The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-05

and" supposed it to be clerical error,
and that it made no difference, and do not
now, as to the legal effect of the bill. Nv
attention was called to it solely by the irreg-
uIarty OF expression.
July %, 1854.
The Hon. Mr.. Simmons, of New York
appointed a member of the committee in
place OF Hon. Mr.. Washburne, excused from
further service. VIA
The Hon. Mr.. Campbell appointed chair
man of the committee.
Robert w. Lo,cIer, sworm.
Question. Are You interested in any rail.
road company in Wisconsin, Iowa, or Min
nesOta
Answer am interested in projected
railroad in Minnesota.
Question. How are you interested?
Answer. I am a stakeholder.
Question. Are you director of that
company?
Answer / am.
Question. When were you elected?
Answer. On the first of July instant.
Question. What is the name of that COM
pany?
Answer. The Minnesota and Northwest
crn Railroad Company.
Question. DO you know whether any in
ftuenccs or agencies were used, in order to
procure the passage of bill granting lands
to Minnesota Territory for railroad purpos-
eS, i'll which it is alleged alterations were
made, and which bill passed Congress at its
present session
Answer | 10.
Question. State what you know of them.
Answer In order to answer the question
l must he allowed to make brief chrono-
logical statement Of my connection with and
knowledge of this matter. Early in the
spring OF the present year | was called up
on and shown charter granted by the leg
islaturc of Minnesota incorporating the Min
nesOta and Northwestern Railroad Compa-
ny, and was informed that bill was then
pending in Congress granting lands to the
Territory to be applied specially in the con-
struction of this road. l think that the
form OF the bill was then submitted to nv
examination, and that it was positive in it's
terms, and granted the lands for the sole
purpose of building this road. Being salts
tied, on all examination of the charter, that
the lands if granted could not be diverted
from the purpose of aiding in the construc-
ton of the road, | agreed to become one of
the stockholders, and to procure number
of influential parties to join in the enter
prise it being distinctly understood how
ever, that no stock should be subscribed for
by myself and associates unless the contenl-
plated grant was made by Congress. l was
Informed subsequently that this bill was put
upon its passage, and, owing to certain adj
verse circumstances, was lost Those adj
verse influences or interests were re, resent
Ell by member in Congress from Gaena.
illinois !; and was told that, unless he
could be induced to withdraw his opposition.
no bill could be passed making such a grant
as would benefit the Minnesota and North
western Railroad Company, and carry out
the intention of the legislature of Minnese-
ia, as expressed iii the charter of the COM
pany.
l was subsequently Informed that bill
had been prepared by certain parties in
Minnesota to wit, Mcssrs. German, Sib-
ley, and others, and the member from Hi
is-and presented to the Committee on
Public Lands, granting certain lands to the
Territory of Minnesota, which were to be
subject to the disposal of any future legis-
stature, and were not to inure to the bene.
mt OF any company already constituted or
organized. 1t being understood that N.Y.
self and associates would not undertake the
building OF the contemplated road, through
almost an entire wilderness, unless aided by
grant of lands, so made that the interests
OF the company therein should not depend
upon the action of any future legislature,
whereby the progress of the work would be
delayed, it was proposed to have the act so
modified by the committee, before the same
should be reported to the House, as to meet
our views. For this purpose was request
ed to call on Alvah Hunt, Esq, treasurer
of the St. Charles Airline Railroad, in
Illinois, and did call upon him at his office
in New York. then informed Mr.. Hunt
of the proposed connexion of Marshal O.
Roberts, myself, and Others with the Min.
neSota and Northwestern Railroad project,
and stated to him that we had sought to
procure grant of lands from Congress- and
had been defeated through the influence of
his friend the member from Illinois !; that
a new bill had been prepared, and was then
in the hands of the Committee on Public
Lands, containing such provisions as would
leave the lands donated subject to the &C.
ton of future legislature of the Territory.
and deprive the Minnesota and Northwest.
ern Railroad Company of the benefit of the
grant contained in its charter. stated to
him distinctly the alterations we desired
made, namely that the word future" should
be stricken from the bill, and that its pllra-
seology should be so changed that the Min