Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1852-01-29


lmersvho live in the interior OF northern Mis-
souri,, ire almost as afectually shut out from all
commsce with other sections OK country as
thougl they live at the North pole. The
Hanniid and st. Joseph railroad IS to penetrate
the eBeentre Of that entire section, and will
bring tls near market as some portions Of the
Atlantic States. Our farmers, stimulated by
fair prizes for their produce, will open large
farms, asl our products will be multiplied many
fold. ID the southern and eastern States we
will sell .tock, provisions, and our other staples
From ther we will receive in return sugar, cot
ton, salt, fiee, ana iaDrics. As our means in
crease our consumption will increase also. We
will consume not only articles Of domestic but
lof foreign manufacture, and thus, while we shall
add to the home trade, we shall also increase the
foreign commerce Of the country, and swell the
resources Of the Government.
If proposition were submitted to connect
New York or Boston with the extreme settle
iments Of Missouri, all would admit the impor-
tance Of the enterprise. Some would be willing,
mo doubt, to Construct the road at the expense
lof the nation. No such charge upon the Treas
Iury is, howevet required in order to oonsumate
a railroad communication between the Missouri
and the Atlantic seaboard. A railroad is nearly
finished from New York city to Cincinnati. In
diana is extending this road to her western
boundary. Illinois is extending It through her
territory to the Mississippi river; and all that is
necessary to complete the entire chain OF rail-
road from Boston TO st. Joseph-indeed from
Portland, Maine, to st. Joseph-is to construct
railroad through the northern part of Missouri.
The people of Missouri have, by an act Of
their Legislature, appropriated $l,5o0,00O to
the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad. Counties
and individuals have taken large amount of
stock in the work. And now we ask Congress
to do for us what they have so frequently done
for other States. We ask you to give us alter
nate sections Of the public lands, through which
our road will pass, for six miles on each side Of
the road, to and us in the enterprise. This is
not a proposition to take money out OF the Treas
! ury. If it was would not advocate it.. The
effect of the proposition will be, in my opinion,
to increase the revenues Of the Government.
And why? Because the alternate sections re-
served by the United States are not to be sold
J for less than two dollars and half per acre.
Now they are liable to entry at one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre. So that you will
receive as much, at least, from the public lands
if this grant be made, as you will receive il il
fail. Do gentlemen fear that the value of the
public domain will not be enhanced by our roadi
let me beg them to look at our condition, at ouI
SOIL as fertile as any in the world; at our situa-
tion, possessing none but the most expensive and
tardy means of reaching market, and then 10
reflect on the effect which similar roads have had
elsewhere. No such work has ever been made
even through the most densely settled sections
which has not greatly enhanced the real estate
in its neighborhood. How much greater en-.
hancement Of lands must follow the construction
of railroad through such section as northern
I e s.ol L..
hundred thousand people; it is capable of sus.
tanning a population of several millions. The
making railway through it will pour immi.
grants into it until every foot of land shall b.
occupied and improved. Its citizens now neet
mills, schools, churches, and many of the comforts
of life. A railroad will secure to them all thes,
advantages at one and the same time. In view
of these facts, it is a most stubborn skepticism
which doubts that the construction of the Han
nbal and st. Joseph railroad will appreciate tn,
lands near it twofod or more. That apprecia
tion will not be confined to the lands within 81,
miles of the road. 1t will extend to the land.
even fifteen and twenty miles from it. Publ,
lands that are not worth fifty cents an acre will
readily bring the minimum price. Lands tina
soldiers will not locate with their warrants will
be eagerly sought for this purpose, and the in
come Of the Government from the public land
will be greatly augmented. This is not fancy
During the last Congress millions of acres 0
public lands were given to soldiers. Il wa
confidently predicted here and elsewhere tina
for many years we would, in consequence of tn
military grants, receive no money from the pub
lie lands, and yet we find that our revenues fror
that source have greatly increased within tn
last year, and are still rapidly increasing. VIII
is this? Solely becacause numerous railroads ar
projected in the new States through the publ
domain. Some of these roads are now construC
ting. They have so largely appreciated tn
public lands that millions of acres are now bougl
which until recently were drug in the marke
2 This fact and this alone, explains why it is tn;
5 the receipts from the public lands have increases
notwithstanding the bounty act Of the last Cor
: gress and the immense emigration which has n
1 Gently gone from the Western States to OregO
q and California.
+ There is another piece Of history in connet
: tioD with this matter, to which must refer gel
). tlemen Of the committee. The only acts gran
ing lands to States, besides the Illinois gra
e of 1850, in which the price of the alternate Sc
d tions reserved by Government was doubled, a
n those relating to certain lands in Ohio The
e mount Of those reserved sections is 259,423.!
S acres, of which, up to the Both Of September lai
: nearly one half had been sold for two dolla
: ard fifty cents per acre. No returns have be
Il received as yet from the lands reserved by t
It grant of tile last Congress to the State of Ilino
, But the case Of the Ohio grant shows that I
i doubling o. the price of the alternate sectio
IS reserved to the United States in intcrna!
$ psovement grunts is mol a nullity. II is rea
% ty which secures the Government from
et loss.
D trust il win be borne in mind, that under
e acts granting land to soldiers, warrants can
l. located only on land subject to private emit
&c Now, ali the lands in northern Missouri are st
m iect to private entry, and have heen for sixte
I'd wears and more. Whatever therefore. add,