The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-28
THE MINNESOTA RAILROAD GRANT.

THE MINNESOTA RAILROAD GRANT
writer in the Boston Post presents the reasons in h.
half of grant Of land 10 Minnesota in aid OF railroad -
follows;
BY the passage Of the grant desired understand
IT, Minnesota simply asks Congress TO make the lana ~
every settler In her Territory worth from $40 to $40 DAP
acre. by selling the alternate sections certain lines Al
contemplated roads at double the government price ana
contributing the number of thus taxed 10 M
Territory aid building those roads In other words M
government is not in effect 10 be deprived of dollar ~
one acre of land Ii is asked 10 that those WI
will be the most largely benefited may be taxed to aid II
this great national work What we by tax Is ,bs
payment of advance the minimum price for puh
lands II is coercve tax For instance the govern
has millions of acres of land between the sop
aud northern line of the Territory Its price by awi
81 IS per acre and 1t says the Territory If your %
viii pay SO so per for million il Won
may have the balance provided you build railroad thai
win furnish the last link wanting in the great chain Ia
connect by steam communication, the waters of the 81
Lawrence and the Gulf Of Mexico with the waters of III
Hudsons Bay
The valley of the Red River of the North, through vb,
the road is TO rum is a vast and splendid agricultural
country and destined 10 be rich and popuous locsty
The river itself is naygable 400 miles in own Terri
tory. In view of the growing interests of the Uusa
States in that vicinity and OF the powerful and rival h.
teress the boundary line consider it wise p
caution for the nation to aid Communication 10 thai
frontier Further than this government already AL
mits the necessity of establishing military post sou
where in that vicinity. Last an expedition vs
sent out there under command of Col Smith, to report
proper site fora fort The expedition returned late In b
fall and have not heard that report has been mad
But that fort will be established Pembina there can
be no doubt And IL must be suitable one-not Lara
mic concern the weakness of which brought on troub
with the Indians The government i'll afford to trans
port military stores and munitions OF by wagons and
mules 30 great distance when there opportupy ~
obtaining conveyance more speedy and convenient
For national purposes therefore, we are in favor Of
railroad to tho valley of the Red River of the North and
whatever be done by Congress to aid its construs
should A,
other reasons which generally urged in behalf Of grants
for internal improvements, but which, though thew have
often prevailed, do not weigh much with US, apply to this
grant One ia that the railroad win increase the yaue If
lands through which it passes from which, of course ina
country reaps pecuniary benefit 1t is an additional in
ducement also that it will tend to encourage the deyeon
pen OF the distant resources of the country II will Ia
borne in mind that there is homestead law now in FORE
which applies to New Mexico and wherever there are apy
national purposes to be accomplished and these other IN
dacemens which favor the growth Of the country ara
blended with tbem the argument for grant becomes IRA
ssbe 1t worthy of remark too that the energy and
thrift which lave characterized the settlers of Mnnos
have well earned for them any constitutional aid During
the last season private enterprise contributed $4,000 10
improve the navigation Of the Mississippi between ST Paul
aud St Anthony.
The objections which have been urged against the pro.
posed grant, so for as we know them are trivial First
II s said that capitalists will make money out of II Th
is certain But if the company which gets il should
finally succeed in building profitable road and derive
profit out of it the result will not be altogether lameD
able As to buying up land tho route BY ndydusls
ia any iegtimate under-handed manner the thing d
visionary and absurd There is not this mysterious pn
TO De gained oy those supposed to be knowing ones which
people have imagined. The terms of the grant in ths
usual FORM only be for alternate sections OF unocu
pied land AS far the land ia ed in Minnesota t
already purchased or occupied by settlers There Is M
chance for spectators to get hold Of public lands there
The settler II Is true can preempt unsurveyed lands
81 rs per acre but the speculaor cannot get them for
love nor money. Nor the company get an acre Of
land within hundred miles of ST. Paul They must 90
beyond the borders of settlement Another reason WIN
there can be no undue speculation H. that the grant II
made, will not be made TO any company now chartered
must go to such company the people of Minnesota BY
their legislature, are willing to lntrus it to.
We are informed that the prospects of obtaining
grant for this road have been damaged by the imporu
mites OF certain railroad companes-before referred to-
outside CT Minnesota and which have little or no conns,
lon with her interests Instead of grant for the road We
speak of they desire the land to be given to them on M
condition that they will branches of their roads into
tne TERRITORY They are disposed to dictate terms the
people OF Minnesota as if they held Congress in their pock
els The contest has come, therefore, be one between
Congress and two three chartered Companies If the
grant is defeated the companies triumph and the truen
erests OF Minnesota and the government fail Such are
the facts And submit they Justify us in the oppop
that grant of land in aid of the road to the Northwestern
frontier Is just and expeden On It's merits it should
be passed Shall il be defeated by what has occurred re-
Gently in Congress II is said that members will vote
against it lest be charged that they have been bbed
vote for It, 1t Is perhaps the tendency OF indscrmna
charges of fraud and corruption to produce such result
But we hope there enough of independence and high in
tegrty ia Congress not to be deferred from suppornrs
just measure by an apprehension that some one will sus
peel tnem OF improper motives jury that fails to give
yedct on the side of justice because witness on that
side has sworn falsely, should be condemned So mem
Der OF Congress who shirks from duty through fear pop
ular clamor, is unworthy of his seat.
Inc proposed road through Minnesota traverses fertile
portion of the Territory and opens communication with
part or our fontier which borders the vast pos
OF the Hudsons Bay Company frontier which
ong oeen exposed to its overreachng policy The
there large population While it will be especially bne
nca 10 Minnesota 1t is also, essential the interests Of
the entire country that better communication be esab-
shed with that frontier The possession of extensive
tory Without the means Of protecting il, Of
weakness to government, not element of strength
80 lar as that region is concerned we may say that at
present. the national power stranger in Its own limits
IN time OF peace such state Of affairs is not wise in
a time of war, it ia not safe
SoRGo sucREThe attention which the cultivation Of
ms new article for the production of sugar has recently
xcea has aroused the mechanical ingenuity of coun
rymen to the invention and construction of the machinery