Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-12-13
TIE Pacific RAIIpnAn

WNsHINGroH Dee. ll.-It is understood that ,potba,
laehc Railroad Till about TO be introduced into the
House. IL IS on magnificent scale and il entitled "a
bill 10 provide Tor the construction Of railroads aud te
Superior to the Pacific ocean"
Three main roads projected viz one from min,
on the Ms ssppi river south OF latitude 30 dee IA
san Francisco, with branch SAT Diego another from
some point on the Missouri river North Of latitude 10 dec
and south OF latitude IS 20 san Francisco with branch
to Mary svillc Sacramento Stockton and san JOSE and
the tlirl from point Lake Superior To Pnget.
sound, with branch to the mouth OF the Willamette
river.
To each of these routes the hill PROPOSES To Grant i
~ sections OF land for each mile Of railroad the land 10
De- selected 10y thr parties named in the bill from the
nearest unappropaicd vacant lands of the United States
when shh hc Withdrawn from SALE or entry, ptcemp.
tom aud required shall he surveyed unde. the direction
of the Secretary Of the Inerior-provded the p,re,
named in the Jill sal not be compelled to take any waste
lands and shall pay TO the o. twenty-five cents per acre
provided also that title shall vest in them any faster
than the roads extended complexion Further they
shall deposit with the Secretary OF the interior within
six months after the passage Of this act $500 in GOOD
l. =. or State securities, a guarantee
One hundred miles Of each be completed within
eighteen months IRON the time OF the establishment Of the
routes When said hundred miles ready for the track
the Secretary OF the interior shall allow the parties named
the use o; said 100000 purchase iron therefor and
in lien thereof take first mortgage bond on the road for
that amount to be held until the entire line be compile
ted.
Under the bill the United States are to agree to paw
$500 per mile for the transportation Of the mails until the
completion OF d road and for yoars the CATER: also
for transporting troops anunitions Of war such
reasonable sum as tie President and Secretary of War
may determine.
1.-THE parties fail to build the lines within ten wears
from the date Of their location all right 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 following roads, under the restriction that
any amount heretofore granted States where they are
located, for their use aud benefit shall he deducted
thcreirom viz:
Southwestern Branch Pacific Railroad: Iron Noun
tain Railroad Cairo and Fulton Railroad: Memphis and
Little Rock Railroad; Mississippi Red River and Was
hiia Railroad; Vcksburg and Shreveport Railroad New
Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad con
Meeting with the first named route Pacific Railroad
Hannibal aud St. Joseph Railroad Burlington. Keosau
qua and Missouri Railroad Philadelphia Fort Wnyn,
aud Plat Valley Railroads Mississippi aud Missouri Rail
road Iowa Central Air Line Railroad: Dubuque and
Pacific Railroad Moth Iowa. Minnesota and Ncbrask-
Railroad, connecting with the second named route
Transit Railroad, and North Iowa, Minnesota and Ne
brasa Railroad, connecting with the third named route
Each Of these proposed grants under the proyiso tina
fifty miles OF road must be completed within three year
from the passage Of this act and the balance within fy,
years thereafter the T. s. mails shall be carried at tn
usual prices for such services.
Further provisions make il the duty Of the compane
named 20 construct their roads ETC. in n GOOD sulstan
| tial manner, with uniform gungc.
All property Of said companies in the Territories
10 bc exempt from taxation, long they remnin Terri
Oficsnonc of them shll construct their roads through
the lands OF any Indian Tribes, without the consent Of sa
] iribes
They scll ani convey halt the lands granted viii,
in I've year and the balance within years from IN
issuing " the patent from tho United States and all land
not sold At the expiration Of ten years. shall no orfeiie
l 10 the United States