain will amount TO S33,733 per mile. Such would
be the profits accrung TO the United States, according TO
each of the estimates Of the value OF the lands which
have been presented. The receipts into the treasury from
the public lands will be increased If the sales made
the minimum price fixed by the bill hut II the est
mates OF the senator from Tennessee correct these
bills propose the beat possible disposition for the purpose
of revenue,
Toe honorable senator from Georgia says that pro
pose appropriate 500 600 acres OF land Tor the benefit