Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-11-11

Tn. state Lo." a~e'tis@.
The tone Of our exchanges indicates
that the question Of extending State aid
to our railroads is beginning to attract .
large share Of public attention. No State
has manifested mere extreme caution in
segard to State indebtedness than ours.
The doctrine that "public debt is pub.
lie blessing" has found no advocates
among the leading men Of Iowa, hence we
find in all the constitutions that have been
submitted to the approval Of the people,
the mourning Of State debt beyond q
limited sum, is power that can be exer-
cised only by the direct action Of popu.
lar vote. The propriety Of this safeguard
need not be questioned, after having been
% frequently stamped with the seal of
public approval. That period might ar
rive when the exercise Of this power would
be matter Of the highest importance TO
our interests, has been foreseen; and to
the end that it might be discharged with
due delibera,ion, and after the fullest dis.
cussion, il has been placed in the hands
of the highest tribunal known to q Repub.
lican government the people with pro-
vision that ample time should be given to
present, through the medium Of the pub.
lie press, the advantages aud dangers of
the proposed measure.
Never in the history Of our Stste has
there been . time when the energies of
our populace were so completely psral-
yzed - At the present. The financial cri-
sis, 50 wide spread in it, influence, has
fallen with crushing weight upon Us. No
class Of people or branch Of industry has
escaped. The merchant is unable to real
ize upon his goods, or the farmer upon his
produce. Improvements are suspended
for the want Of means, hence the mechanic
and laborer are unable to obtain employ.
msnt. Congress- has made our State .
muniGcent grant Of land to aid in the con
struction Of railroads, the completion Of
which would develop our resources, con-
vert our unoccupied prairies into fruitful
fields. 6ll our sparsely settled counties
with industrious farmers. enhance the val
ue Of our property to an extent that would
equal the entire cost Of constructing the
roads, and place US in immediate commu-
nica,ion with the best markets in the
world and yet it is found impossible to
obtain the necessary funds to forward these
enterprises with any degree Of energy.
Grants have in like manner been made to
roads in Minnesota upon our north, and
Missouri upon our south, and in each Of
those States the most rapid progress is be-
ing made, promising the early completion
Of their roads, while there is home mar
ket created for all the produce of the farm
er, and employment given 10 oil who seek
labor, thus giving an immediate impetus
to every branch of business. The secret
Of al this is found in the simple fact that
each Of those States have loaned their
credit to the railroads, whereby they are
enabled, on the most advantageous terms,
to procure all the funds they may require.
The same result would follow like
course in our own State, and no portion
would realize more largely the benefits Of
this measure than western Iowa. Our
prosperity and advancement is dependent
almost entirely upon an increased emigra.
ton and additional facilities for reaching
eastern markets and communicating with
the older settled portions Of our country
1t is now conceded by all railroad men,
that the true policy in constructing the
roads extending across oar State, is to
prosecute the work from both termini at
the same time, as the expense of trans.
porting material for construction is there
BY vastly diminished; and it requires no
argument to demonstrate the immen se
importance to northwestern Iowa Of an
early and vigorous prosecution Of the work
upon the Dubuque L Pacific railroad from
Sioux City eastward, and this desirable
event can be attained by State aid to the
company in the form Of bonds. Withou.
such aid there is no hope, excep. 70 wal,
until the effect of the present panic shall
have ceased to influence the minds of those
from whom the capital must be obtained.
Ia regard to the details Of this important
movement, it Is needless to urge the ne
cessity Of the most extreme caution in
guarding the interests Of the State. That
the most ample, safe and reliable real es.
tate security for large amount can be
given, is unquestioned BY any one &C
quainted with the character Of the land
granted to the respective roads. Thisland
is known to be Of the most superior quail.
ity, and there is probably not doubt but
the completion Of the road from Dubuque
to this place will give the lands belonging
to this road value sufficient to defray the
entire expense Of construction.
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Sunday Evening Lectures.
On last Sunday evening, the Rev. Mr.
Hoyr Caya An intPoductorv. or thu 6rst of
series Of lectures, upon tho struggles