The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-11-23
THE NEXT CONGRESS.

The period for Congress to assemble is rap
idly approaching, and connected with it, all IN
this State feel deep interest in knowing what
can, and probably will be, done for US, IN the
way OF a grant of lands for railroad purposes.
MANY Of the new States have received grants OF
land for the construction of railroads. Illinois
and Missouri. have been dealt with most boun-
tifuly in this respect; and their magn'hcen
roads are carried forward to successful and rap
id completion, connecting the remote points OF
those States with each other, and all win the
Eastern markets By this cours", the Goverh-
ment has enriched them beyond measure, be-
sides greatly promoting its own interests, by 'he
increased and more rapid sale OF lis pnoic a"
main. The history Of land grants Tor ra'ifoad
purposes, shews, beyond all Controversy 'na'
the Gov, rnment is gamer by the operation
Because, by reservins the alternate sections,
and increasing their price to two and nan COZ
lars per acre, with the certainty OF raiiroao
constructed, they superinduce an increased cum
grafton TO the country, and by that means, sfe'.
" facilitate the sale and Improvement OF the
wild lands. THIS fact has been clearly estao
Iisbed in the case Of llIipoisj a State which,
from comparative infancy in population, mas
suddenly ieaped into manhood, and is desuned'
in a few wears, TO become one of the wealthiest,
as well as one Of the most thriving and populous
States in the Union And will any one contend
that i, is not her great railroad, traversihg tae
State from East to West, and North 10 South,
connecting the lakes with the Mis- s-ippi on the
West, and the South at the mouth OF the ONO
river, which has given her such an Impetus ana
infused visor, life and energy into every depart
ment Of industry. Certainly not, unless he he
a sirh:less i'd o, too blind to see, and too dumb
TO understand the simplest matter OF TACT. Ill
nois might have groaned on for years, under the
pressure of an exhausted treasury, onorous tax
alton, and depressed industry, lad not she OBJ
tanned, through the exertions of her distinguish
ed statesman, Stephen A. Douglas, that munih
cent grant Of public lands Before that grant
was made, she was only known as wild from
tier region, sparsely populated, and totally bank
rupt in means; but now she occupies proud
position at home and abroad, full of the elements
Of wealth and prosperity.
What is to prevent Iowa from following in
her footsteps, and even surprising her'n all tha'
contributes TO the wealth of State' Nothing
but the want of proper railroad facilities, which
her people have no means of acquiring, except
by grant Of lands from Congress. For agri-
cultural, mineral and manufacturing advantages,
no State can surpass this. Its lands are as fer
tile as the world can afford; its mines OF lead
and cole ore are inexhaustible; and its advanta
ees of water power are beyond all doubt as good,
if not better, than any State in the West The
formation of the land is ouch as to form no OBJ
stacle to the cheap and speedy construction OF
railroads. With the Mississippi on the East,
and the Missouri on the West, the natural out
let Of the extensive numbering trade ofthe North,
and on the direct line Of railroad extension
to the Pacific, Iowa, with a reasonable dona-
ton of public lands, well husbanded in the con-
struc,ion of railroads through the State, would
in a very few years taken rank among the first
states in the Union for wealth and population. -
There is no reason why Congress should not
donate lands to Iowa, while there is every rea-
son why it should do il. In the grant of lands
to Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas, Congress has
established the precedent. This, in connection
with the established fact, that it is for the inter
est Of the government to dispose of its lands in
this way, ought to place Iowa upon equal foot
ing with the above named states. We earnestly
hope that we shall not be disappointed appli-
cant at the coming session. Our case will be
promptly and ably presented and nothing but
downright injustice will prevent us from being
iayorabIy regarded by Congress.