Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-16
The Pacific RaiIrond.

WAsHIsGToN, Dec. IL.
Il Is understood that another Pacific railroad bill
Is about 70 be introduced in the House. Il is on
magnificent scale, and is entitled "a bill to pro-
vide for the construction OF q railroad and telegra
phic communication from the Mississippi river and
Lake Superior to the Pacific Ocean," Three main
roads are projected, viz: One from a point on the
Mississippi river south Of SO to San Francisco, with
a debouch TO San Diego. Another from some
point on the Missouri river north of lat. 40 and
south Of lat. AZ to San Francisco, with branch 70
Marysville Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose.
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
propose 20 grant 80 sections of land for each mile
of railroad the land to be selected by parties named
in the bill from the nearest Incorporated vacant
lands of the United States, which shall be with
drawn from sale or entry or pre- emptlon, and, II
required shall be surveyed 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 United States
25 cents per acre. provided also, that no title shall
vest in them any faster than the roads extends
ed 20 completion. Further, they shall deposit
with the Secretary Of the Interior, within siKmonths
after the passage of this .act, $780, in good
United States or State Securities a guarantee
thst one hundred miles of each must be completed
within eighteen months from the time OF the estab-
lishment of the routes. When said hundred miles
are ready for the track the Secretary Of the Inte
rior shall allow the parties named the use OF said
5000 600 TO purchase iron therefor, and in lieu
thereof take frst mortgage bond on the road for
that amount 10 be held until the entire line is COM
pleted.
Under the bill the United States TO pay $500
per mile for the transportation Of the mails until
the completion of the road and for ten years there
alter Also, for the transportation of troops and
munitions Of war such reasonable sum as the PREF
ident and Secretary OF War may determine. II the
parties fail to build the lines within years frca
she date of their location, all right to the land not at
that time paid for shall be forfeited to the United
States. The right Of way to the width OF four hun
dred 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 70 the States where they are located for
their use and benefit shall be deducted thereirom,
viz: The Southwestern branch Of the Pacific Rail-
read, the Iron Mountain Baroad, the Cairo and
Fulton Railroad, the Memphis and Little Rock
Railroad, the Mississippi, Red River and Washlta
Railroad, the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great
Western Railroad, connecting with the first named
routes Of the Pacific Railroad, the Hannibal and
St. Josephs Railroad, the Burlington, Keosaugua
and Missouri Railroad, the Philadelphia, Fort
Wayne and Platte Valley Railroad, the Missssip
ri and Missouri Railroad the Dubuque and Pacific
Railroad, the NOfth lowe, mlnuesOJA anu NeoTds'
ka Railroad, connecting with the second named
route of the Transit Railroad, and the North Iowa,
Nebraska and Minnesota Railroad connecting with
the third named route. Each Of these proposed
grants is under the Proviso that fifty miles Of road
must lee completed within three years after the
passage Of this act and the balance within five
years thereafter. The United States mails shall be
carried az the usual prices for such services Furth
er provisions make it the duty of the companies
IN Pm air ragda Gn In a an he
stantial manner, with a uniform gusge. All the
property Of said companies in the Territories is to
be exempt from taxation as long as they are terri
tories None Of them shall construct their roads
through the lands Of any Indian tribes without the
consent Of said tribes They must sell and convey
half Of the lands granted within FIVE years. and the
balance within ten years from the issuing of the
patent from the United States and all land not sold
at the expiration Of ten years shall be forfeited to
the United States.