Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-02

was bISoBh. W DCah vi NVuBies lu " lVA-
NAL Memorial for grant Of public lands,
to aid IN the construction Of this Road thus
indicated. This subject was passed upon
by Congress from time to time; tabular
statements Of the business and commerce
Of this line were often urged in favor of the
Grant before Congress. A temporary
Survey was also made, under the direction
Of Col. Stewart, which run upon direct
line by these towns, and used in congress in
various ways, 10 satisfy that body of the
easy construction Of Road upon 1t.
Congress, ultimately, made grant oil
land for that purpose. The Legislature
having granted Charter to a Company
authorizing It to construct said road, which
was modified and enlarged TO suit the desire
Of the Corporators. And 10 enable this
Company to construct this road, the Leg.
islature turned over the grant Of lands as
a gift to the Company, and loaned the
credit Of the State of Missouri, for the
same purpose, to the amount of $780,.
600. During the progress of these thing.
nothing was said or done, in the LegsIa
ture or out oil it, tending TO show any
change in public sentiment, nor intention
on tho part Of the Company TO locate the
Road upon any line other than that which
lay between the points mentioned in the
Charter, and which had been clearly indi-
Gated by the former action of the Compa.
ny; except that which was manifested by
the citizens Of Hannibal, and which was
supposed TO arise out of petty selfshness
and prejudice against the town Of Palmyra
While these events were transpiring
much enthusiasm prevailed among the PEG,
pie, superinduced by the managers OF thi.
Company. Every body had been informed
by the action of the Board oil Directors
and by the many speakers employed by the
Board, including the President himself, the
line Of the road would run by the county
Seats, as indicated by this survey. Thus
the public mind was wrought upon, and
thus the grant oil land as clear gift, aud
the credid Of the State were obtained. In
the mean time the majority Of the stock
held by private stockholders, was controlled
by the managers in Hannibal and ST. 10
seph, so as TO keep tae Board filled by mer
under the control of these towns. Their
meetings were held in secret, and their pro
ceedngs kept from the stockholders and
the public. They secretly formed con
tract with Duff, Learned 81 Co., for the
construction Of this road, before the survey.
were made, wherein it is said to have beer
agreed, that the amount of$23,000 per milk
should be paid upon the best route, taking
cost, grade, and distance as the criterion
and iilocated on any other route, the diff
ferance in cost should he paid by the Com
pany.
And STIMULATING that the said Duff Learn
ed 81 Co., should take ten per cent of tn,
cost Of construction in stock, and be per
mitted, after the location, 10 subscribe a
stock the sum Of 100000. Thus creati M
in them, an interest in theroad itself, which
must have exeried an influence over the 10
cation Just made both in referance to the
Engineers and Directors at the ends o
the route.
The location made, is the one best adapted 10 pur
pos es of speculation, and the which Hannibal ha
ever desiTed and which, being off the line IL dicaed b.
the points made in the Charter, is evidently INTENDED
to leave Palmyra out at some future day. This
boldly asserted now by the stockholders Of Hannibal
That these things were intended by the Bear,
of Directors, before they knew the result o
their surveys, appears evident from the exist
ence of many undeniable facts. The Presiden
Of the Board advised and assisted to pass a bill
through the Legislature releasing the difFeren
counties from the stock subscribed by them, 70
the reason stated by him then, as we are inform
ed, that the road would not be located Wher,
the people had expected, and he knew that dis
satisfaction would prevail. That the proceeding
/ 20 Nha paor1 haze ha., lya,k nkok a l..