The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-07-18


therefore, but not unmixed praise, Justly
belongs to the majority in Congress
WHAT CONGRESS HAS DONE TO BESEYIT
IOWA.
There have been several acts passed of
national Importance, which will have a
most beneficial effect upon the future
history and progiese of our State. Among
these, the hrst in order, and probably the
first in importance, Is the Homestead
Law. Its operation may not be very per-
ceptibly felt this year, or the next but
after this war shall have ended when the
Union shaft be restored as it ought to be
when the people shall return to the pur-
suits of peace. Then viii the greatness
of Iowa commence to fully devclope H.
self and foremost among the causes which
shall assist her on the rapid march Of ad-
yancement will be the Homestead Law
alaw more wide in It's scope, more liberal
in its provisions than any that has been
devised for the henefit of man since the
world began Not to kings aud potentates,
not to conquerors and warriors. red with the
blood Of peoples overcome, does this great
measure give homes. 1t brings its bless
ings to the poor and needy; aud, in the
true spirit of religious benevolence, gives
ito treasure without money and without
price. 1t is the best single embodiment
or christian civilization on our own or any
statute book Its value TO our State can
not be too highly estimated. The meas
ure, it is we'll known, originated in the
House, was carried thence to the Senate,
maturcd and reported BY Mr.. Harlan,
chairman Of the Committee ON Public
Lands, and thus passed.
Next is the Pacific Railroad Bill--a
measure to which the Cincinnati Conven-
ton in 1856 pledged itself, but failed ut
terly to mature, but in which, now and
hereafter, national unity and national
prosperity arc very greatly Interested
Your readers will see how much Iowa has
been benefited by the passage of this i'm
portan, bill, as it was finally agreed upon.
The House first passed this bill also.
Going to the Senate, it was referred to
the Special Committee on the subject o!
which Mr.. McDougal, Of California, was
the Chairman. McDougsl is quite a
"brick.' by the way, being generally,
hols ia canabat with certain species OIL
neuralgia, as he calls it, every day by
about 8 or o'clock. He is quite man
though, and has considerable influence
in the Senate. lie, of course, worked 70,
the road with all his might, and was more
intent upon serving the interests of ths
Pacific Slope than Of any other portion o.
the country whatever. When reported
to the Senate by this Committee, the bill
provided for the incorporation of com
pany to build the road from the zoe
meridian (the western boundary of Kan
sas, that is, to the eastern boundary o
California it authorized another com
pany, chartered by the Legislature O
California. to build the road onward troI
its western government terminus as above
to the navigable waters of the Sacramen
to river; it authorized another company
chartered by the Kansas legislature te
build main line and one branch through
that State, TO the eastern government
terminus, on the l02 meridian il au
! thorized Missouri Company to extend
the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad te
intersect the Kansas road; provided thai
any one of these companies, should thu
others fail, might build the whole line
and also that the new corporation stylec
f'The Union Pacific Railroad Company
, might build branch road from a poin,
on the western border of Iowa TO tn.
main trunk at the l02 d meridian, or tar
the Kansas road to the westward Of tina
point, and also another branch from Sioul
City, to extend from that point to thu
{ main line or branch, as in the ether case
one Of the branches to be completed with
in five years after a railway should reael
Sioux City, from Minnesota or Iowa
Such were the provisions of the bill re
ported, as to the routes--main trunk ant
! branches. 1t provided furthermore tina
the alternate sections of land to tn
amount Of five sections on each side o
the road should be donated to the com
: panies building the roads, and bonds t
c the amount Of sic, 900 per mile should b
issued by the government in favor OF tn
different branches and the main line, ex
9 cept that 1880 per mile were to be is
sued in favor of the Sioux City branch
: That part of the line on the Rocky nn
Nevada Mountains was to be aided b
. treble the amount of bond (S4S 900 pc
mile) and the part along the valley b
, double the general amount ($32 900 pc
mile.) Such wcro the main features 6
Z the bill as il came from the select Con
!. mittee. 1t provided admirably for Mis-
souri, and Kansas, and came very nca
leaving Iowa and Minnesota out in til
: cold. Mr.. Harlan, ever having kee
:, eye and quick ear to the interests {
= Iowa, at once moved to recommit the BIZ
IN thu rorrv,;%&ao - p,,hI:c TarA.