Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-01-17

ment. The cheeks necessary to detect fraud and
defalcafions DO nos exist in laws the racili.
ties t0s avoidingshe penalties our law iuHicts ar
very numcreus,and it would seem from the az.
ton OF some that they were fully aware of the
fact, These evidences of official negligence are
not ssrlouslyf et vt, but the time is coming when
orr people will have to suffer for the example net
by some OF dur County officers.
kdeem il very desirable that you should look
to the small details of the public service il YOU
wouiu sccnre faithfuf administfarion or affairs
1t Is almost impossible to get the public sufi-
GENTLY aroused to give their attention te the de-
tail OF State and County matters, and especially
IN our Territory for the reason that every ope ID
SO much engaged in business as to seem to care
Tor nothing beyond the immediate objects in view.
While capital and population continue coming,
the speculative enterprises Of our people will con.
tinue, and but few will turn aside TO correct or
reform the abuses Of the law, or bring 10 punish-
ment the delinquent public servant. These things,
to most OF our people, are secondary considers
lions, ii they are even entitled to so high rank.
l have heretofore called the attention of the
Legislature to the necessity OF amending the rev.
enue laws, especially to the manner of lew ing,
assessing and collecting the taxes, their dsburse-
ment, and the accountability Of the various Off
GERS. again renew my former recommend tion
on the subject. N'fi2 a''1a q aei1fe2s
lam not prepared to inform you what will be
the result of the suit instituted by the United
States against the Minnesota and Northwestern
Railroad Company TO test the validity of the Act
of Congress repeating the Act making grant of
lands to the Territory to aid in constructing a
road from the Iowa line from o point between
Ranges co nine and II seventeen, thence by
way of st. Paul to Lake Superior. The first suit,
or rather the writ of error, has been dismis sed
by the Supreme Court of the United States, and
hence the Company are remediless unless they
obtain the consent of the Government to bring
new suit. learn that hopes are entertained by
the attorneys OF the Company that such consent
may be ultimately given But at present know
of no action necessary to be taken by you. Il
Many think we are SO situated that we cannot
attempt any internal Improvements without aid
from the National Government in the way of a
grant Of lands. 1t is believed, however, that
Railroads can be built through almost any part
of the Territory by individual enterprise, if the
proper efforts are made. Let COM any be or
ganized under q proper charter and books be
opened for stock subscriptions in money or land
on the proposed route. An amount of land at
its present appraised value may be subscribed as
stock equal at least to alternate sections for three
miles on each side of the road, which will be am
pie security upon which to obtain loans to an
amount sufficient to buildthe road But i am
assured that men of ample capital can be ndu-
ced to take hold of work on such basis and
complete it promptly. 1t does not require any
very great sagacity to see that, as soon as the
road is commenced, every acre of land thus SUBJ
scribed as stock, and all adjacent lands will dou-
BILE and even more than quadruple in value. If
even within six miles of any proposed road, es.
pecialy if it be one running East and West, there
could be obtained stock subscription in land, at
the present comparatively cheap rates, of one
thousand acres, making in all two thousand acres
per mile, it would be sufficient to build the road,
- IL ~ -
is deemed ample in this level region Of the west
1t is but reasonable to believe that as much can
be realized here as there has been out of the
lands granted to the Illinois Central Railroad,
say seventeen dollars per acre. which would give
1874, 900 per mile, supposing the stock equal to
two thousand acres per mile. 1t is believed that
| the lands subscribed as stock can be had at an
average of FIVE or six dollars per acre, and per-
haps less, when the owners are conscious that
| their remaining lands will more than double in
value, and every product raised will linda mar
ket almost at the door at increased rates. This
is but a glance at a plan for building Railroads
In Minnesota without government aid. '-
Some progress has been made in preparations
for constructing the proposed Railroad between
Saint Paul and Saint Anthony, and to connect ul-
timately at the St, Croix, with the Chicago, Fon
du Lac and Saint Paul Railroad. The latter COM
pany, / am Informed, design to push forward to
road from the st. Croix to Saint Paul. 81 3
Stock has been subscribed to the amount of
three hundred thousand dollars, as am inform
ed; for the Transit Railroad from Winona to St.
Peter on the Minnesota River, and strong hopes
are entertained by the company that some aid will
be obtained from the Government. r..
1t affords me pleasure to inform you that a con-
tract has been entered into by the Regents, for
the construction of the new University edi6ce.
which for architectural beauty and symmetrical
proportions, when finished, will not be surpassed
in the West.
The cause Of education has by no means been
neglectedin the midst of the strife for wealth and
speculation, but on the contrary, common schools
| have been supported in almost every village in
| the Territory; Seminaries and Colleges have been
erected and are now in operation in several parts
of the country, each in most fourishing condi-
ton. The Superintendent of Common Schools
has taken great pains to infuse new life and ex-
cite renewed interest in every branch of educa-
ton, so far as it came under his jurisdiction or
| control. His able and interesting report will be
laid before you, to which respectfully refer for
further Information on the subject. nHa i'ni 6
| II is earnestly recommended that before you
pass charters for any purpose whatever, you will
carefully scrutinize the powers and privileges to
| be conferred upon capital Combined wealth has
ordinarily more than its share Of influence and
power, and when additional facilities are given
| it, they should be scrupulously guarded so as to
| prevent them from becoming instruments of wrong
and oppression instead of promoting the public
| veal. 7lN 30 (Ia53Ea ~ - b9es - 81
| 5Ope of the serious obstacles to the rapid de.
| velopsment Of the resources of some Of the new
| States, has been the numerous chartered monop-
olies which are now hanging on their prosperity.
These monopolies may not seem to threaten our
prosperity at present, or for some time to come,
| but in few wears thew NAV he palyani xed intr
life and used by capital for purposes detrimental
| to the interests of the people. There are album
dant evils in the corporations heretofore charter.
ed, and we may all feel thankful If they do not
some day rise up in Judgment against those who
passed and approx ed them. also .sei b
Corporations are sometimes necessary to COM
bine capital for the development Of our country's
resources. when without them these sources Of
wealth might lie dormant for ages. Yet we IRE
all but too we'll aware that, in every such case,
the people give up whatever exclusive privileges
these corporations acquire. It is .lamentable
fact that the West is fast becoming the theatre
for corporations and exclusive grants and privi-
Isae, to the capitalists of the East and North,
under ana Sy which they are to branch out in
their various fields of speculation. -, -
/ would not feel that had fully discharged my
duty in giving information Of the condition Of the
Territory, were to fail to call your attention to
the vast amount of paper currency which has been
sent into the West and particul; ry to Minnesota,
for circulation during the past year. Situated
as we are, beyond the reach OF telegPaphic com.
munication with the States In which all this pa
per currency 10 issued, with irregu ar MALE, our
people are in imminent danger Of being imposed
| upon by such funds.
1t is by no means an easy task to devise a re-
medy, nor can one that win prove efectaal pro.
baby be found until we become State. But in