Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-17
House of Representative.


The House, after the transaction Of business Of
minor public importance, resolved itself into the
Committee of the Whole on the safe of the
Union, Mr.. Orr in the chair, and resumed the
consideration OF the Pacific railroad bill.
Mr.. BENTON, who spoke on the subject said
ne had put himself TO some trouble TO see and
converse with business men, with practical men,
10 see whether there was anything feasible in his
project He had reason 10 believe that there was /;
that private company Of solid men are ready
now to enter into arrangements for constructing
this work with their own resources, without
grants of money from the United States, without
alternate sections of land, amounting to many
millions OF acres, and without an army Of regular
soldiers TO protect the road, and who themselves
would need protection. He believed that such
company would be ready 10 enter upon the work,
with the preliminary basis of the right of way
through the Territories Of Utah and Kansas,
through the territories Of the United States with.
OUT limiting il; thereby steering clear Of all con-
stitutlonal difficulties, trusting 10 the States on
this side and the State Of California TO make the
conjunction.
Mr. McDOUGAL, in reply 10 Mr.. BENTON, said
that gentleman had designated the northern as a
British route, and child Of this administration
he {Mr. McD) would INFORM the committee that
this administration never gave birth to the propo-
stion. The credit belonged to the gentleman who
proposed a railroad from Missouri 10 the Colum-
bia river. -
Mr.. BENTON. That was before we acquired
California.
Mr.. McDOUGAL asked, was it not as much of
British route then as now :? He denied also, that
the southern route is an offspring Of the admins
tration.
The genteman's great objection 10 the bill was,
that II granted public lands TO build the road but,
when he was in the Senate he proposed the most
extravagant grants; hundred solid miles of land,
not alternate sections, all through to the Pacific
coast, two thousand miles long, enough 10 make
many States. The gentleman was not only pre-
pared 10 set apart the land but TO apply the
revenue collected in California and Oregon. In
the next bill, the gentleman provided for an
appropriation of the proceeds of the public lands,
seventy-hve per cent. west of the Mississippi,
and fifty per cent. Of all other public lands, for
this work; thus making it a government work.
Then il could not be assumed by the gentleman
that there was anything vicious in this measure,
because it disposed Of portions Of the public
domain.
Having concluded his speech in advocacy OF
the bill, the Committee proceeded TO vote on
amendments.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, moved to strike
out all Of the bill after the second section. He
understood, as the substitute withdrawn, the
select committee propose TO offer that suggested
Therefore, discussion on the bill pending, which
nobody expected 10 pass, was utterly idle.
The amendment was agreed 10.
The substitute Of Mr.. DUNBAR was read. Il
proposes, win view OF enhancing the value and
facilitating the sale of the public lands to the ac
tual settler, and 10 aid in the construction Of suit
able railroad and Geographic communication be-
tween the Mississippi valley and the Pacific ocean,
there shall be appropriated quantity of public
land, equal TO the alternate sections, for the space
of twelve miles on each side Of said roads, from
their eastern TO their western termini
One road and telegraph is to commence on the
western border ofthe State OF Texas, to be called
the Southern Pacific railroad !; one road and tele-
graph TO commence on the western border of the
State of Missouri or Iowa, TO be known as the
Central Pacific railroad; and one road and tele-
graph TO commence on the western border of the
State Of Wisconsin, in the Territory of Minnesota,
to be known the Northern Pacific railroad The
roads be built by contract, under certain condi-
tions.
Mr. DUNBAR explained that the substitute
which had just been read, was that introduced by
Mr.. DOUGLAS in the Senate, and then referred to
a committee Of that body where it underwent
some notifications, and was afterwards unani-
mousy reported TO the Senate. The routes se-
lected were all practicable, and the plan would
reconcile all differences and conflicts Of interests
between all sections of the country.
Mr.. WASHBURN, OF Maine, suggested several
amendments.
Mr.. LETCHER moved 10 strike out the enact.
ing clause of the bill; pending which motion the
committee rose,
And at three O'Clock the House adjourned.