Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-02-26
From the Lafayette Daily Journal.
PURLIC MEETING

LHenl0TluHze COn5TtSS ~ gram
Lands 10 the State of indiana, III
nois and IotDa, TO construct The La,
| fayene, Peoria and Burlington Rail
Road.
A general meeting OF the citizens OF
the city of Lafayette, was held on the
9th day OF February, for the object a.
! bove named.
On motion of John McCormick, Esq,
the Hon. Albert S. White was called to
! the Chair. and J. J. Bingham was APP
pointed Secretary. ~ faat ~a
The Chair stated the object of the
meeting, and forcibly presented the adj
vantages that the proposed enterprise
would have upon OH city, and the coun-
try through which it would pass.
| The city council, through WIN X.
Rochester, Esq, presented the following
Preamble and Resolutions, which they
had caused to be prepared for the consid-
Grafton, were unanimously adopted.
| Whereas. lines of Railroads from va
nous points on our Atlantic sea board,
have penetrated the Cumberland and AL
leghany Mountains, and in their progress
arc so nearly completed to the Wabash
River, that another season will perfect
this mode Of Intercourse between said
Wabash River and the sea board;
And Whereas, the line passing Indian
apolis, and thence in dlrectioh north,
west to The Mississippi aud the Nilsson
ri, win traverse the very best part of our
country, and more nearly than any other
line strike the centre of population and
of agricultural enterprises;
And whereas, from Lafayette West
ward there are considerable quantities
of unsold Government lands that ought
to contribute to the extension Of the Rail
road through their limits; .
And whereas, the appropriation for
that purpose by the U. s., OF one halt
of the lands contiguous. making said
gran, equal To alternate sections for six
miles in width the entire length of the
road, on the line of the road, would add
to the residuary half a.yalue equal to the
lands delracted; a H
] And whereas, after passing the plains
of interior illinois, the citizens Of West
ern Illinpls and Iowa, are zealously en-
gagged with their private means in the
prosecution OF this work--therelure be
| 1t ~ aEf, Hf4r H
ResolUed, That this meeting memori-
alize Congress 10 make a grant 10 the
States of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, of
the alternate sections of unsold land a
long the line of the contemplated Rail
road, equal to the alternate sections for
six miles on each side of said road its
entire length, from Lafayette to Peoria
and Burlington, and thence to Council
Bluffs, for the building of the Railroad
Rcsoiued, That this road connecting
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Louisville,
and through those cities and our central
sea board, with the great crossing at
Council Bluffs in direction TO The
"Souih Pass" of the Rocky Mountains,
will when completed to the Missouri per-
feet one entire National Commercial sys-
tenn, whether The present generation shall
or not realize its progress down the Pa.
citic slope. sa.a tgr.
! Resofved, That this grant, though
nomina,ly made to the States above ma.
med, ensures as well to oiir Atlantic
States who trade to the Mississippi, as
to those within whose limits the propo
scd Road will be built. ~
i ReSoiced, That we witness with pleas
ure the movements making in the South
Western States 10 build up a system oil
Railroads, whose centre shall be New
Orleans, and trust that their appeals TO
Congress for aid from the public domains,
and ours, may be made with consen,ane.
Gus minds, and a united influence.
| Resolved, That this and similar APP
lpeals is question. of interior Commerce,
interesting alike to all parts of the coun-
try, and ought not TO be involved with
the disputed questions, now engaging
congressional attention.
Resofred, That these resolutions be
interclianged with the citizens of Peoria
and Burlington-and that a copy be senI
TO the Indiana Senators in Congress. and
to the representative from this District,
with request to lay them before their
Irrespective Houses.
On motion of ]. M. Stockwell, Esq,
the following resolution was adopted;
f. ResolUed, That committee Of ten
be appointed to Graft and circulate for
signatures, amemorial to Congress, ask
ing for grant Of lands to construct the
proposed road.
Messrs.J. M. Stockwell, w. X. Roch.
ester, II. 4. Benbridge. John McCot-
mick, Robert Heath, f. FL. Halliday.
James Howe, w. II. Ellis, g.. w. Gra-
man, and John Burgess, were cons:itu-
ted said committee.
On motion, the meeting then adjourn
ed. a.s T,
ALBERT S. WHITE. Chm.
/ j. j. BINGHAM, Sec'y.
/ JEwELRY.--A writer who has been
permitted to look al The rich things in a