, 1855-03-17
CONGR ESSIONAL.
The Pacific Railroad Bill!

says:
by telegraph from Washington we
learn that the special committee of the
Senate on the Pacific Railroad, met on
Saturday to consider the plan proposed by
Senators Rusk and Douglass. 1t is under
stood the project OF the latter gentleman
was finally determined on, and that re-
port will be made 10 the Senate recon-
mending its adoption. Three roates are
provided for, viz: q southern ronte from
the western border Of Texas to the Pacific;
Il GENITAL one from the western border OF
Mis>o1h or Iowa to San Francisco: and
northern one from the western border Of
WisconSiA or Minnesota 10 the navigahle
waters of the Pacific in Oregon or Wash
ington Territory. The bill sets apart al
'ernate sections of land for ten miles on
each side Of the ronte, and double the
minimum price Of the reserved sections,
and authorizes mail contract for tifieeu
years from the completion Of the road, at
Il rate not exceeding three hundred dollars
per mile. The bill also authorizes the Sc
cretaries of War and Navy to make con-
tracts for the transportation Of govern
mcnt supplies for the same period, and
makes other important regulations.
No moneyto be paid from the Treasury
OF the United States until the service shall
have been performed; aud no lands to be
decided to the companies until one hundred
miles of road shall have been made, and
then only three-Quarters Of the land per-
tanning to said one hundred miles, reServ-
ing the other fourth until the completion
Of the succeeding one hundred miles, and
so on, throughout.
The Secretaries Of War and Navy, and
Postmaster General, are required TO issue
an advertisement FOR sealed proposals sep
arately on each ronte.
No proposal 10 Le accepted which does
not guarantee to complete the road with
in ten years, and deposit Of five hundred
thousand dollars with the government, in
L. S. or other par stocks, which sum may
be refunded in amounts OF five thousand
dollars as soon as that sum shall have been
actually expended in the construction ol
the road.
The plan places the three sections of
country Oh an exact equality, aud leaves
capt. ii, enterprise and nature to decide
which route will first be maGe.
Mr.. Rusk'S plan, which was no. agreed
to, proposed that the United States should
loan to each OF the companies its bonds TO
an amount the interest Of which would
pay for the transportation OF mails and
government supplies. This would have re-
quired q loan Tor the three routes Of about
sixty millions.
The probabilities are in faFor ofthe pas
sage Of the Pacific Railroad bill by the
House, on the 10th; but as three Of the
select committee in the Senate have res
pectively independent plaus Of their own
it will probably go back from the Senate
SO altered that the House may not concur.
In the U. S. Senate message was re-
c,ived from the President urging the adop-
ton Of measures TO suppress the hostllties
of the Indians along the overland route TO
California. MeSsrs Gwin and Weller Of
California, aud Rusk, Of Texas, warmly
seconded the recommendations Of the Pres
idenr, aEa the subject was committed to
the Military committee, who will report n
bill without delay organizing u force Of
three thousand mounted meh.
4 Joint resolution to establish 4 weekly
express mail between ST. Louis and San
Francisco, was introduced by Mr.. Gwin,
and referred. y
Mr.. Douglas, OF ILL.,, from the committee
on Territories, reported q bill TO extend
the provisions Of the Judicial Fee bill OF
1858, to all the Territories Of the United
States, the Secretary Of the Treasury hay-
ing decided that said bill was limited 10 the
States and Oregon Territory.
Mr.. Douglass, from the same committee,
reported join, resolution directing the
Secretary OF the Treasury 10 allow an item
Of eight hundred and thirty-threc dollars
to the Secretary of Minnesota, which had
been paid by him for collating and index
ing the journals and judicial decisions OF
the said territory. Passed by unanimous
cousent
In the House, Jan. 3lst, dozen bills
had been agreed to for the benefit Of terri
tories, consisting Of appropriations for the
construction Of military roads, establishing
land Offices, erecting public buildings, erect
lug arsenels &c, but whether Washing on
territory is in the ring or not, we are not
advised.
SENATE, Feb. l.-Mr. Seward, from the
Postotiice committee, reported a joint reSo-
luton that weekly mail TO aud from San
Francisco, from some point on tue MiSsiS-
sippi, be established, the trip to be fourteen
days, the postage on letters to be fifty cts.
per half ounce, and prepaid, the mail not
to weigh over two hundred pounds, and
the remuneration TO be $4,000 trip, the
contract TO be commenced within Que year,
and TO be continued FIVE years. 1t was or
dered to be printed. The senate refused
to consider the French Spoilation bill, but
spent the day on the Army Appropriation
bill, discussing the proposed Increase Of the
force The sum Of twO aud half millions
was voted to support the increase. and the