The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-12-24
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.


south Of lat. 36 deg. to San Francisco,
with branch to San Diego; another from
some point on the Missouri river, north
of lat. 40 deg, and south of lat. 43 deg.
to San Francisco, with branch to Marys
vile, Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose;
and the third from some point on Lake
Superior to Puget's Sound, with a branch
| to the mouth of the Willamette river.
To each of these routes, the bill pro-
poses to grant thirty sections of land for
each mile of railroad, the land to be Sc
lected by the parties named in the bill,
from the nearest unappropriated vacant
lands of the United States, which shall
be withdrawn from sale, or entry, or pre-
emption; and if required shall be survey
ed under the direction Of the Secretary of
the Interior; provided the parties named
in the bill shall not be compelled to take
any waste lands, and shall pay to the Uni
ted States twenty-five cents per acre; pro-
vided also that no title shall vest in them
any faster than the roads are extended to
competion.
Further, they shall deposit with the
Secretary of the Interior, within six
months after the passage of this act,
100000 in good United States or state
) securities, as guarantee.
One hundred miles of each road must
be completed within eighteen months FROM
the time of the establishment of the routes
When said hundred miles are ready for the
track, the Secretary of the Interior shall
allow the parties named the use of said
100000 to purchase the iron therefor,
and in lieu thereof take first mortgage
bond on the road for that amount, to be
held until the entire line is completed.
Under the bill the United States agree
to pay $500 per mile for the transporta-
ton of the mails until the completion of
, the road ard for ten years thereafter.
Also, for transporting troops and NUM-
lions of war; such reasonable sum as the
President and Secretary of War may de-
termine.
IF the parties fail to build the line with
in ten years from the date of the location,
all right to land not at that time paid for
shall be forfeited to the United States.
The right of way to the width of 400
, feet through the public lands is proposed
to be granted.
Further, six sections of land per mile
is proposed to be granted to the follow
9 ing roads, under the restriction that any
amount heretofore granted to States where
they are located, for their use and benefit
shall he deducted therefrom viz
South Western Branch Pacific Rail
t road; Iron Mountain Railroad; Cairo and
t Fulton Railroad; Memphis and Little
Rock Railroad; Mississippi, Red River
and Washita Railroad; Vickshurgh and
Shreveport Railroad; New Orleans Ope-
lousas and Great Western Railroad, con-
Meeting with the first named route.
, Pacific Railroad; Hannibal and ST.
Joseph Railroad; Burlington, Keosauqua
and Missouri Railroad; Philadelphia, Fort
Wayne and Platte Valley Rai!road; Mis-
t sissippi and Missuri Railroad; Iowa Cen.
trail Airline Railroad; Dubuque and
Pacific Railroad; North Iowa, Minnesota
and Nebraska Railroad, connecting with
: the second named route.
Transit Railroad, and North Iowa
: Minnesota and Nebraska Railroad, con.
Y Meeting with the third named route
Each of these grants is under the pro
viso that fifty miles of railroad must be
. completed within three years from the
l passage Of this act, and the balance with
+ in five years thereafter; the United States
5 mails shall be carried at the usual price
q for such services.
Further provision makes it the duty o.
the companies named to construct theil
I roads, &C., in good substantial manner
: with uniform guage.
S All the property of said companies il
the territories is to be exempt from taxa
tion, as long as they remain territories
None of the companies shall construct
e their roads through the lands of any In
r dian tribes without the consent of sale
tribes
They must sell and convey half the
y lands granted within five years, and the
balance within ten years from the issuing
of the patent from the United States, and
all lands not sold at the expiration of ter
States.
Southern Commercial Convention.
i In the Southern Commercial Conven
tion, on Thursday, Mr. De Bow, of Louis
lana, from the Committee on Business
offered series of resolutions, appointing
the next meeting of the Convention al
Knoxville, on the second Monday of Au.
gust, 1851; indorsing A. Dudley Mann's
scheme for line of iron steam ferry-boats
of three thousand tons each, from Chesa
peake Bay to Milford Haven, England
d fav oring the introduction of southern tex
/ books into southern schools and colleges
and the appointment of committee O.
distinguished southern professors to pre-.
. pare such works; recommending southern
] Legislatures to order their use in SAID
: schools; favoring the encouragement O
southern books, periodicals, and journals
in place of northern publications, and
recommending the encOura pamant of min