Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-01-20

which did not seem to be provided for in
the law, growing ont Of services rendered
in pr, euring the necessary equipments and
outfit, and the transporting and disbursing
of tho money, go /, DC. 3 Wv
These sums, duly authenticated. have been
placed in the hands Of our Representatives
in Congress, to the end that the State may
be reimbursed. 1t is understood that this
can only be done by getting through Con.
gress u special act for that purpose. ~
need not say that opened correspon.
denoe, both with the President of the United
States and the Secretary of War, upon the
subject Of our exposed frontier, explaining
to them the character Of our difficulties, and
respectfully solicited that protection which
the Federal Government is bound to extend
to the whole length Of our borders. l re-
ceived strong assurances from the President
that this should be done, and partial
promise from the Secretary that lie would
establish garrison ut some point between
Fort Ridgly and Fort Randall, that should
sufficiently guard and protect our frontier.
Whether this has been done or not, am
not advised.
The establishment, ut as early day as
practicable, of system OF railway locomo.
ton over the State, uniting county with
county, and one neighborhood with another,
and thus linking together not only the four
corners of the State with bands of iron, and
putting US in connection with all the States
east and south Of US, is matter OF so much
Importance that few men, of any section or
party, would wish to record themselves
againstit.
Their social and commercial advantages
have been tested by millions in this country
and in Europe, and they are forcing them
selves upon the recognition of every civil
lied nation. We have q system of nearly
900 miles of railway projected, admirably
adjusted to accommodate every part of the
State, with only 400 miles constructed.
Had we the means to complete the entire
system, it would cause wonderful trans
formation to take place in the settlement OF
our prairies, in the development Of coal
mines and mineral-in stimulating the pro
ductions of the soil-as we'll rs the various
branches of operative industry.
But great and obvious as are their advan-
tages, there are just grounds for apprcheud-
ing they will be for some time postponed to
US. They cannot be built without large
amounts Of money. Capitalists are disinclin.
ed to invest in this direction any longer-it
is claimed by many that the State ought not
to give its aid - county subscriptions are now
adiudged unlawful, and although this
description of improvements are peculiarly
adapted to the wants and the interests Of
the masses, they never yet have been pre-.
vailed upon to do much for enterprises Of
| T.. do Of oHasrc fhf
question may we'll be prepounded, how are
our railroad schemes to be carried forward!
The few enterprising men in the State who
are engaged in this work unaided. cannot &C
complsh the task. A suspension would be
disastrous to the best interests of the State
Already, it is known that large numbers OF
emigrants have located in adjoining States
because of their superior advantages ovel
us in railways. The subject is of no ordi'
nary import, and is mentioned not because
l have any specific recommendation tt
make, but for the purpose of asking YOU
serious and earnest attention to our real
condition in this respect, to the end that 20.
may, in your combined wisdom, deyise som'
method by which this work may be progress
ed, that the people of this State may have
under system of completed railways, al
the benefits and advantages enjoyed by thu
citizens of other States.
In regard to the four roads receiving lane
grants from the General GoverII. ent through
The State, as the trustee, o;u(ememberet
that the State in the executis- this trust
imposed among others the following con
dition sIhat in case either of said Railroad
Companies should fail to comEete and
equip seventy five miles of its reSA within
three years from the lst day Of DetsSnber
1856, then and in that case it shall beSSS,.n,
petent for the State of Iowa to resuNG5
rights conferred upon the Company s.ao11S H..
ing, and to resume all rights to tn "nt
thereby granted and remaining undisposet
of by the Company so failing to have tn
length of road completed in manner ant
time as aforesaid.''
If, after full and careful investigation
and making all due allowances for thu
stringency of the times, it shall appear tina
any of these Companies have failed to com
ply with the requirements of the law, an(
the just expectations of the people, and are
now unable, either through mismanagemen
or ether cause, to 90 forward with the grea
work committed to their charge, then it viii
become your duty to make such disposition
of the lands granted to such delinquent Com
pany or Companies, as shall secure to tn
State the benefit of the grant, and give t,
the people along the contemplated line al
the advantages Of direct eastern outlet
that they would have possessed if such de
fault had not been made. cannot dismiss
this subject without advising the passage 0
an act that shall require majority of tn
Board of Directors of all corporations or
ganizcd under, and in virtue of the provi
sion. of cur laws, to reside and keep thei
Office of business within the State.
| CAPITAL BUILDING.
This structure was erected at the expense of thu
School Fund borrowed by six geu>lemen of De-
Moines city, for that purpose for the repayment o
which with 10 per cent. interest, they gave mort
cages on their individual property
The amount of money thus obtained from tn
Superintendent of Public Instruction, with 10 pc
cent interest up to this date mot paidl $52, 100
The building cost, including the lots and interest
up to this date, ;53, 1884, 81. The divided publi
sentiment regard to the particular site 1t should
occupy, precuded the possibility OF building at tin
common expense of the town or county. Ihes
men are quite unable to supply the State with 81
large and costly building for nothing. The Stat
ought not t, consent to become pensioner upol
that bounty. |, cannot do without compromis
ing its magnanimity. She ought to own this build
ing-it is convenient substantially built, and wortl
the money it cost. The state has been In the Occu
pancy of the building over two years Il made i'm
portant changes and improvements upon the same
inconsistent, perhaps with the legal rights Of the
proprietors-and It will now answer the purpose o
State House for years. In view OF these facts, !
is gravely suggested whether the interests ant
honor of the State would not be quite as well serv
ed by directing the mortgages against these men tt
be cancelled assume the liabilities of the schoo
fnnd, and pay to them the difference between thl:
fund and the cost of the building
JAMES D. EADs, LATE SUPERINTENDENT, &c.
Under your legislation, l was instructed to ap
point Commissioner to settle with the sureties o
this defaulting officer upon the basis therein spec
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