Butte record., 1856-07-19
NUMBER 81.
Military Road Across the Plains.

SeuttpI " eliei dFpeGTs W pc u NoEklu5
earnest, to induce Congress TO make sor,s
provision for the construction of a thorough
fare across the plains to California The
subject of q railroad from the Atlantic to
Pacific, has occupied the attention of the
American people and of Congress, since
1916, when the subject was introduced into
Congress by the memorial of Asa Whitney.
The subject has been constantly before Con-
gress since that time. and has been the
theme of innumerable speeches, reports.
surveys and electioneering thunder. More
than two-thirds of the States of the Union
have declared in favor of the construction
of a railroad across the plains, and each
session of Congress has been flooded with
memorials petitions and resolutions. and vet
Congress has not sanctioned the measure, or
given very strong indications of a disposi-
ton to do so. On the 18th of April, the
subject was brought to the attention Of the
Senate by Mr.. Weller, in an able speech
The bill then under consideration, differed
somewhat from those previously presented
to Congress. Itproyides for the eonstruc-
ton of only one road, and invites competition
from the various routes which have been
surveyed 1t gives to the contractors alter
nate sections of land for the space of twelve
miles on each side of the road from its east
ern to its western terminus, mineral lands
in California excepted Italso further pro-
vides that, upon that part of the Road
which passes through the territories of the
United States, the government will advance
to the contractors-in the form Of loan
two and a half millions of its bonds, bearing
six per cent. interest for each one hundred
miles of the road which shall have been COM
pleted and put into full operation. Many
will remember the opposition with which the
project of Mr.. Whitney was assailed, when
it first claimed public attention, because of
the donations of land it required He pro-
posed to construct the road for appropria-
tions of land, but was refused. The subject
has since been agitated, viewed and discuss
ed in in all its bearings, and the bill now un-
der consideration proposes not only to grant
land. but also to loan money for the con-
struction of the road. Indeed, it has been
the policy of the government for years past,
to make large and liberal donations OF the
public lands to States and companies, to aid
them in the construction of roads and canals.
Nor has the government suffered anything
by this policy Whilst the States have been
materially benefited, the general govern
ment, by the increased value of its reserved
lands, has been fully remunerated for these
donations Several States have been ena-
bled, by this policy, to complete public
works of incalculable value to the whole
nation. Under this system, the Federal
government is regarded as land proprietor
the owner of an immense region of unoc-
cupied lands and. as such is called upon to
contribute towards public work, which
renders valuable, lands which in their pres
eut condition are valueless. When MIR.
Whitney's project was first submitted to the
people, the trade of the Pacific was an occa-
sional cargo of hides and horns, and it was
when California was acquired from Mexico,
that it was mot worth a dollar" Now onr
barbors are filled with the flags of every ma
ton. and over four hundred millions OF dol
lars in gold have been taken from our soil,
and still there is no project perfected Tor
national thoroughfare across the continent
On the 26th of May, Mr. Weller, from the
committee on military affairs, reported
80
across the plains which was read and passed
to n second reading. The bill is as follows
BILL for the construction of military
road from some point in the State OF Mis-
souri,, via Great Salt Lake City to "C2rson.
Valley Settlement" on the eastern portion
of the State of California, and for the estab-
lishment of Military posts, and the sinking
of wells thereupon,
Be it enacted by the Senate and house of
REPRESENTATIVE of the United States Of A
merica in Congress assembled, That the
sum Of three hundred Thousand dollars, or
as mach thereof as may be necessary, be,
and TIE same is hereby appropriated out oil
any money in the treasury not not other
wise appropriated, for the construction OF
military road from some point IN the state
of Missouri, to be determined by the Presi-
dent of the United States, via Great Salt
Lake Valley, to Carson Valley settlement
on the eastern frontier of the State OF Cali
fornia, and for the sinking Of wells on said
route, to be expended under the direction of
the Secretary of war, pursuant to contracts
to be made by him.
SEC q And be it further enacted. That it
shall be the duty of the President of the L:
s. to cause to be established and maintained
at convenient distances on the said road,
where it may pass through the countries oc7
cupied by Indians, such military posts as
may be necessary for the general protection
Of said road.