The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-03-30
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scquently tile production greatcrr,-
Il is a virgin soil, better than that of
| the Atlantic slope. do not believe,
from oil my knowledge of geography,
that there is country upon the face
ofthe eearth that has such an extent
of rich lands as the Mississippi val.
ley-lands that will produce from q
thousand to fifteen hundred pounds
of cotton per acre, and from sixty to
seventy bushels of corn. Give the
cotton planter or the farmer facilities
for market, and is he not better able
to pay So SO per acre than he would
ST 26 for land which was forty or
fifty miles from market, and where
his corn would not be worth more
than five or ten cents q bushel, and
the cost of transporting cotton or to.
bacco. or flour from one half to ono
cent per pound? The committee
have assumed, in framing this bill,
that, as a general rule, the lands ly-
ing within six miles on both sides of
q railroad will certainly increase in
value one hundrcdtper cent. 1 think
[ can bring some testimony here
which might satisfy the gentleman
from Georgia Mr.. Toombs1 that
the construction of railroads increase
the price Of lands, and that greatly
| desire to state (and if l do not
state the fact correctly, I hope the
gentleman will correct meg that in
the Cherokee country, q region that
twelve years ago had no facilities for
market at all, their corn was not
worth more tlIan ten or twelve cents
per bushcl, and butlittle cotton was
raised in consequence of the enormous
cost Of Transporting it by land carri-
age to market. That country now
teens with an industrious and thriv-
ing population, and the former forests
have been converted into beautiful, pro-
ductive, and profitab'. farms. The
State Of Georgia constructed a road
there: and in conservation with au
intelligent gentleman from that coun7
try,a day oratWo 8 he said to me-
that the lands had increased in value
along the line of that road, for thirty
miles on both sides, from 100 TO q
900 per cent. The committee as
sumcd that land lying along the lines
of these roads for six niles would GER
talnly increase in value 100 per cent.
In many instances / have no doubt
it will greatly exceed 100 per cent,
and reach 500 per cent: and in
some favorite localities reach even
1000 per cent. But six miles is
assumed BY the committee as the
distance upon the average on eth
CT side, and that tho increase in
value will at least reach 100 per
cent. l think the settlers in the
new States ought to be literally
treated by this Government, for it
requires bold and cntcrprising man
to give up and renouncc all the con
vcnlences and luxurics to be met
with in the old Statcs-to take leave
of the home Of his childhood, the
friends of his youth, and the compan-
IONS of his maturcr years, to plunge
into a western forest. All this re-
qulrcs courage and enterprise
These people deserve generous con-
sidcration from the Government, AID
are especially entitled to receive it,
when the Government docs not in
,jure itself or the other States Of
the Confedcracy by extending it,.
They have but little capital there,
and that is one reason why these Go,
nations should be made. When
persons cmigratc to the West or
Southwest, as general rule, all the
capital they carry with them is their
industry and enterprise. IF you
give them these lands, so as to cna-
bic them to purchase iron for the con-
struction ofroads to be realized by a
sale Of the land, their industry will
accomplish the balance.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, wish to sub
init a few remarks upon some of the
details of this bill. 1t is provided
that where the lands have been taken
up within the six miles by entry, the
company shall be allowed to SO dis
tancc Of fifteen miles for the purpose
Of making up this quota. Well, that
feature, | am free to acknowledge,
did not meet my appreciation fully,
but | have waived the objection. The
Government is amply compensated
by allowing this extension from six to
fifteen miles. In the first place, it
is provided that tho mails shall be
carried over these roads, not at such
prices as the company and the Gov
crnmcnt shall agree upon, but at
such price as Congress shall fix
leaving it absolutely undcr the con
troll Of Congress. | suppose every
gentleman on this floor familiar with