The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25
VOL. IX-NO. AZ.
The Five Million Loan Debate.

In our last Weekly issue we gave the
CONDENSED remarks Of Mr.. HoLLINsHEAD in
favor OF the $1,000 900 loan. We. this
week, give Messrs. TAYLoR's and BEMAN's
speeches IT the same meeting; and also, the
proceedings Of the opposition meeting held
last Thursday.
ing:
He had been an attentive listener to the
speeches against the extension Of State credit
for the purpose of fastening railroad construc-
ton In this State, aud was confident that only a
small portion OF the people ofMnnesota shared
the spirit of the prominent gentlemen, who
spoke on Friday night. They all agreed that it
was too soon 10 have railroads here--that i'm
provements, which everywhere else, have gone
hand in hand with settlement, are premature in
our midst. This proves too much. The rail
road interest in the United States IL closely al
lied to every interest Of community, new or
old, Advertise TO the world that Minnesota,
with her superiorties Of soil, climate and pop
ulation, is too feeble, too young. too undeyel.
oped, 10 undertake and carry on proftably u
railroad system. and you condemn Mmnesofa as
a theatre for any form Of entfyp7w.
Is this the entertainment TO which the emf.
grant is invited? Herein was great fallacy.
We have a right here in Minnesota, 10 as much
progress as any Western STATE, under similar
circumstances. Now, what was the experience
OF the country on this point of railroad pro-
grcss, as shown by statistics The population
Of the United States (adding the usual ratio OF
increase to the census Of ls50) Is now 81 ,300,-
900 the length Of railroad lines now in opera
ration is Is, ,966 miles which gives one mile of
road to 1904 inhabitants. II the population of
Minnesota Is therefore $50, 900, we should have
In operation, 10 day. l2j miles Of railroad. In
the Northern States the proportion is one mile
to 1921 inhabit lnts, emitting Minnesota to lt1
miles. Illinois has one mile 20 Gl5 inhabitants
-2ti to Minnesota; Wisconsin to 7ls, or I97
miles in Minnesota. IL is not presumption
therefore, to take measures which should Sc
cure TO Minnesota 200 miles of railroad, or four
routes Of so miles each, striking into the inte
nor of the State, with the incidental benefits
TO the people, from the distribution in all direc.
tons OF five millions OF dollars by their con.
struction.
But it might he asked, why are not the roads
in operation If we are entitled 10 them by the
above ratio, And, in reply, the opinion was
expressed, that a Territorial organization was
unfavorable TO the prosecution Of great erter.
pri.es requiring large investments OF capital
Ssdden fortunes may be made by the rise of
real estate, but capital, proyerbiaily timid,
waits for the organization of a State Govern.
ment, for the guarantees OF a Constitution for
the security Of Institutions resting on The found
the ptifnl dole from the Federal Treasury.
compared with the confidence which will be
inspired in all parts Of the world, when Mime
sofa, with her rich and fertile area, and her in
portant connections with the Lake and River
coasts of the Continent assumes her rank as =
Sovereign State From that moment, In the
eyes OF the world she ceases 10 be wilder
ness, . province, q dependency Of central
government, and becomes a sel!-eNis,ing body,
with an indefinite but ever expanding future
She has State credit, resting not on the last
census and the current tax list, but on the re.
sources OF the next and successive generations
a. well as Of the present And oil experience
has shown that it il right and far, as well as
practic able, for those who. twenty years
hence, shall succeed 10 an Empire here in
the Northwest, 10 bear their share OF our
pioneer struggles. Instances we're cited Of the
cooperation Of State credit IN relieving from a
financial revulsion, particularly the case Of
Gov. Marcys loan to the Banks Of New York.
in 1887 when confidence was al once restored,
and the loan itself va. not required.
Mr. L. could add nothing 10 IN comprehen
siye argument Of Mr.. Holliashead. as TO the re.
sources Of the railroad companies in Minnesota
and the ample nature Of the securities rendered
by the proposed Amendment. Indeed, the
measure under consideration could not he 9th
erwise than ten p0rary. II. whole design was
by the immediate co1struct!0n % two hundred
miles Of railroad 10 prevent a year, stagpat.On
over the gulf Of panic aud pros;ratiOI, which
may be the result, otherwise unas Oidable, Uf
last years crisis. As for the railroad enter.
prisea. LEI them be once placed. BY the sij q
the state, where We all were one year ago, and
the speedy completion Of our magnlfc eAt sy.-
tenn Of internal improvement would then 20
prosperousiy forward. WASH manly. he asked.
10 sneer and deBouEce the railroad companle,
for their share of a common mis;ortuneg
very different me'EOf 0! meeting recent en-
barrassrents bad been prevalent 10 the inter
course OF our people. We required mutual CO.
operation in these new communities. Govern.
meut and people, a. this jgneture, must ard
viii unite Tor Tie c5wmpn welfare and all at
teInpts TO deery our future progre-s-nuch
more 20 throw the feg.s o! territorial politics
into the arena oi tlls discussion. richly deserve
and will surely receive the condemnation u
every patriotic citizen.
IN addition 20 the statement already made
in regard TO Tennessee and Missouri. where the
proposed measures had been successfully
adopted. the i.seogrageraeuis 10 railroad con
strucuon II the -o1th, we're ALLUDED -. Mime
sofa, lnemelrrsssst with slavery might safely
do what soJth Caro,ina and Tennessee have
done The city o. Charleston, 3. well a. the
STATE. had loanei thespuhiic credit 10 rafoads
in one instance beyoai the limit. Of sJaih
Cnolins-vlih the test resg'.s. and had never
PAID dollar for ia.srest or principal la Ms
soGr. the hrs. loan o. o. 30, 90 os state bonds
20 the NOrth Miss0un Er.Tos1. Of0n Hannibal
20 -. JosephJ was made before aoy prelisli-
uaFy survey aud ye; The ffs ihl'ty mile. ai
th. ROAD vhea eoastTnciet, va, foaad I'm
msnseiy prDhtlble. The e-ee; uVoa emigFa-
tiOa va. no less remNSAU.e. Hno does not
remember how TeEnesses lAntsa isS years ago
were almost giysn away, bat COW TIE Comp
tFo.er reports that ihe Increase oi iAe taNsbe
bssis within oos, year was forty million. OF
. dollars. Ia Missogri, along The line q The Han
nibsl and -. Joseph ROAD, tbous3ads o. alre-
we're sold ga:er tie graduation Is~ s'a .al.
\ ling per acre but s.nce The advAace o. ftssnty.
four ml.lloas o. state erei, 70 railroads th0.e
8 !aA3s cAnEot Ce b0gsht a. tea dollar, per acre