The southern press., 1852-03-16

, from sixty to seventy bushels OF corn Give
the cotton planter OF the fafmer facilities for
market, and is he not better able to pay 81 80
, per acre than no would $l-35 for land which
was forty or fifty miles from market and where
his corn would not be worth more than five or
ten cents bushel, aud the cost of transporting
cotton or tobacco or -four from one half TO one
I cent per pound?
The committee have assumed, in framing this
oili, that, as general rule, The lands lying
within Six miles on both sides of railroad will
certainly increase in value 100 per cent. | think
J can bring some testimony here which might
satisfy the gentleman from Georgia. Mr. TooMBsl
mat the construction OF railroads increase the
price OF lands, and that greatly. desire 10
state, (and If do. not state the fact correctly
hope the gentleman will correct me. that 81 iba
/ Cherokee country, region that twelve wears
ago had no facilities for market at ALL their corn
was not worth more than ten or twelve cents per
i bushcl; and but little cotton was raised in con.
sequence of the enormous cost of transporting
il by land carriage to market. That countrv
now teens with an industrious and thriving
population, and the former forests have been
converted into beautiful, productive, and profit
able farms. The State of Georgia constructed
a road there; ; and in conversation with an in.
telligent gentleman from that country, day or
two ago, he said to me, that the lands had in.
creased in value along the line of that road. for
! thirty miles on both sides, from 100 to 5000
per cent. The committee assumed that land
lying along the lines of these roads for six miles
would certainly increase in value 100 per cent
In many instances, have no doubt it will
greatly exceed 90 per cent, ani in some favor
| lite localities reach even 900 per cent. But
six miles is assumed by the committee as the
distance upon the average on either side. and
that the increase in value will at least reach 100
pr cent. think the settlers in the new States
| onghtto be literally treated bysEJs governsnent
for it requires bold and enteI = isindcxan to
| give up and renounce all the conveniences and
Injuries to be met with in the old States-to
take leave of the home of his childhood. the
friends of his youth, and the companions ofbi
maturer years, to plunge into a western forest
All this requires courage and enterprise These ;
people deserve generous consideration from the
government, and are especially entitled to re.
ceye il, when the government does not iniure
itself or the other States Of the confederaey by
extending it. They have but little capital there.
and that is one reason why these donations
should be made When persons emigrate to
the West or Southwest, general rule, all
the capital they carry wi them is their indus
try and enterprise. If you give them these
lands, so as to enable them to purchase iron for
the construction OF roads to be realized by a
sale of the land, their industry will accomplish
| the balance.
| Now, Mr.. Speaker, wish to submit few re.
marks 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 O distance of fifteen m;les
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 com.
pensated by allowing thisextension from six to
fifteen miles. In the first place, it is provided
that the mails shall be carried over these roa Is
not at such prices as the company and the gov
eminent shall agree uron, bat at such price as
Congress shall fix-leaving it abs Dlutely under
the control of Congress. suppose every gen.
tleman onfhs floor familiar with the operations
of the Post Office Department, knows the diff
culties that are encountered now by the Post
master General in making contracts for carry
ing the mails over the railroads of the country.
There is scarcely railroad company in the Uni
ted States that does not avail itself of The Oh.
portunity presented, 10 extort from the govern.
ment larger compensation for the Transportation
OF the mails than il is justly entitled TO. But
by this bill you reserve 10 yourselves the ripbt
to say at what price The mail, shall b. carried
That is one great point gained The distance
from St. Joseph TO Hannibal is about two hun.
dred miles, and the cost Of transporting heavy
mail, being within the first class, over railroad
between those two places would be $500 per
mile. There would be 100000 paid out by Inc
government for the transportation Of the nails
over that road for one single year. That IL
more than il is worth and Congress by adon-
ting this policy can apply corrective and vote
to these railroad companies fair compensation
Bot there is another advantage 10 the govern.
ment IN this bill, which was not included in the
Mississippi bill or in the first Illinois bill IA
Is this: the oil provides that the troops of the
United States shall be transported over these
rrVais throughout all time without charge: and
also that munitions Of var, and property Of the
United States Of every description. Shall be
transported free Of charge.
Now look at this Missouri road II points In
the very direction which you are compelled 10
go in travelling 10 u an, New Mexico. Oeegon
and California. And again let me ask gentle.
men, how long are you TO have an Indian from.
tier bstween those remote States and Terrific
ries on the Pacific and the western border of
Missouri IL will be, perhaps, a hundred years
before The red man OF the forest is exterminated.
and during The whole Of that time IL will be ne.
cessary Tor The government 20 keep up troops
and stations upon the frontier 20 guard against
The incursions which these Indians nav make
Now take the transportation Of the mails and
Pnblic ropriy over these roads for fifty years
time, and venture the assertion that il will paw
you an interest Of thirty per cent upon every
dollars worth Of land that you donate 10 these
eomPanies--perhaps an interest Of fifty per cent
upon every dollar.
Here let me say, thai all the bills that the
Committee on Public Lands have determined TO
report to this House are bills ola national char.
acter-are bil's which, if passed., will be Of inip.
tie service to this government in time Of peace,
IN The transportation &C the mails and public
property and in time Of war 10 the transporta.
ton on iroups and munitions Of war
Well, sir. there i another clause IN this bin
which was 10 none ofule bills previously passed,
and il is one which should commesd itself TO
the favorable consideration Of al the members
Of this House. IL is this: the donation is made.
not to the companies, but 10 the Site, upon con.