The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-04-17

doraioSmao, = = 1atronsge Of capital to the
detr;mant of the poorer citizen, who, gam
IN. M advantage from the railroad, pays
two prices for his land.
The unfortunate experience OF the Illinois
Central railroad, in the attempt OF its man.
ayers to run trains ut n0n-paying rates Tor
the purpose of developing their lands, con-
clusively shows that some means must be
provided for cheap workage, or the result
will be ruinous to the company that attempts
it under the mere apprehension of immedi-
ate results from the most excellent specula-
tions in land. -. q. A.. -u.
As to the road up the Platte, emigrants
had better keep to their ox-teams and wag.
ons, than to think Of paying such rates OF
fare, Is would remuRrate Transportation
without Government aid. ssr.. =. So
1t has been proposed to overcome these
prospective liabilities by increasing the
amount Of land donated; so great breadth
Of surface of alternate sections along the
route being secured 20 first holders, as to
warrant the occupanc. grand basis Of stock
issue, over which they can bond and borrow.
Now, beyond conflicting with the claims OF
the actual settler, and the truly national plea
Of developing the route, ut short notice, with
a population, this course of procedure in
augurates a system of credit issue over the
intangible and fuctuating value Of wild
lands. 1t would place this road not only
under the contingency If workage without
revenue, loss of interest on dormant capital,
deterioration and renewal, but ever exposed
to the mere chance of progression by the
fruits of speculation in sand plains. This
would not be expedient. The public would
be deceived at first; but as the road would
not pay its own expenses and percentage,
and the lands of many Of the alternate Sec
tons would be soon known to be valueless,
public appreciation weuld be lost; all credit
would be withheld; and the whole affair ap.
pear as visionary folly. Congress would
again and again be applied to, and again
and again compelled to make advances in
money or substantial credits. But the worst
feature of the case would be, that the only
route to the mountains graded and ballasted
by nature for the laying of rails without
delay, would be taken up and occupied by a
mammoth monopoly, and prevent the ex-
tension of road by some simple and effec-
tive mode of building. a. = Is. ....e.a
We cannot but assert, then, that the land
grant system of buiiding-not an objection
able system along the fertile border-should
BIO applied to this project with great canton.
The arabic portion Of Platte valley . very
narrow; the adjacent scattered fertile Sec
tons limited in extent. The danger OF
pushing the squatter to extremityis well
known; and, in the Businesses Of the noun
tains, at a distance from civilization, he is
the lord supreme of his own little domain.
Moving with ak and pillow in advance Of this
road, taking the chances Of securing the
best locations by his own scanty means OF
transportation, Of fighting the Indians and
irrigating sterile sand plains, be possesses
the indomitable spirit of the American from
tier yeoman. Not always understanding the
subtler distinctions of laws which place him
ever ready to argue whether the patronage
of capital without corresponding advantages
secured to labor is not at conflict with a
true Interpretation of the strictly defined
powers Of a government emanatiDg from the
people, and based on the idea of elevating
the working man to his true position in ma
ture. On the other hand, the company should
certainly retain all those privileges which, by
legitimate speculations, near depot grounds
and town sites, developed by their own en-
ergy and forest gbt. will help to reimburse
them for outlay incurred, and lead to the
cheap running Of trains. .!-.-- .
These remarks cannot appear ont Of place
in reply to a resolution asking information
as to the best method of building road
through the South Pass, and while the coun-
try is still suffering under the third great
crisis which, in my own experience, has re-
suited by the literal overworking of the
credit system of railroad construction and
credit issues, over the basis of wearing and
deterlorating railroads. - saa 7.l.. :
Looking at the sums expended for the last
five years for military transportation along
this important route, it will be seen that
Government can afford to pay sum fol
facile means of moving troops and supple,
amounting to six per cent. per annur on q
cost of fifteen thousand dollars ($15, 600
per mile. Under the present contingency oil
the Mormon war, Government could Ger.
tainly afford to pay this sum per year, and
continue it for reasonable length Of time
But beyond this, Government could afford
to pay certain price per mile, say Eve
thousand dollars ($5, OOO) for the establish.
ment of a means Of military defense, and
for the development of portion Of the pub.
lie domain which no navigable river ira.
verses, and the peculiar character Of which
precludcs settlement until the river Of iron
the means Of transit projected by human
ingenuity, is applied. But, in addition tc
| this, Government can afford to bestow on
the projectors of the line of land sections
at each watering station, rs town sites. II
the working Of road Of nearly Level grades
during the service of military Transportation
trains could afford very low rates Of fare tc
emigrants. In return For privileges accord
ed, its owners could even contract with Gov.
eminent to draw cars during the two month.
Of spring emigration at mere nominal cost
| thus placing its facilities as fully at thu
command Of the poorer class of emigrant.
as are the low-fnre steamboats, Of the great
rivers and lakes. aEta.e.E f5s
The sources Of emolumnnt herein embrac
ed are ample for building and working i
road over the Platte valley route, and will
cover the cost of its expansion, by renewal
Of ss-ties from the 6rmest timber Of III.
mountains, and the raising Of the track two
feet above the fat surface of the valley, "a
drained, ditched, and dressed road. bed
With culvert, masonry, and more permanent
bridges than would be used at the outset
BY such simple mode of extension, Gov.
eminent takes no part in the testing of III,
experiment. The very iron laid upon III,
earth secures, better than the most cost,
Gordon of forts, the absolute safety Of thu
Pacific possessions BY military service with.
out increasing the standing Army.
It likewise affords the means Of solyiur
the Mormon question without dit{icuItv. anI