Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-21

enterprise, which when carried out m draw along il
living stream Of emigranon as clipping the boundless
tory dotng il with farms, sillages towns and cities
and establishing in the hart of the great distant West
political strength 10 Jpn DID and cement the principles of
our popular institutions.
Having shown the general object in view the means
suggested for its accomplishment and its entire feast
bility, will Now explain the iasbumeaaly proposed for
its execution
The nature Of confederated Union is such that it
becomes necessary in this enterprise for us to consider
and respect the relative powers Of the States and General
Government, and to deal with each in proper regard
to the constitutional scrupes of many of distinguished
| statesmen
Having been educated in the State Rights school Of
politics. have ever felt in the exercise of the powers of
the General Government the Importance Of avoiding the
sembance of encroachment upon the reserved rights of
State sovereignty for in these is to be found the real
strength Of our institutions 1t might be within the
of possibility but far from probability that the strength
of the National Government might be tried by internal
detection the commissions Of faction strained by the
shock Of external attack and violence from mighty
coalition of hostile powers but should this occur
there is recuperatye power thank God in State
governments and in the reat body Of enlightened
citizens, who uphold them both alike, which will in
fuse vitality strength, and energy into the General
/ Government.
Recurring to the insrumentality proposed, it will be
found that this bill authorizes the President of the United
States to contract for the road and branches far
they fall within the limits of the Territories namely the
main trunk, excluding the part in Texas to the south
of the State of Arkansas and the branches
the boundaries of Missouri and Iowa. and from
the north boundary Of California to Puget's sound
1t grants the right of way for the road and branches,
and approprates the alternate odd numbered sections
or half the land within forty miles each side of the
same.
1t grants each the States Of Arkansas and Lousi
for branches to at the Mississippi river with
the railroads from the Atlantic board the alternate
odd-numbered sections half the land, within twenty
miles each side of the within their limits
spectively.
To each of the States of Missouri and Iowa like guam
y is given for branch roads from the tni the Mis-
souri, river to points the Mississippi to connect with
the railways now in progress from the Atlantic seaboard
deductng the lands granted to Missouri for roads at the
last session of Congress.
To California is conceded on the terms and con-
ditons alternate sections for forty miles on each side OF
this great Pacific thorougLfare within her limits autho-
zng also the selection of other lands to make good any
deficiencies where the sections intended to be granted
may have been heretofore sold otherwise appropriated
by the Government.
1t prescrbes the conditions of grant, that the States
SHALL within year after the first session of their re-
spective Legislatures the roads and complete
them in oe years from the passage of this act allowing
California ten years, much the connecting
road and branches through the territory shall be COM
peted 1t stipuates that the United States mall and all
the United States troops seamen arms and munitions
of military and naval stores, and all funds and pro-
perty of the Government and all officials shall be convey
ed over the roads free of expense to the United States
which shall have the preference all persons bodies
polite, when in the opinion of the President the public
interest requires prompness and dispatch 1t stpuaes
that each State shall and comply with all of its
terms and conditions, and Congress shall have the right
under specified and protective limitations to regulate the
charge for freight and passengers 1t makes the duty
of the Secretary Of War; under the direction of the Pre-
sdent to have the road located and requires him to ad
verse six months for proposals for its construction with
in the Territories and to contract for the same to be
peted in not exceeding ten years from the date of
tractto be delivered up to the United States with all
the appurtenances in not exceeding thirty years from the
date of completion and Incorporates the for
the period of the contract and for five years thereafter
1t requires the President to issue patents to the contrac
tors for fourhs of the land they entitled the
completion of section Of one hundred miles, the remain
ing to be retained additional security for the
completion of the road and for each additional
ton of hundred miles 1t orders that the contracts
shall stpuae for certain number OF miles to be finished
each year. to complete the whole road in ten years.
and much earlier practicable the road and branches
to be put in good repair by the and in
of failure to be judged of by Congress- the contracts to
annued and the road and lands to revert to the Uni
ted States.
The bill further makes road and branches the pro-
per of the contractors for the term of their contracts
reservng before stated the right of Congress to
late the tolls
1t declares in case any State shall fail to accept the
grants that the Secretary of War; c tie consent Of said
State shall award contracts for the construction of the
branches within its limits similar terms those
thorized by its previous provisions.
1t provides further that when under the contracts the
road is surrendered to the United States, much of it
be within the limits of any State formed out Of the
present Territories shall be granted to such State, the
receiving grants under the provisions already adyerted to-
Finally the bill orders that the road shall be construct
ed in the most substantial manner of the best materials
with all the modern improvements and provides for the
appointment of commissioners who, under the direction
of the Secretary of War; shall take all necessary
to protect the public interest and to that the terms
of the contracts fully ami strictly complied with
BY this bill interference with Ste sovereignty is avoid
ed To the States is awarded the right to cooperate
land it is made their interest do SOL in this great
public measure, whilst the General Government deals
through its Executive with the subject in its Terri
tories under the authority of the third section
of the fourth article of the constitution which confers
the power Congress to dispose of and make all need
ul rules and regulations respecting the territory other
property belonging to the United States. The facts al
ready presented will show this be the profitable
undertaking that projected That the lands pro-
posed to be donated at the minimum price Of Sl25 per
acre, will give round average of $27700 per mile for
the work which is per mile for its construction
OF $1,000 clear profit and above the average est
mated cost of 900, stated in the report
this indeed being the actual cost per mile, including
equipments Of the Cleveland and Erie railroad the stock
for which is commanding twenty-five per cent pre-
was constructed in far rigorous climate and with
greater obstacles than will be found the greater por
ton of the Pacific route.
Looking further to the fact Of the constant improve
ment in railway works. and the and increased faci
ties of the operatives growing out Of their experience
and the inventive talent of citizens the estimate with
good reason might be assumed at $1 700 per mile and
IN that case there would be clear profit the construc
ton of every mile of $40 000 Add this the in
crease in the value of the landund capital which
not fail to be greatly augmented by the additional value
the property which this project itself will mpart
for here have fresh uncuIed lands immensely rich IN
minerals and agricultural resources, while expe-