The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-08-28
Letter from Senator Jones.

We arc gra'ificd to lay before oar readers a
communication on Rail Road matters from this
ds'ins' islled gentleman. Gen. JoxKs' position
has e,idcnsly been misunderstood in tlmt por-
ton OF country interested in the building Of a
Road from McGREGos to the Missouri River
and VIC are confident that the brief statement
lelow published will transfer the blame. if any.
to our hio"ss members in Congress. The Bill
it will be seen. passed tile Senate in the precise
form which the House gave it, and any who is
familiar with the accidents attending bills ON
reference, will appreciate the motives of our
Senator in declining to have it referred, in the
Senate. 5asss E#sa&. ASS #
Gcn. JONES assurance If assistance in future
effort to secure substantial benefits krour Road
will bc regarded by those who know the cner.
gctic character of the man, as equivalent almost
to guarantee Of success and it is due to him
as man, that the reasons given in this letter
for the course he took when the Land Grant
Fill was before The Senate. should be published
by all the newspapers along the line Of the pro.
posed enterprise, and by all others whose circu-
amsapl rehcnsion Or niisrcl resentation that has
seriously affected, in this quarter, tie rel utation
of our Senator: gt& @s - "
- DuBuavE, Iowa. Aug. 18th, 81.
Col. Al RicIIARI SON, Mct'rcgor, Iowa. 3.s@
Ny Dear SIR =. My esteemed friend, Col.
| Heath, who is also yO.r warm friend, informs
me that he aseertained when recently at your
lace or in that vicinity, that belief exists
there in the minds of many that the bill which
asset Congress making a grant of lands for
Rail Road purposes in this State, contained, as
it originally passed the House Of Representa-
tives, clause making grant for the proposed
road from McGregor to the Missouri River. and
I that the said provision was stricken out in the
Senate on my motion or through my .inhu-
! encc.
| VIII you allow me to say, through tho col
| umns OF your excellent paper, that there is not
the least Foundation in truth for any such insinu.
alton or charge against mc-that the bill passed
precisely in the form in which it passed the
House OF Representatives. and that exertcd
myself TO the utmost, and successfully to pre-.
vent even the reference OF the bill to The com
mittec on Public Lands Of the Senate, the object
being, as well knew at the time, SO to amend
it, as to make provision for a Road to start
from point on the Mississippi River in Louisa
County, to the Missouri River, at the instance
of Mr.. Schenck Of Ohio, and other Spectator:
without the limits Of our State-Mhicb amend
ncnt, ii adopted, ! honestly believe would
have been the cause of the loss of the bill a,
that session as it would have been for all tim,
to come. Such felt confident wonld also have
been the case, had any other amendment max
ing material change been adopted in the Senate
Hence, ana for no other reason, did / OPPOSE
the pro- osiiion of Senator Foot to refer the bill
to the committee on Public Lands.
| There never was time when would mo-
have been rejoiced to obtain grant of land fol
either or all of the roads from McGregor
loaisa Or Lee County, to the Missouri River
all of which were desired. And would frccl,
have consented to the insertion of an amend
inent to provide for one or all of them in til,
bill referred to, il had not been entirely salts
fed that any such amendment would have beer
fatal TO the bill in the House, even if made il
the Senate. $
As a Senator feel as much bound to worl
FOR the interests Of one portion of the State q
: for another,-as think my acts either in rcla
ton to Legislation in Congress or recon,Inen
dations fnr Office, viii clearly show to all IN
p.eiudiced minds. #f &C
, Should the friends of the McGrcgor an
. Missouri River Rail Road, and the people alon
/, the line desire, as learn they do. The passag
of an Act of Congress, granting them the rgl
Of presumption or even donation of the altel
: nate sections Of the Public Lands to aid in III
r construction Of that road, they may rely wit
implicit confidence upon my earnest and vi
firing efforts to procure the same for them.
Respectfully.
\ Your Obedicnt Servant, 6sa
I'D - GEO. w. JONES.