Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-14

miles of railway projected, admirably adjust
ed TO accommodate every part of the State
with only four hundred miles constructed.
Had We the means tn complete the entire
system, it would cause . wonderful trans.
formation to take place in the settlement Of
our prairies, in the development Of our coal
mines and other mineral, in stimulating the
productions Of the soil, a. well As the yari.
Gus branches Of operative industry.
But great and obvious rs are these I'D.
vantages, there are just grounds for appre
bending they will be for some time postpon
ed to US. They cannot be built withou,
large amounts Of money. Capitalists arc
disinclined to invest in this direction any
longer; it is claimed by many that the State
ought not to give its aid county subscrip
tions are now adj1dged unlawful, aud al
though this description Of Improvements arr
peculiarly adapted to the wants and the in
terests Of the masses, they never yet have
been prevailed upon to do much for enter
prises Of this kind. In this attitude Of af
fairs, the question may we'll be propounded
how are our railroad schemes to be carried
forward? The few enterprising men in the
State who are engaged in this ork unaided
cannot accomplish the task. A suspension
would be disastrous to the best interest o
the State. Already, it is known that largt
numbers Of emigrants have located in ad
joining States because of their superior ad
vantages over us in railways. This subject
Is OF no ordinary import, and is mentioned
not because have any specific recommend
alton to make, but for the purpose Of asking
your serious and earnest attention to our
real condition in this respect, to the end
that you may, in your combined wisdom
devise some method by which this work
may be progressed, that the people of this
State may have, under a system of compile
ted railways, all the benefits and advanta.
ges enjoyed by the citizens Of other States
In regard to the four roads receiving land
grants from the general government through
the State, as the trustee, it will be remem-
bered that the State in the execution Of
this trust, imposed among others the follow
ing condition: "That in case either of said
Railroad Companies shall fail to complete
and equip seventy five miles Of its road with.
in three years from the LIST day of Decem
Der, 1856, then, and in that case it shall be
competent for the State of Iowa to resume
all rights conferred upon the Company SC
failing, and to resume all rights to the land
thereby granted, and remaining undisposed
Of by the Company 50 failing to have tht
length Of road completed in manner and time
as aforesaid"
If, after a full and careful investigation
and making all due allowances for the strin.
gency of tue times, it shall appear that any
of these Companies have failed to comply
with the requirements of the law and til.
just expectations OF the people, and are now
unable, either through Encouragement Oh
other cause, to 60 forward with the great
work committed to their charge, then it will
become your duty to make sucn disposition
Of the lands granted to such dellnquen,
Company or Companies, as shall secure to
the State the benefit Of the grant and give
to the people along the contemplated line.
all the advantages Of o direct eastern Quite,
that they would have possessed if such de-
fault had not been made. cannot dismiss
this subject without advising the passage o.
an act that shall require a una ority Of the
Board OF Directors OF all corporations organ
lied under and in virtue of the provisions o
our laws, to reside and keep their office o.
business within the State.
CAPITAL BUILDING.
This structure was erected at the expense
OF the School Fund, borrowed by six gentle
men of Desmoines City, for that purpose
for the repayment OF which with ten pei
cent interest, they gave mortgages on theil
individual property.
The amount of money thus obtained from
the Superintendent of Public Instruction
with ten per cent interest up to this date
mot paid) is So, 100. The building cost
including the lots and interest, up to thi.
date, S53,733.6l. The divided public sen
timent in regard to the particular site i,
should occupy, precluded the possibility o
building it at the common expense of the
town or county. These men are quite una
bic to supply the State with SO large ant
costly building for nothing. The State
ought not to consent to become pensionel
upon their bounty. 1t cannot do SO with
out compromising its magnanimity. She
ought to own this building-it is convenient
substantially built, and worth the money i,
cost. The State has been in the occupancy
Of the building over two years-made i'm
portant changes and improvements upon the
ame-inconslstent, perhaps with the lega
rights OF the proprietors-and it will now
answer the purposes Of a State House FOL
Years. In view of these facts, it is gravely
suggested whether the interest and hono
OF the State would not be quite as well sub
served, by directing the mortgages agains,
these men to be cancelled, assume the liza
biities to the School Fund, and pay to then
the difference between this fund and the
cost Of the building.
JANIS d. EAps, LATE SUPERINTENDENT ETC.
Under your icgis alton Was instructed to appoin
a Commissioner 10 settle with the sureties Of THU
defanting officer, upon the basic therein specified
Robert A. Russell, Esq, competent person, was
assigned to this duty, but failed, after several at
tempts to negotiate such settlement upon any term
Whatever, whereupon l directed suit 10 be institu
ted against the said E4ds and hi. for some
s7l sso9I, beng the amount Of his supposed defAl
cation Although the cause was expected TO hav,
been tried last month"; the result has not yet trans
pired.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Since your last session. this work has not progress
ed as rapidly as could have been desired. The yea
le5o was mostly employed in pre- pairing and publish
ing the result Of the survey in the portion
the State, which made large volume, in two parts
and has drawn from the scientific world the mos
sa.i-fac,ory testimonials OF its merits Charged Al
1 was, wi h the distribution Of some two thr-.
hundred copies of this worA in foreign lands, wa
able, througn the agency Of she Smithsonian lnsti
tuition and the assistance OF Professors Hall ant
Agassz, to make such a distribution as will, in IN,
opinion tell largely for the interest Of the Stale
st OF the natlone, societies, institutions ant
scientific journals, &C, TO which copies were sent
Will be found IN q commu ncation from the Stat,
GeolQgis, to the Executive, herewith submitted To-
your inspection, and from which you will alec learr
other details In respect to the present condition. al
well AS important suggestions bearing upon the fu
iure of this enterprise.
AT the time of the last appropriation the STATE
was more largely in arrcar with the expenses Of tn,
survey than was ant!ciPated; the payment Of which
absorbed 90 much Of the appropriation, that Their,
was not sufiiciency left 10 form an effective or
ganZation for working out the Geology Of the we {
crn part OF the State, and hence in part the ttl,
progress made the last two years
IL IL due. however, to Professor Hall, to say tha
he has had two assistants in the field, working
the details Of some portion OF the State before ex
plored, and which will make part Of the material
Of the -econd volume.