The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-03-15
THE MINNESOTA RAIL ROAD PRO.
JECT

The present effort to secure a charter from the
Legislature of Minnesota, tor building the rail.
road from Lake Superior 10 the State line of
Iowa, in the event of grant being made by
Congress to the Territory, is meeting with some
opposition at St. Paul. The Minnesota Demo.
crat is down upon it, like a thousand Of brick.
The eutor does not object to the granting Of a
charter, and liberal one, but he objects, deci.
dedly, TO what he styles its illiberal provisions
He euumerates them, as follows
First. We grant foreign company right of
way for railroad from Lake Superior to the
Iowa line, "'o enter upon and take posse ssion
of and use all and singular any lands, streams,
| minerals and material of every kind" for The
| construction and use of said roId.
Second. We deed to said company all the
lands bestowed upon US by the general govern.
lnent, for railroad purposes, which, beyond
doubt, will, from the manner in which said
lands will be held and fnally disposed of, much
more than cover all the costs OF the road, leaving
| it in The hands of the company free from all
costs or expense. Of all this we complain but
| lightly.
| Third The field of financial operations is to
be in New York or London. After the passar re
|
construction management of her railroad than
an lndiaI from the Fegee Islands
Fourth. The company fixes the rates of toll
| and freighls said road, and tho they may
| hold the road, freed from all prime costs, gilt
| from the United States Government, yet the
| road may be the most expensive to travel in the
| Union. But we have not space at present 10
make further synopsis of this proposed char
ter; suffice it to say, TINT the bill grants all the
arbitrary powers, privileges, aud immuniiies
that any set of men could think Of asking.
Well, the act once passed into law, what
then. Then we are 10 take il to N. York, to the
| Chamber Of Commerce, ard ask certain gentle
uen if they will be pleased to acceptIt. They
not only have the privileged to decline answering
| (see sec. 3D. but power to adjourn the meeting
| and send US home, TO await the pleasure of saio
| gentry, who, ia SIX months, or six years, may
| order US back TO The Chamber OF Commerce, to
| receive final answer about the acceptance OIL
non. ac cceptanoe OF SAID deed and charter of pr
vileges."
| We have teen very favorably impressed witt
grant for this proposed road, and have SO ex.
pressed ouIself on more than one OCCASION; bu
| too much care cannot be observed by the Lee
gislature of Minnesota in arranging its details
To gran, this company (ti.at is to bs,) charter
without any restrictions. as seems from the
above to be the proposition now before the LIE
gisature of that Territory, would be suic !dal t,
thsie interests. The advantages proposed to bt
conferred upon the PEOPLE OF the West, in til,
liberal policy OF the General Government in do
mating lands for railroads, should not be fritteI
ed away TO spectators and mouopolists. w.
| want railroads. The nec. ssltes OF trade reqair,
them. But We want them constructed upor
such terms as to be beGe it, and not curse
to the people. The policy Of donating lands t
| the Western States Ion railroads, has drawn al
immense number Of spccuiators to the country
who a:e seeking to eng raft upon the Legislation
OF the country policy Sc Iish and oppressive il
It's tendencies, and which should be c!oSel
watched by those who selected to look a!te
and prote CT the interests of the people. The pul
lie mind is 80 phrensied upon the subject of rail
roads, that il gives little heed to their detail:
SO that il but has the assurance of roads. TIL
details are what require The most careful watch
+, Ing.
We feel warm interest in this propose
Minnesota Road, both for the benefits It Wi
confer upon the country at large, and upon thi
locality; but we do not want to the comPa
ny that contracts to build the road, reap all tis
benefits arising from it. Let it have liber;
: charter, but do not let it swallow eyerytiin.
: and everybody.
THE GREAT REPUgLIc.-An iron ches
. containing several Thousand dollars, which W;
: on board this ship hen she was on fire, h;
been recovered Tie bills were reduced
ashes, and the greater part ~ the silver al
v copper were lovingly blended toge ther, az
: transformed into good standing color, btac
e We saw iour-pences quarters aud cent, Joint
II like coral with pebbles and shells. When Il
:. spring opens, .nethIng viii be done towar
e rebuilding the ship, and fnr t,at purpose, y
n unde rslals.i, she will be towed TO Boston.