The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-03-02
IIN n ESQ IA PION L Err,
VOL. II.-NEW SERIES NO V.
Thursday. March Z. 1854.
The Railroad Question.

Ii is old saying that question could be agi,a-
ted IN i community thar would not meet with opposi-
ton fiom one, ii the subject proposed was
calculated confer material benefits upon every ind-
vidual member Of that community. There per-
constituted that they cannot realize advan
tageous, any which is general in its charac
ter which will benefit others of community equally
with themselves. Self forms the bounds of their
vision, and to be seen, satisfactorily, must not be
pose all questions that intended be beneficial
them, in common with ''the rest of mankind
When the subject Of treating for the land west Of
the Mississippi under discussion in this Terri
tory in 1850, many opponents TO the were
be heard urging as an important objection, that i,
would open too much land to settlement, and conse.
quen,y the price of land Of the Mississippi would
be dcpreciated others owning to,on property, urged
that opening that beautiful country to settlement,
would the residents Of the towns remove to
the west side, and therefore, great depreciation Of
town property must be the result.
The arguments OF this class, however, whose pow.
OF vision did extend beyond the bridge Of their
nose, and whose souls Of sufficient capacity
to be sustained The point Of needle, did not pre-
vail. The treaties were made. and now, within two
years from their ratification by the Senate, and with
in one yea' from the time they expected take
effect, the population OF the very towns in which the
houses were to b,come tenantiess, has doubled, and
property On the east side of the VI issssppi has in
creased in value about one hundred per cent, and
town property TO much greater extent.
AT this time there is another question a,itatins the
public mind, and under consideration in the Terrific.
rial Legislature, involving the future prosperity Of
Minnesota. We refer to the proposition OF certain
capitalists 10 build Railroad from. Lake Superior,
by way Of ST. Paul, to the Iowa State Line with the
expectation that it shall be extended to the city Of
ID ,Allne, there TO Connect with tn. Illinois Central
and through it. with roads leading to all portions of
the Union.
This improvement within orr Territory, would
confer advantages upon Minnesota Of the CREATES, i'm
portancc. Ia. fact that the road would be built
being made apparent, would cause the early pepula-
ton and improvement, Of the uaoccupiel lands within
the Territory. Agriculture and manufactures would
CeN''c 'u 'ctuS tiit Wou'u DE- productive oil the
most important change in the b,siaess prospects of
he Country, ana the value OF land throughout thu.
limits Of Minnesota would b. enhanced within one
year thereafter from to three hundred per cent
This is not fancy i; is based upon facts clear and
apparent to al! who will take the tro,bl, t, look At
he result which has followed the settlement Of the
Territory up to this time The sa me result will fol-
"w future increase Of our population and business,
md nothing will cause that increase to 4 greater ex-
ent or with greater rapd,y tn that of opening the
critic lands and manufacturing points in our Terri
ory to convenient m,rkrt and direct and rapid
communication with the East, West, North and
South. which the construction Of railroads through
he Territory would of necessity eff.c; and We, we
ind the class Of blind, sensccss, soiless ind
vduals who in 1919 and 1850 were opposed to oren.
ns the west Of the Mississippi to settlement, now
antins against granting charter for the construc-
lion OF railroad, for the same reason in most cases
as that given by member Of the Legislature of Penn
yvania for vot'n, against the adoption of the Con-
ttutioa Of that Sta,e--s'bccausc it was not located
o pass by his house,