The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-06-23

L a.
| Our network of railroads, measuring ovel
twenty eight thousand miles of lines, has
now reached the Missouri River, and only
eighteen hundred miles are needed to connect
us with the heart of the Caliafornia settle
ments and the navigable waters ofthe Pacific
world. A central route through our new
gold settlements, the Mormon settlements
and the Carson Valley settlements, which is
equally convenient to the North and the
South, is shown by the surveys to be The
nearest and best route. This view is also
support ID by the report of the Select Com
mittee OILS Of the last House of Rrprcsen.
tatives, who authorized me to report in favor
of the Bill which had prepared and presen
ted to Congress. The plan proposed is, tc
start two converging branches, one from the
frontier of Iowa, and one from the frontier
of Missouri, where railroads now terminate
These two branches, one from free and the
other from slave State, are to approach and
unite on the generally Travelled route, and
thence proceed by single trunk through the
mountains by the shortest and best way to
the navgable waters of the Sacrame nto.-
The aid of Government is to be given bv
issuing bonds, which the road IS to pay
back by mail, army, and other public trans
portations; and besides these bonds, alter
nate sections of land are to be given adjacent
to the road. Both the bonds and land aug
ment, as the work proceeds from each end
towards the centre Of the line, thereby en-
couraging the contractors to proceed towards
the most expensive and remote portion OF
the route. The plan is. simple, and fully
developed in my speech made near the close
oflast session, and published in the Globe of
4th March. 1t has conflicting local interests
to contend with, as all lines will have and
a few members of Congress opposing the
granting of any aid by Congress; yet the
route and plan evidently best accommodate
all sections, and must concentrate the largest
amount of public favor I do not suppose
the plan is perfect, or the very best that
could be proposed; but have given the
subject much study and reflection; have
availed myself of the numerous propositions
others presented; and with the aid of emil
nent railroad-men have incorporated and
improved the best of these suggestions. !
wish Iowa and Missouri would unite their
influence on this identical plan; not because
am associated with it. but because such
associated influence on determined plan
would give great influence and probable sue
cess to the road
/ ask the cooperation of the people of all
parties to pray the General Government to
efficient action in measure that will rebound
to the glory of the nation, and the happiness
and prosperity of the world.
THE SOLDIERS OF 1912.
A bill passed the House of Representatives
by a large majority granting a small pension
to the survivors, who participated in our
second war with Great Britain, which is
properly called our second war of indepen-
dence. 1t was consequence of the first
war, proving our determination and power
to vindicate and maintain the nationality
which the first struggle had acquired. The
soldiers received twenty cents day, which
was no compensation for their toll and expo
sure, and, tottering on the brink of the grave,
a pittance by way Of a grateful fulremembrancc
would cheer them on Their way in the fading
twilight of their declining days. Forty years
after the revolution, such pension was gran
ted to the survivors of that war; and now
forty-five years after the second war with
Great Britain, the survivors expect a similar
token of national regard, and bill for that
purpose received my hearty approval and
earnest support.
But it was insiduously and impertinently
assailed by the Executive branch Of the
Government. The Pension Office, without
any special call, issued circular Ga copy of
which is now circulated among members)
designed and calculated to check the prog
ress of the bill. 1t was admitted that the
records afforded no accurate means of de-
termining the number of troops called into
service; yet the circular, for the sake of a
show of figures takes up most erroneous
suppositions, aid deduces from these false
premises the frightful estimate of twenty
millions year. A similar bill for revolutions
ary pensions has operated for twenty OF
thirty years, and the whole amount drawn
from the Treasury during all that time, is
less than nineteen millions.
How absurd to suppose pension for the
Soldiers of the three years war of 1882 would
exceed the cost Of the revolutionary bill
And how much more absurd when it is pre-
tended that in one gear it would draw more
than the whole sum required to pay the rev.
olutionary pensions! The proposed bill
passed the House by large majority, but il
was smothered in another branch of the Leg.
islature where the Administration has more
power, and the people less, The expense of
the present Administration had shocked the
public sense, and show Of economy was
necessary to preserve the party. At the
same time every public avenue is crowded
u. n,As.