The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-25

S~'cin ecimini, dDu graue, III advance OF
the rails, only as fast a. economy and good
management require--that just as soon as
good bargain can be made for rails and To-
comotlves land if the iron is paid for by the
Companies own means and credit, without
State aid, all the better, the roads will be
put in operation and so on North and
West, according to the routes, using the
track already laid in the construction OF
further portions Of roads-let this be done
instead of the suicidal policy which evil i'm
aglnations impute to the Companies, and
who doubts that the State bonds will be
eagerly sought for by capitalists? We're
peat that thus is the onty uay to make them
ardadbte' And if so, to suppose that the
Companies will not take such course, is
to insult the intelligence of the citizens OF
Minnesota.
G. Too soon Too soon Still, occasion
ally, we hear the cry of the sluggard Let
US wait you wake me too soon, | must
slumber again" What will convince these
very worthy, conservative gentlemen, that
by the law of railroad progress, as elsewhere
developed, We are entitled to railroads-that
they will be profitable when any twenty-five
miles, resting on our navigable rivers, are
completed? Suppose We repeat statistics,
already too familiar perhaps, from the Amer-
'eaa Railroad Journal Of Jan. 80. Ia the
ten years from ls49 to 1858, 20,636%
miles of railroad have been built in the IN
tied States, an average Of over 1000 miles
per year. We haze nor mile Of roiironi
10 every thousand inhabitants, making 1870 10
200 mtles the share of Minnesota. The Gin
cinnati Railroad Record of March 4, judging
from the past, estimates that during the
next thirteen years, there will be constructed
in Iowa and Minnesota, 1000 mies.of rail-
roads. Our share cannot be less than one
half or 2O0O miles by the year 1870. If
with the aid OF the State credit, we can keep
of the only danger Of railroad oligarchy--
retain the control of our system in the hands
of our leading citizens-escape from the ne
cessity Of tribute or sacrifice to railroad
parties of adjacent States-establish fnan-
cial relations directly with Europe and the
East-haye our home. contracts for construc-
tion-baild cheaply and operate economi
cally, &c, &c.-the foregoing estimate will
not be found extravagant. And all this will
be the result of slight government aid, rem
dered at most important stage-at point
infinitely more critical than ever hereafter
in the progress of our system Of internal I'M
provements.
!. There is one point, which is still the
subject of discussion among minded men.
This is the manner in which the lands may
be sold by the companies. Section 4, of the
land grant act of Congress enacts that a
quantity OF land not exceeding one hundred
and twenty sections for each of said roads
and branches, and included within contin.
uous length of twenty miles OF each of said
roads or branches, may be sold" This is
the first clause of the section-complete in
itself, unconditional, without a syllable re.
quiring the construction of any portion Of
the road. 1t is clearly the intention of Con.
gress, that $500 acres of land 12O sec
tions) should be available for contingencies
in advance OF construction. and such is the
provision Of the Legislative act, comforting
these grants upon companies. by section is
Of that act, it is provided that whenever
twenty or more continuous miles of road
shall have been located, the Governor shall
certify the same to the Secretary Of the In
terror. and thereupon the title to one hun
dred and twenty sections Of said lands shall
vest in the said company" &c. Ia Wiscon-
sin, the Legislature required twenty miles of
construction, instead OF location but al.
lowed the companies, when said twenty miles
was completed, to sell two hundred and
forty sections Of land-thus recognizing
the law OF Congress TO provide a. the
Legislature of Minnesota directed. But
how. II may be asked, may the compa-
MES sell the lands hereafter, after the con-
struction has commenced? Section Of
the act OF Congress, as already quoted. tests
the right to sell 800 sections,
and then proceeds as follows a." and when
the Governor of said Territory or future
State shall certify to the Secretary of the
Interior that any twenty continuous miles of
any Of said roads or branches is completed
then another quantity Of land hereby grant
ed. not to exceed one hundred AMI twenty
sections for each Of said roads and branches.
having twenty continuous miles completed