The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-25
Pacific Central R.,,ro.a.-co,. c.r,,..

tiyes, on the 8th inst. 1t will be seen from
1t, says the Montezuma Republican,, that
our able Representative, Col. s. r. CURTIS
is at his post, and that he is alive to the
interests of his constituents. The Col. is one
of the most useful and influential members
of the present Congress, and that he will
faithfully guard the interests of the people
of Iowa and of the great Northwest, we
have not the least doubt. 1t is we'll known
to our readers and to the people Of this
State, that he is in favor of the construction
of Pacific Railroad on the Platte valley
and Salt Lake Central Route, and that he
has been and is still straining every nerve
to secure the passage of law by Congress
to authorize the construction of Railroad
upon that line. On the 9th, he introduced
Il bill, which if passed, will undoubtedly
secure this much to be desired object. The
correspondent of the associated press of
New York in speaking of it says:
"Thc bill which was introduced by Mr..
Curtis of Iowa, in the House of Representa-
tivcs, yesterday, to secure the construction
of Central Pacific Railroad, provides for
branches from two points on the navigablc
waters of the Missouri River; one opposite
to Iowa, and the other opposite to Missouri,
the two branches to converge and unite
within 200 miles of the Missouri River, and
thence run to the navigable waters Of the
Sacramento.
"The usual appropriation OF the alter
nate sections " thin six miles is to be made,
and Governm enr is to appropriate to tho
contractors $l2.O 700 mile, to be reimburs-
ed to the Government in transportation of
mails am, military stores. Tho construc-
ton to be offered by the President to the
best bidder, as proposed by Senator OWNS
bill"
"This plan starts at the outer rim Of our
present railroad connections, and termina-
tcs on the navigable winters in the center Of
California population. 1t is claimed that it
would be equally convenient to the North and
South, and convenient for connections with
all our puciic Territories. 1t would follow
the emigrant route up the Pacific, through
Utah, and be sixteen or eighteen hundred
miles long,
Should Rail Road to the Pacific be con-
structed upon this line, there is no State in
the Union that will derive greater benefit
from it than Iowa.
PACIFIC CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Mr.. BlLLINGIIUKST. rise to priv
! LEGGED question, | move to reconsider the
vote by which the bill introduced yesterday
! bv the gentleman from Iowa Mr.. CURTISl
on the subject Of the Pacific railroad, was
referred 10 the select committee raised on
that subject at the last session. make
this motion for the purpose OF having action
taken on the subject. A committee consist
ing, | believe, of fifteen members, was ap-
/ pointed at last session of Congress. and
am informed that that committee held VAR
! iouS sessions, but camo to no conclusion,
and have reported no resolution and no ae-
! ton to the House. do not see that any
! thing has been gained at this session by re-
yiving that committee. The experience OF
the past does not recommend that commit
tee very strongly to the confidence Of the
/ House. If it be the purpose OF the House
to have action on the subject of the Pacific
railroad, think the bill should 90 to Il dIf-
t fercnt committee from that to which II has
been referred, and which | believe is so d.
yidcl in sentiment, or from some other
cause, that it will be unable to agree on any
measure to be reported to the House.
! believe we ought not to send the subject TO
that committee, but think that it 1t Is to 90
to a select committee that committee should
| be composed of another set OF men. In that
| view make this motion and ask the pre-
, vi0us question.
Mr.. CURTIS. AS a member Of that COM
mittee to which the honorable gentleman
! from Wisconsin Mr.. BILLlNGnURsrl has re-
! ferred, wish tc make n brief explanation
| presume there WAS no committee OF this
/ House tina. labored more nrduousiy, or, rs
believe. more intelIigently, for the purpose
of determining the issue presented to them
then did the select committee on the Pacitc
railroad. In my opinion, there is no sub
+ icct before the House of greater magnitude
, or Importance, and none that will require
more deliberation and more argument before
IA final determination can be arrived at. The
committee of course were embarrassed by
the magnitude and difficulties surrounding
the question. They were obliged to discuss
! the various routes and various modes pro-
! posed, to secure some practical result
/ There was almost unanimous concurrence
on the par, of the committee that something
| ought to be done by Congress toward the
! construction of Pacific railroad; but when
! we came to determine on the mode of acton
! and the route which should be adopted, We
IIh,,
vii, be when the question comes inlIy and
fairly before it. The i'm ,nortant results that
are likely to grow out Of sucS~ work. eA-
cite extraordinary sensibility in every sec
ton Of the Union.
do not know that any advantage will be
gained from 4 reconstruction of the commit
tee. Its members were well apportioDed
amongst the various sections of the Union,
representing, therefore, the various conflict
ing views. And DO not dispair of final
success on the part of the committee. If
the motion whit h made yesterday, submit
ting Pncihc railroad bill, revives the old
committee, am satisfied that the question
should be left to them for considerations
For my own part, am in favor of n Paci-
fc railroad on the Platte valley and Salt
| Lake central route, and | believe that ulti-
matcly there will be n compromise in favor
of that route, because it seems to me that
only such a route will accommodates the
people of all sections Of the Union, North
and South. believe chat the other mem
bers of the committee, who are in favor Of
different routes, will concur with me in the
opinion that we have not yet exhausted our
efforts with n view to the presentation Of n
report, and are willing to make further eff
forts to bring about practical results. l
think, therefore, that there is no object to
be obtained by reconsideration of the
vote taken yesterday; and trust the mo-
ton Of the honorable gentleman from Wis
consin will not prevail.
The question was taken on Mr.. BlEING-
HURsr's motion; and it was not agreed to
-ayes forty eight, noes not counted.
Hale Buchanan.
WAsHI>CToN, Dee. 6.
At the conclusion Of the Message, Mr.
Biglcr (Pa. moved that 20, 900 extra copies
of it be printed.
Mr.. Hale On. H. said if the President
had confined himself to an exposition of the
rn1n tho k,, Il Lo