The daily union., 1852-02-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. A. EELCH,
OF MICHIGAN.
Ia The Senate february 3 and 4, 1881.


ysihoads in said Siaie'
Air. FELCH said Mr. President, il not unireq uenty
bsn,eos hsl discussing before the Senate the merits
oi measures the debate takes much wider range than
lhe subectnatIer would seem TO require and desire
IN he present occasion TO call back the attention of the
senate In The simple proposition contained in the bill be-
L,re us Il proposes TO grant 10 the State OF Iowa strip
al ,he public land within that State, six miles in width
and living along the route OF two railroads which are to
he located under the authority OF the State The land
II 10 be taken in alternate sections and applied the
construction Of the railroads passing through them and
The sections retained by the government not TO be sold
Al less than double the prices at which the are
offered to purchasers II is contended by the opponents
of this that under this provision the government
must suffer loss without any corresponding benefit But
if,he principle contained in this proposition should be
carried Practically into elect, il is manifest that loss
could accrue 10 the government The amount OF money
received for the alternate sections retained by the govern
rnen the price OF which is made double the usual mini
num- would be exactly the as that demanded at
present prices for the whole. am not inclined here TO
say anything TO underate the advantage which the States
would derive from grants OF this description; nor shall
deny that they may be made highly beneficial 10 their
best interests. My opinion upon the subject is, that
The United States promotes the public interest by making
the grants and that the Stale receiving them at the same
time is benefited by them If refer to the experience
have had as the result oil granting alternate sections
Of land for works OF this character, where the sections
have been increased in price, need not fear that this
principle will not be carried out. From statement
have received from the General Land Office, appears
that grants OF this description have been made to the
amount OF 250,423 acres The rates OF the reserved al
enate sections, at the enhanced price, have brought into
The treasury within small ITdCtlOn, the amount
which the whole would have sold if no such grants had
been made. II has been objected, that, although
ceve the same amount IN consequence OF increasing the
price OF the reserved sections, fact take the amount
the increased price from the purchaser without giving
him consideration. The idea does not commend itself
my judgment, BY the construction OF the road through
the public domain the actual value OF the lands in the
immediate vicinity is increased, and that which before
could find purchaser shlngs an acre. will
readily sell at twenty shngs acre The increase of
price is founded on no arbitrary principle, but il is upon
the enhanced value give the property better bar
gain may be made by purchasing at twenty shngs an
acre when railroad or canal constructed through or
in Ihe Immediate vicinity OF the premises than by paying
The present minimum price oil ten shiliings The
enhanced value is the consideration given for The en-.
banced price aud force in the objection 10
these grants on that ground.
The interest of the United States and the interest OF
the Ssles in which the lands are located and the grants
made. go hand in hand The increased value of prop
aty. and the impetus given by public improvements OF
hs character 10 business and prosperity, enjoyed
alike by both
must construct the roads therein mentioned without
this no land passes under IT'S provisions If this be DONE
be public Obtain the benefit Of the communication thus
opened across the country. But many think that
the ptoysoDs contained in this and other bills OF the
same character bestow upon the State an amount OF
means sufficient to build the roads described in them Ii
thus regarded gift OF railroads TO favored States,
while others are not supplied with them
But does the bill propose TO make such roads Does
provide for grant 10 the Stale sufficient to
them BY no means. II proposes TO grant six sections
every mile along the line OF the road which shall be
constructed This amounts 10 3,sio acres of unculti'
waited land equal al the government price oil 81 25 per
acre. 10 "a SEQ for every mile OF road This amouRt
af IRON suhclent TO construct the road The average
cos, OF railroads in this country is far from $50 900
per mule In ordei 10 secure the construction OF the work,
an additional OF SIS 200 must be expended every
mile Without this expenditure OF some five six times
the amount granted by the bill the roads cannot be
aucted The aid given 10 the State by these giants
furnishes small portion only OF the necessary
10 toaccomplish the proposed work
Senators speak though the States receive for
thelT valuable donations which
were TO enrich the State treasury and relieve the people
IRON taxation No Stale in the western country, by such
grant, or even by the addition OF 25 900 per mile made
from the public treasury, could expect 10 secure profit
able income from the road. The great advantage to be
derived from such improvements is 10 found in the in
creased facility Tor communication, and not in the amount
70 be received IRON them into the treasury OF the State
some States have adopted system OF railroad inter-
communication ard have expended large sums Of money
10 the construction OF their works have learned
That Slate, IN any single instance, has secured direct
income from such investment Illinois tried the expert
ment and abandoned it. The effort made in my own
State 10 greater extent, and, | believe with nearer
approach TO success than in any other. railroad
nan hundred miles in length was owned and operated
Vlhe State for several years. but il was found 10 yield
oHoht, and was sold 10 a company
lhee Is a difficulty IN the management OF railroads
Y me authority OF State which will always prevent
@I becoming source OF direct revenue 10 The treasury
lny are not, however, 10 be regarded of less import
anSe The great interests OF community, whose bus
es requires, and whose prosperity depends in great
ugee on, facilities of this character The advantages
eGed oy Them 10 the public such that every State
lS deemed object encourage their construction
Y capitalists and others, wherever they can receive sup
pgI, n, throughout its limits
oOeclon has also been made that such roads may pass
o ,he hands Of company The grant is 10 the State
aug he particular of applying the proceeds 10 the
pk SPECIFIED Is committed 10 the legislature, without
nose authority no company could control the land
upose me legislature should find II expedlenl TO apply
through The agency Of company. would il be the sub
~. " Jus complaint Would il be grauity TO a CON-
T'y yeulng no return do not understand IL for
~, ~ Hsrsnuhg charter TO company, the legislature
o"iu ~ iuthsh any part OF the means by which the road
W. " pe constructed, they would take proportion
~ " lessen lhe amount OF tolls 10 be paid, and thus
I e geat public in The enjoyments Of the full benefit
VOW let us see what the advantages which the Uni
$3.50 government retain TO themselves by virtue OF the
ms annexed 10 the proposed grant The first is the
spor'alIoo the road Tree from toll or charge OF
"g poperly and troops OF the United States slight
Le ~ lanon OF The subject will show that this is mat
~ very great Importance 10 the government. Sir,
,Yht y ohannel OF communication through Missouri, 10
lndsd % tue senator from that State MIR. ATcHsosl al
,on, ~ o'hef day, an immense amount o government
nv pe,y' Stores and munitions of are and will con
$500 49, " De, transported The amount paid for their
,,o osson has been enormous and the saving to gov
mn, lI.M W on that route would, in very short time,
w "a repay TO the treasury the value of grant Of land
m G " constructing road. Another provision OF the
rs of such compensation may be fixed by Con-
n.ns rev persons have any correct idea OF the i'm
, amount which Is paid for the transportation OF the
49, oVef railroads in the United States. On some of
- @ important routes the amount paid is $500 mile
and the rates graduated from that sum
ne.to hy dollars per mile The Post Office Depart.
o nss encountered most serious difficulties in making