The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-28

~
drawn from the power of taxation, and contribut-
ing in no respect TO her wealth prosperity
ask, does not this state OF things actually exist
ing in the State OF Missouri, present strong claims
upon the Government for the adoption of liberal
policy towards that State We claim as an act
Of justice to US the aid of this Government in con-
structing these roads vast tracts of the public
domain, which are locked up from sale, and which
yield to Missouri no revenue Without q grant
from the General Government, the great proprie-
tor, who IL to be 30 greatly benefited by the con-
structio, oi these roads, cannot complete them.
We have not in the interior Of our State many
large CO pit liss, retired gentlemen whose fortunes
are made, and who anxiously seeking invest
ments but, sir, we havo hardy, enterprising
people, men Of small fortunes, who are dependent
upon the incomes from their hocks and herds, and
the produce of their eds, for the support of their
families. These not the men who can be ex-
pected to build up these roads, which pass over
such vast extent Of wild lands belonging to the
General Government; although, sir, they have
stepped forward and with iberaliy which does
them honor, have aided in pushing on these great
works have said this was new experiment
OF doubtful policy, but that it is one which has
been tested, and comes to US with the force OF COM
plete success. Here beg leave TO refer to some
facts in the Legislation Of the country which bear
me out in the assertion ! have made. The first
grant made by this Government was In 1928, to
the State OF Ohio, for the construction of a road
from the lower rapids of the Miami river to She
western boundary of the Connecticut Western Re-
serve--a grant of one hundred and twenty feet
wide for the road, and one mile each side to aid
in its construction. Next the grant Of forty nine
sections to Ohio, in 1925 to aid the Sandusky and
Columbus Turnpike Company in making road
In 1928, believe, if l am not mistaken, the first
grant was made in which the alternate sections
reserved to the Government were sid at the price
of So so per acre, and this is in the grant to Ohio
for extending the Miami canal from Dayton to
Lake Erie. So in 1928, grant made to a
company in Florida of every alternate section of
land for the construction Of a road from Talahas-
see to st. Marks
The bill which has been reported by the chair
man Of the Committee on Public Lands provides
for a grant VI every alternate section of land-I
believe even sections-about the width of six miles
on each side, and running the length of these two
roads. The bill also provides that the alternate
sections which have been reserved to the United
States shall be sold at not less than So 80 per
desire here to answer an objection urged by some
gentlemen, and that is, that the old States are
equally interested in the public lands with the new
that therefore these grants should not be made to the
new States, unless similar grants are made to them.
Let US examine this objection, and see whether or
not the old States are benefited by grants such as
are proposed by this bill. Under the present sys-
tenn the lands Offered in market for sale at n
fixed price. The Government is the proprietor,
and holds the land for the ultimate benefit of all
the States; but, so long they remain unsod they
are Of no profit to any OF the States, and are a
dead weight upon the States within which they
lie for they not subject to taxation, and con-
sequenAy yield no revenue to the States; they do
not sell, and consequently yield nothing to the
General Government In this condition of things
one of the States proposes to the Government that
If its aid Is extended in the construction OF rail-
road bya grant Of part Of this unsaleable land
that she will construct road that will at give
value TO these refuse lands. The proposition goes
further ii s that the refuse lands will not only be
made available, but that those lands which before
would not sell for 81 25 per acre. shall be advanced
TO So so per acre The State also proposes that
she will transport all the troops all the munitions
of war; and all the supplies for your army. all the
annuties for your Indian tribes, over the road
she proposes to make, without one cent of cost To
the Government. And further than this, the State
proposes that she will carry the United ates mail
the road for whatever sum Conctess may
agree to pay for this service. Now, siT, let me
ask gentlemen of the old States whether. as land.
holders. they are not greatly gamers BY Tho grant
IL is at least certain that they lose nothing.
There is one fact which think the history Of the
settlement Of the western States fully sustains and
that is that those lands always most eagerly
sought for where there is not too great disparity in
the fertility Of the SOIL which contiguous to our
great navigablc streams. The reason is Obvious
il is because of the facilities which those streams
afford for the transportation of produce; and the
emigrant will often select inferior lands near TO
those great in preference TO those OF
more beauty and greater fertility, but which are
more remote. Hence, the refuse lands are most
usually found in the interior parts OF the State,
mote from the navigable streams.
Ii will be found, by reference TO the facts 10
which will call the attention of this House, tha
they fully prove and sustain the position ] have
taken. In thirty two counties lying upon the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers, as is shown by
the late report there are 762 222 acres of
improved land, while in the other sixty light coun
tics Of the State-nlinost double the number-thcre
are l,l39,2OO acres of improved land, making
$4,000 acres less of improved land in sixty eight
counties remote from the Missouri and Mississippi
upon those streams Now, presume this state of
facts will be found 10 exist in every State Of the
West. Those lands first sought after which lie
upon the great rivers. l ask you, If you make
cansl-if you make a road or highway where ma
turc has furnished no Advantage, will not the
suit be inevitably the same, and the land upon the
line Of thoec roads and canals be eagerly sought
after. as lands lying upon the Missouri and Mis
sisspp rivers.
beg leave to refer to some other statistics which
have gathered from the report of the superin end
cnt Of the Census. While Missouri ia only the thir-
teenth State in point OF population, and the four
tsonth in quantity Of improved land she is the tenth
State in value of live stock the eighth in value of
manufactures, the sixth State in quantity Of corn,
the fifth in the number Of pounds of tobacco She
the second State in the production Of dew rotod
hemp, and the fret State in the Union in the pro-
ductlon of water. rotted hemp. The fact to which
desire TO call the attention Of the House, and prove
the position | have assumed, is, that where there
are thoroughfares and highways opened, either by
nature or by art, the lands will be in greater de
mnnd, and people will select and settle upon them.
Take the osse of the article of tobacco. Tho whole
amount of tobacco raised in the State of Missouri
in 1850 was little upwards of seventeen millions
OF pounds, and OF this amount more than twelve
millions wns raised in twenty counties upon the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Out Of one hun
dred counties, twenty counties produced more than
two thirds of the whole amount Of this great staple
And why? Not because those ands upon the Mis-
souri, and Mississippi are better adapted to the
growth of this article, but because Of the want Of
facilities for transportation of the article from the
interior counties of the State to great rivers
Take another article-that of dew -rotted hemp
Of the great staples Of that State, and that in
which Missouri stands second of all the States in
the Union. In the one hundred counties oompris-
ing the whole number of counties, there il pro
duccd a little over scventeen thousand tons. OF
this quantity there are fifteen thousand five hun.
dred tons produced in twenty counties upon the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers, while in eighty
counties OF those rivers there but one thousand
five hundred tons produced. ! appeal to gentle
men upon this floor, and ask them, what would
have boon the effect in the extension Of trade and
commerce Of the Weet, had thoroughafcs been
opened through these counties i'm the interior part
of my State, and had they possessed tho same
facilities for transportation of produce as the coun.
ties lying upon the Missouri and Mississippi ryers1
ask you, how vastly would this amount of trade
q