Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-01-16
miscellaneous Selections
PACIFIC RAILROAD.


Mr.. Seward has introduced a bill in
10 the Senate providing for the construc-
ton Of this road and containing the most
feasible plan perhaps that has yet been
proposed. The following abstract Of the
bill is from the New, York Tribune:
l. 1t throws open the building of the
road to any company chartered by any
State. 1t stipulates for sealed proposals
from all such, and proposes to give the
construction TO that company which will
build it for the least sum in the way o.
aid from the Government that aid to be
Afforded in 3 per cent. stock, redeemable
after 70 years at the pleasure of the Gov.
ernment--the company TO own and man
age the road under certain conditions
These are: lst. That the Government
may take possession Of it at any time bv
paying the company its expenditure up
on the road, with 10 per cent. interest
On the investment I; and I'd, That Con-
gress may control the fares so far as "a
keep the net income down at 10 Del
cent. 3D.. That the rates for the trans
pottation Of the mails, aud of troops, mil
itary store, and other things for the Gov
ernnent, shall be established by the Sec
rotary of War,
II. The company undertaking the con
struction of the road, are to lodge five
millions OF dollars in the hands of the
Government, in the form of State or Gov
crDment Stocks, by way of security for
the fulhllment CT its contract.
III. No grants Of land are 10 be made
10 the Company beyond a strip sufficient
tor a road way.
". The road is to be built north OF
The parallel Of 40r--to be commenced
within Is months from the date of the
contract for its construction, and be COM
ploted, equipped, and put in operation
within five years.
V. The Company is to be bound to
expend million of dollars on the road
at the start, before receiving any por-
lion of its bonus. 1t is then to be enti-
tied to such proportion of the entire
sum the Government proposes to fur
ash, as IFS own expenditure bears TO the
contemplated cost Of the entire road. In
other words, Government will pay nc
faster than the company. The expendi-
lures Of each will 60 along pari paSsu.
vi. Ihe various stations are to be fix
ed upor by the Secretary of War, and
che village and city plots to be laid of
and thrown open to pubic competition
Ali lands lying within six miles are t.
be fixed at $l,87 IL. These are the
main features Of the plan.
Mr.. Stewards bill resolutely shuts the
door against plundering and. bargaining
Of all sorts in this vast and important
work, and puts every man and every
company disposed TO embark in earnest
N the construction of the Pacific ROAD
on footing of pefect equality.
1t avoids the inischjefs and evils that
would result from making the company
constructing the road the holders of the
only valuable land along it's route. It ex-
tlnguishcs all monopoly,features of an Of
iensye character, and yet it confers ev-
cry power necessary TO the full and com.
plete achievement CT the enterprise
The fact that Mr.. Stewards bill makes
10 gigantic land monopoly Of the compa-
9y but WithhoIds the territory along
which the road passes for actual settlers
at fixed and moderate prices, is most
.ommendable and important feature Of
It. The bill thus offers solution of tive
difficult points in he great railroad prob
lem. 1t presents in the first place ;
plain method OF building the road with.
cit danger of committing the Govern
ment TO untold expenditure, and in The
second it secures the road without there
By creating a great land monopoly TO 81
Ike ~ incubus astride the Continent
As respects the route, this must depend
upon the bearing OF the accommodating in
tormotion from the various exploring
azties, aad the results of scientific sur
Yeys get 10 be n2ade. Across the pre-
oipitous gorges of t}ila, favored by mel
Of Southern line, it can never SO. u
he Texas route the insGrerable objec
sion lies that 1t makes the western ter
'niaus at San Diego. when hal terminus
iaust be at San Francisco, or 1&rihe
north. But we do not enter upen 10
question OF route as something inyinc;
bly, fixed by Mr.. Stewards bill. Thi!
question is not yet fully ready for set
element.