The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-07


s.
The Railroad Policy aud External RE-
istisns ~f Minnesota.
On Thursday night the City Council con-
vened st their chamber TO hear The report Of
J. w. TAYLOR. Esq., prepared at tho re-
quest Of the Council under their resolution
Of Doceinber 9th 1858, upon the railroad
policy and development Of Minnesota. Tho
resolution referred 10 embraced = much
wider range Of topics than those reserved for
The report, but most Of these, as Mr.. TAYLoR
explained In some remarks preliminary to
che reading Of Lila report, had been antici-
psied In tho progress Of the discussion which
had occupied public attention during the
winter mouths An immense map prepared
under the direction OF Mr.. TAYLOR, to illus
trate the subjects embraced In tho original
revolution, hung upon the wall behind the
speaker, and represented the zone Of the
Northern Hemisphere between latitude 30
deg. and 60 deg. with MAuRrs isothermal
limos traced thereon, and the greA, railroad,
telegraphic and mail routes which comm.
nicste from tho East with the rivers and
railroads Of Minnesota. The map was de-
signed 70 present pictorially the great fact
that the power and wealth aud development,
OF the globe lay north Of the Southern boun-
dairy Of Minnesota.
Minnesota was conspicuous upon the map
~ central, not only TO this Zone Of iudustri
al development. and central TO the continent
OF North America, but central moreover
70 all tho conditions Of future growth on tho
continent. MAuRYs band between 30 and
SO degroes Of mean annual temperature,
which, in It's winding way over the world,
comedies with the max imum Of intelligence
and Of morals Of mental and physical pow.
crs. embraces Minnesota. aud dellect-
ing northwestward. points to the great
streams and plains adjacent 10 her northern
border as the great theatre Of coming events.
The speaker traced upon the map the great
Railroad lines which connect Minnesota
with the east, and their combinations on the
European continent In the same belt, term.
mating ut Moscow. lie then pointed out
the lines drawn upon the map which indica.
ted the great concurrent postal and tale
graphic girdles Of the globe, The proposed
Russian enterprise Of Geographic councc-
ton Of the American and Asia,ic coasts by
the way Of tho Alcutian chain OF Islands
vas strikingly portrayed.
The special topic Of the report Rad by
Mr.. TAYLOR. was the Internal Railroad
Policy and Railroad prospects OF Minnesota.
lie reviewed the entire history of the Land
Grant, and Of the Railroad system based
thereon, and Of the policy OF the State in re-
lation thereto. lie discussed ut length tho
grounds upon which the loan Of five millions
Of State Bonds was made to the various
railroad companies, showing that in con
alteration Of the aid thus given by the loan
OF ito credit. tho State had affixed conditions
no Imperative, upon the companies accepting
assistance, IN 10 compel the most economical
expenditures. and to enforce completion 10
tho working and paying pont--as a
vital measure OF ~li preservation u
the companies themselves. lndepend-
entity 81 the terms cxaeted by the
State Executive. ho showed conclusivcly
that oil the interests Of the companies lay
in the direction OF prompt and faithful
completion Of these roads 10 the paying
point. His discussion OF the securities Of
the State, and Of tho mode by which they
may be- made available 10 cxonera,e the
treasury, in case Of defaal, by any company,
and especially OF the manner in which the
two hundred and forty sections decided to
the State by each company can be made 50
vailable-was mastery analysis of the
loan measure, and triumphant vindica,iou
Of the policy OF the State in tina, measure.
On every side the companies arc hcdged
about by Gordon Of conditions and ohligr
tons. and contingent iorei,urcs and penal.
t'@-which leave them no possible aveouc
Of escape exccp, in faithful execution OF
their trust. This also was shown 10 be- the
direction Of their own interests ndcpcnd.
entity OF legislative cheeks As the dcca.
men, Is to lie Published by the City Council
We will not at,emP, from recollection any
report ol the line Of argument pur@ed-till
We can have the advantage Of doing so with