The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03

4
Mlssissippi al points between Dubuque and Keokuk
MIA SHIELDS. AS my colleague EMr. DoUGLAsl is
not here, would beg leave 10 ask the senator explain
The remark he made that we had run our arms into The
treasury up TO the elbows
Mr. DAWSON. meant TO say, cup TO the shoulder :"
Mr. SHiELDs. i wish The gentleman would conhne
himself to land, and not speak about money for il might
raise suspicion that my colleague had had something 10
do with the treasury OF the United States
i Mr. DAWSON. | am not all surprised that the
aor from Illinois INF DoUGLAs] should have heel
nominated to the presidency when he had obtained all
this for his people As regards the terms land and money
the senator knows that equivalents The thing
II land equivalent TO money, what the difference be-
tween saying money or land
But this is that these railroads now being
sruced and OF them in operation in part and all
by private enterprise. And yet seeking by our
legislation here 10 suffer Iowa, through nsru-
mentality 10 come IN conflict with the interests OF these
various companies in Illinois And these private ind
vlduas cannot be heard through their representa-
tyes because the State OF Illinois, as will show you
presently, has made OF the mastery operations
that has been performed by any State in this Union and
at no expense TO herself al all. But this is not all
have disposed OF the road from Dubuque TO keokuk
and shown you that il will not increase the price of the
public lands at ashown you the character OF the coun-
try through which II runs. And If ever ! move from
where now liye and want TO go 10 the West and the
senator's from Iowa here much alive TO the inter
ests oil their State as they in this case will settle
down in their neighborhood
But there is another road in this BILL and want sena-
tors % understand It, as am determined 10 make them
and the country understand it if Now, here is one
road running from the Mississippi at Dubuque TO Keo
kuk distance OF 1876 miles, nearly parallel with the
great Mississippi There is then little town upon the
Mississippi called Davenport, and another railroad starts
from that place. running directly through the State, pass
ing through Iowa city, this Dubuque and keokuk
road. 10 the Missouri river Now how long is this road
have made it out to be 800 miles, but the senator
says is 24o miles These two roads, running at right
angles, make 10 Iowa city, and crucifxon il is
100 Now, whose interest does this efect Whose money
builds up this great city IN the interior OF the State OF
Iowa. running road from east TO west, and another
at right angles with that from point 10 point
the Mississippi, distance of hundred and ninety
five miles, and the other from the Mississippi TO the Mis-
souri,, distance Of two hundred and forty miles, the
senator says' What is all this done for Why, it is
said TO improve the public lands Now from Iowa city
down road 10 the Mississippi and from Iowa city 70
Davenport the Mississippi, according to the map, and
the history OF your State, is of the most beautiful
gions Of the valley Of the Mississippi, and is all taken
up and under culvalon and is the pride and boast
Of tina young and glorious State Iowa Then according
to ihisb If you cannotge the land the road where
are you TO go for it, Why, sir you to 60 off fifteen
miles each side OF the road--whin tract OF country
thirty miles wideand take other land; but the value OF
the remainder is not increased the price remains the
same$l a5 per Yet senators come here and an
nounce that these grants are made upon the ground that
the United States government does not lose single cent,
but their propertyis rather increased in value.
Now we assert principle to be rue and stand upon
that principle truth let us ascertain whether the truth
be there not tits wild and fanclu for us TO legisate
upon this plan But the smiling countenance OF the
alor from Iowa, M JosEs who day after day pops up
here TO get this bill through, has got the sympathies OF
the whole Senae-has got them to believe that he is for
doing something great increase the value of the public
land Now, am afraid can account for the senator's
great anxiety TO get this bill through rapidly, upon
other ground than that he is afraid will lind out that
there public lands for five miles each side OF this
road and if they take the land in other places would
not increase the value OF the remainderhat 1t would
not improve the public land by increasing sprice. Now,
let senator who votes for this bill TO his people and
tell them, have given away this land TO increase the
value of all the Let the people be informed as 10
the fact and let us stand upon principle and do Justice 10
all And no man upon this floor will ever hear me uler
IN IDn IN
eraly, and upon justice, law, and right But when you
come put your hand into the treasury for the benefit Of
single Stale, regardless OF the rest duty and honor will
compel me 10 Try 10 prevent il il can It is not mine, e
dispose of as should feel DESTROYS OF doing Were il
my own, could do as please.
But is this all My object is 10 be correctly informed
and therefore got this map, examined the whole matter
and have il all here before traced out these roads
and what does all amount to- After you pass through
Iowa city, towards the Missouri what do you do then
You go out in the country, perhaps one hundred miles
and believe that TO this day, it has not been surveyed
r Josnsl i the land there re is ' surveyed yet
Mr.. JONES, OF Iowa. 1t is settled somewhat, bu, moi
altogether surveyed.
Mr. DAWSON That is the point | wish to make
You go from Iowa city into the country that is not
seled-pan OF II unsuryeyed and not in market You
say that Tor the purpose of increasing the value OF the
land you give them right TO construct railroad, with
out any limitation TO the time within which they are
10 do itnone at all. They say want to get the Sc
lection and possession OF the land to-day, and when the
country grows up and is settled then we Will build the
road For whose they calling upon US
now to make this grantl Why sir, ii railroad should
drop from Heaven, and be placed between Iowa city and
the Missouri river, the country through which passes
has not population enough 10 support II. Yet we are
called upon here 10 vote for this and carry il
out, and because oppose it am told rather pleasantly
by my friend from Iowa, IMr JOINS, you are beral
too fond OF land No, SIR that is not II but II is because
| am fond OF Justice II the one upon which
you could stand and defend upon principles OF justice,
/ would 90 with YOU But you cannot do that
But said little while ago something about the river
Des MONIES; and, mark me, Keokuk is the point where
the great Des Mones river enters the Mississippi That
river runs nearly at an angle OF IS degrees through the
State OF Iowa, and Iowa city is between the Des MONIES
and Mississippi rivers The Des Moines river is one OF
the finest navgabe streams in all the West Now, has
the government done anything Tor the Des Mones river
Why is il that this little spot OF earth between the Des
Mones and Mississippi rivers should be calling upon the
government for appropriations more extensive and more
advantageous than any other portion OF our country, not
even excepting larger cities, with all their capital and
all their suburbs Why is it so II is altogether owing
TO the energy, skill and fine representative powers OF the
representatives OF Iowa And is with the greatest re-
uctance that get myself 10 investigate any repre-
seniaon that they have made. But have found that,
especially when wish TO advance own interests and
our own people, we had better be watchul. Now, lie,
me read from passed In 1885, TO show what has
been done for the Des Moines river Anybody would
have thought that what done for this stream in st6
would have been enough-it was more than has been
done for any other three States. This act passed
in 1916
BE enacted SC, That there be- and hereby Is, granted
TO the Territory OF Iowa, for the purpose OF aiding said
Territory improve the navigation Of the Des Motnes river
from its mouth tho Racoon Fork ESQ cacd) in said Ter
rory equal moiey, in alternate sections, OF the public
lands (temaining ensold, aud Otherwise disposed of
on each side said Tiver be selected within said Terri
tory by agent be appointed by the