The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-16
MONDAY MORNING. DECEMBER ii, 1854
The RaiIroad-Brig htenins Of Prospects.


The Railroad-Bris & tening of Prospects.
The decision of our Supreme Court in favor
of the rights of the Territory to the lands ceded
by the Act of Congress of June 20, notwith-
standing its formal repeal, brings back our
Railroad prospects to where they were four
months ago. We may say. in fact, we are now
somewhat in advance of that period for mean
time the agents of the NJ. and n. W. r. II. Com
pany have looked over the whole ground, and
the Company is now fully prepared to give us
a tangible and sure conditional statement in
regard to their future plans and operations.
They are now willing to pledge themselves,
that if suffered to pursue their work, and are
not molcsted by our people, or our peoples Cf-
fetal agents, they will be prepared to 60 on
with the road carly in the spring, and vii!
drive it through to completion at the earliest
possible day-risking on their Own part the
engaged. There is no clap-trap or deception
about this fact. We can demonstrate it fully
to any person who may have any misgivngs on
the subject.
And we are happy to he able to state, on the
other hand, from personal observation, care
a very material change taken place in the
minds of those of our people previously misled,
not only in StPaul. but also throughout the Ter
ritory. The "sober second thought has con-
WINGED them that of all things now essential to
the speedy development of the resources of
,xl,n 6
railroad running through the heart of the Ter
ritory, and connecting us at once with the nav
igablc waters of the Great Lakes and the great
lines of rail- DAD below, extending eastward to
the Atlantic seaboard, and southwark to the
Gulf of Mexico. They begin to lindOut the de-
ccption practiscd upon them by many of their
advisers, editorial and of other character, in
regard TO the pretended enormous monopoliz-
ing features of the cnar;cr and they have &C.
Iuaintcd themselves with the important fact.
that this Company's charter contains nc mere
powers than is essential to the practical build
ing and operation of the road, and no greater
franchises than is customarily allowed to sue
cesslul railroad companies in all of the States.
They have come to consider the important fact,
that after all the clamor about Wall street
capitalists" aud Wall street swindlers," that
from Wall street and through Wall street. the
money must come to build their road, even
though dozen ncy: charters be formed, and all
the leading men Of Minnesota be made corpo-
rators and directors dozen times over. They
have become jnscious OF the truth of what has
I al, &.
tcrprisc, that there could not be sufficient CAPT
tal raised in Minnesota to build one mile of the
road, and that we were to lay all which has
been done aside, and get up new charter in
cooperating only our own citizens, the new con-
cern woald be compelled to go into Wall street
perhaps to Mr.. I.owbcr and the very men
comprising the present company--and sell oW
to them. in order to raise funds to commence
operations. They now speak with conf
dcncc in regard to the great enhance
mcnt in value which wo Id Immediately
accrue to their property all along the line, and
within q hundred miles thereof as soon as the
road is commenced ana they feel that the
sooner it is begun. the sooner they will be ma
tcrally benefited by this enhancement. The
farmer begins to appreciate the important
fact, that he will find market at his door for
his surplus produce, at high prices, not only
after the road is completed, but while it is in
course of construction /; the owner of town lots
near where the road is TO pass looks with Ger
tainty to their Immediate increase in value at
least one hundred per cent: the merchant
looks with equal certainty to a brisk trade for
his provisions, goods ana wares from the influx
oilaborers and money which will be poured in
upon us by the Company, incident to the con
struction of the work and the mechanic and
laborng man secs with certainty sure and
steady employ. and plenty of it, afforded by
the necessary work of masonry, bridge build
ing, erection of dcpots, workshops, station
houses, &c, the clearing and cxcavating of the
road, track laying, and all other branches OF
labor connected with the great work Of build
ing q Grst-class railroad. In short, our people.
Of all occupations and classes, are beginning
with great unanim:ty to get right Oh the rail
road question. aid to the vast Importance of
going in Tor the Company who are airr dy Or
Ganizc1, VITA ampl, means i'll their hands.
prepared TO con:nc"ca immediate operations
We feel assured there is not now any DISPOSE
ton on tie part OF any formidable portion of
the public to risk the great uncertainties and
delays OF a new charter, a new Company and
i new grant o! lands III fact. there never
would have been. had not portion of the mass
cs lccn grossly m sea and deceived.
The cause Of opposition to the present char
ter and the present Company is beginning to
be better seen and appreciated by the intcli-
gent and honest wcll-wishcrs Of Minncsota's
prosperity. The l'o'Hicai opposition to the
great plan we are not now disposed TO aludc
to. as that is boUnd to cease as events trans
pre-. Eut there is, to some extent at least. "A
moHeyed opposition which has not been so well
understood. 1t is, of course. small and must
eventually yield. But to illustrate On Sat
urday morning, two of cur citizens, who may
be considered in oar community "wealthy