The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-03-02
The RAILROAD Bill.

following objections to the Railroad Bill now before
the Legislature: N II
First. We gran, foreign company right Of
way for u railroad from Lake Superior TO The Iowa
line, TO upon and take possession Ut and use
all and singular any lands, streams, minerals and
materials of every kind,' for the construction am.
use Of said road.
Second. We deed to said company all the lands
bestowed upon Us by the general government, ior
iroad purposes which hey ond doubt, will, from the
manner in which said lands will be held and hnai'y
disposed of, much than cover all the costs oil
the road leaving il in The hands OF the company Tree
from all costs or expense OF all this we complain
but lightly.
Third. The field &c financial operations is to be
in New York or London. After the passage OF the
act, Minnesota has more voice IN the construction
or mana cement of her railroads than Indian from
the Fcgee Islands.
Fourth The company fixes the rates of toll and
ireights over said road, and though they may hold
the road freed from all prime costs, gift from the
United States Government, yet the road may be the
mos, expensive 10 travel in the Union"
We propose to answer the objections urged by the
Democrat, in the order they published.
First. The g loreig company" consists oil cap'-
alists largely interested in the different Railroad
lines through New York, Penns, vania, Michigan,
Illinois, &c, Sc, which lines. by the construction
of this road, will be placed in connection with MINI
ncsota. They the persons tho are, with the eN-
cepton OF the people of Minnesota, the most deeply
interested the early completion OF this road, OF any
in the Union; engaged in the Railroad business,
with extensive means, aud being we'll known to Euro-
pean capitalists, could negotiate bonds for the con-
strlction Of road Of about three hundred miles In
extent, through unsettled, even wilderness coun-
try, such as the route Of this road now is, on much
better term., than any other company. And when
we reflect upon the vas, benefits to Minnesota which
mast grow out of the construction Of this road, the
question presents itsef, whether the Territory, by
granting this Charter, is not asking for the privileges
Of road, rather than comforting upon the company
the privilege Of constructing it.
The remainder Of the first objection is too frivolous
to merit reply, railroad ever was will, or can
be built without authority to enter upon aud take
! possession OF lands the route Of The Road by
paying reasonable compensation Tor the same, as
| provided by the Bill referred to.
| Second. This objection is without foundation.-
The Bill does not "deed to said company all the
lands bestowed upon It's by the general government
fer .ilroad purposes If It did, the grant would
be worth nothing as the general government has be-
stow cd no lands upon for ''Railrcad purposes -
Tic Bill does propose TO confer upon the Company
all the land that nay be granted by Congress for the
construction OF that particular road Blu, that land
when "fnaily disposed off, uiH not 'mnch more
than cover all the costs Of the road, and If ii be-
came necessary FOR the land to be sold build the
road, it would no, bring a sufficient, to build
one tenth of the road.
Third. This is one Of the pre,tiest objections
find in the lot, and it is, like the unpublished portions
Of Counsellor Philips Kossu,h speech, equally sub
iime impressive and interesting were the portion;
that had been prev iousy laid before the public. Tn,
field Of financial operations is located beyond The
limits OF Minnesota. This is sad, depiorable
orful!! Ony put the ''feld Of financial operations
in Minnesota. il you desire the speedy construction
Rauads-on paper But it is cand,ily and une
qs,vocalIy opinion, deliberately formed that i
money is bc obtained for the construction Of bona
fde railroad, London, or even New York asForc
equal facilities for favorable negotatons with any
portion OF the Territory St. Anthony and Minncapo.
not excepted
Fourth. In answer to this, refer the reader to
the Sd and 9th sections Of the Bill in another column
which passed the Senate Of the United States, grant
ing lands aid in the construction Of this road. The
Bill now under discussion in the Leg slaure, spulate.
that the company shall! be guided in all things by ths
provisions of that act.
LAKE SUPERIoR.-We find by the Railroad Bill
which passed the Senatc that the land IS granted oi
Il Railroad I" fr5n the mouth Of Left HAM RIVER a.
the head of Lake Superior, via. ST. Paul II the
Southern line of SAID Territory, with the privilege
of ertendng the the northern terminus Of the
Illinois Central Railroad.'' The R,ll before the
Legislature granting charter to a company to con-
saidro,I, provides that '',hc said corporation
is hereby authorized and empowered to survey, locate
construct, complete, alter, maintain and operate as
railroad, with one OF more tracks or lines of rails
rom Fond du Lac, on Lake Superior, by the way of
St. Paul, in Minnesota, to snch point the northern
boundary line of the State of Iowa. as the board OF
directors may Designate which point shall be selected
with reference 10 the best route 10 the city Of Dl-
buJuc."
II we read these Bills correctly, the road is to be
commenced at Fond du Lac, and from thence progress
into and through Minnesota Territory. This will he
Of great importance the settlements on Fond du
Lac, and will, within three years, open the commerce
Of the Lake shore to Territory, and will enable
merchants to bring their eastern supplies by that
route In addition to this, immigration would reach
Territory, and ill up the vacant lands between
the Lake and the Mississippi, in a much shorter
period than wouli otherwise be the case our lum-
bermen would be enabled TO prosecute their business
with less than one-haf the present expense and ST
Paul would remain for two three years, the centre
Of the carrying trade between the Lakes and the
Mississippi and its tributaries.
Can the mind OF MN grasp the advantages which
would result to Minnesota from the construction of
this road land yet, there those who profess to
believe that the immediate cession Of pal,ry million
Of acres of land, now comparatively worthless, should
not be granted for he attainment Of these benefits,
because by the expenditure Of large amount Of
money, that land may become profitable. Ia the COM