The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-04-28


The Lean 8lll ara the Effects Of lis Success.
The success Of ne Five Million Loan Bill was
far ahead Of Interpretation Of its most sanguine friends,
it vas next 70 being unanimous, and would be so sus.
tanned if submitted again. Its effect has been of 3
cheering nature, and hope and confidence are beginning
to Ere all hearts. Even the few who opposed it are
faiu 70 admit that its FIRST effects will be to set in motion
the lang1ad energies Of business, aud introduce capital
here. In this admission is conceded all that was
claimed, which was denied BY the opponents Of the
Ian before the election. A few still persist that the
. Railroad companies never intended and never will make
1 the roads. and that the money will be swindled out Of
The people. But the extravaganza and contradictory
uAt1re of the opposition to the Loan, proved it to be of
= narrow and contracted spirit, which can conceive of
no impulse to affect the heart of man but blind selfish
psss.% Even if the companies were all combined to de-
fraud the government, they would still IT quire the con-
nivancs Of the Governor and the other leading officials
Of the State to abet them in such robbery, and only .
small portion could then be taken in periods Of months
intervening; this is hardly a supposable case.
II the v-rious companies proceed in a straightfor.
ward course, the amounts of the loan they are to get
will enable them to go on at once and make contracts
for certain portions Of the road and once begun the means
to continue them will rapidly Aow in from the sales of
their lands, which will be eagerly snapped up at from
Eve to twenty dollars an acre such at any rate has
ssAsens ahs case on the Illinois Central and other land
grant roads. In the report Of the former road, made
this spring, the price Of their lands has averaged twelve
dollars and q Lalf an acre, and they have literally
peopled = district with wealthy and thriving farmers,
Ill -l~>A ~~..l.A>Il> - - ~.:.o HoEo~o H.
reads were begun. One fact Herewith IS significant,
ard tia, is the statement that the local trade, which
the road itself has created, will, in a few years, entirely
pay the expenses Of that road.
If the companies which control the roads in this State
should allow themselves to be tempted by the insight
6eant amount that they might secure by suborning the
Government and e~nticing their own members to commit
30 6~agitious an act as that of nisusing the means
just placed at their disposal, a powerful influence would
Instantly be brought to bear that would forever crush
them. The wealth, intelligence, and influence in every
class, are deeply interested in the immediate coustruc.
ton of the roads every heart is alive to the Importance
of these works, and the effect of this influence is now
O. such, that the road companies feel it as a power that
would be dangerous to tride With. It is producing a
s~alutary effect, in urging on the companies to keep up
with their expectations, even now, and it will continue
20 follow and coerce them, If necessary, until the last
tie is laid, the last rail fastened, and the moving train
shall be laundering across our prairies. Deviate they
csnnot-dare not. Their own interests, comprehending
= the honor and pride that is go dear to man and the mill
lions Of wealth that is attached to the m~un;6cent be.
. quest Of land in their hands, will bind them close to
q faithful performance of their contracts. If not, the
fear of the universal execrstion and ~loathing that must
follow ths M and .mbitter the days Of every soul con.
: nected there with, would certainly make them hesitate
before they should dare abuse the confidence just reposed
in them. ..w r 7.aH .
c Already the tidings have been heralded from many
c points that the hopes of the people are being consum
mated. Orders for the immediate commencement OF
!, several # the roads have emanated from tt cir Boards
{ II, fl ring their services, and expressing their readiness
B. to as., me obligations to enter Instantly upon the work,
furnishing their own capital, and accepting the bonds
.f tie S.a.c fer payment. The manufacturing estab.
littnents that are to supply the new class Of imple'
/; nents that will bc rtqu,r'd to construct the r'ads, art
being put under way, and %emigrants are icing drawn
hither hy the important revolution 5000 to be wrought
open the affairs If this young but great State within a
few years. .rrfs
We do not refer to many Of the rumors set aHoat,
showing still greater progress than We have alluded to
as we make allowance for the sanpuine nature OF men
I'VE have confined our statementssto facts for which
we have The names and dates. Of this, however, al
will 81 on be aware, as the work goes bravely en-. W.
have con6dent hopes that in ita beneficial tendency the
most exubt rant fancy has not exceeded the results thu
immediate commencement Of our railroads will have OF
the growth and greatness Of our beloved State.