The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04

In the Congressional Globe we find the
following remarks Of Senator RICE on the
Pacific Railroad Bill. They were made in
opposition to motion striking out the
branch to Sioux City, Iowa, the terminus
of one of cur Land Grant Roads. The mo.
ton to strike out was lost. Mr.. RICE said:
1t appears to me that the honorable
Senator from Maine, and some other Sena-
tors, have not examined the geography of
the Northwest sufficiently to enable them to
speak Understandings of the railroad CON-
nections. Chicago is held up as the great
city of the Northwest. 1t is great city,
and destined to be much larger one but
they do not seem to be aware of the fact
that the head of Lake Superior is as near
New York as Chicago is. They do not
seem to be aware of the fact that we have a
grant of land for road from the head of
Lake Superior to within few miles of
Sioux City, and that if the branch is res
tanned to Sioux City our roads will be built.
They do not seem to be aware that every
road running from the East to the West
has q direct communication with Sioux
City. Every road in Iowa has they
have four, l believe, running through the
State to the West, and they have another,
running from Des Moines City up the Des
Moines river to within very short dis
lance of Sioux City, which binds them all
together. They have from Chicago, and
from Milwaukee, and from all these points,
direct communication with the Prairie du
Chen and the La Crosse road, so that it is
immaterial to the Eastern roads whether
they 60 by La Crosse or Prairie du Chen,
Burlington, or any point below, there will
be very few miles difference in distance.
Gentlemen seem to forget that in that Lake
Superior region there are interests so large
that it would be almost Incredible to name
them. This year alone they will take out
five hundred thousand tons of iron, and a
great many millions of dollars worth of
copper, and it is a sealed book, almost. for
do not seem to appreciate its value and
to give to the commerce of the lake a
western outlet. The lake today is covered
with vessels they cannot get enough to
take the minerals out and it is near to the
point where it is proposed to start this
main road as Chicago is, and I cannot for
one vote for the bill il this branch is stricken
out.
As to the roads below those branches l
have nothing to say /; but do think that
one branch to the mouth of Kansas river
and another to Sioux City would be suffi-
cient. l think that < ansas and Missouri
those that are most infested, have occupied
too much time in the discussion of this
measure by endeavoring to get in little lo-
cal measures upon it.. The discussion the
other day, which occupied so much Of the
time of the Senate, arose upon question
in which believe it was stated there was
only difference of mile and half as to
the length of the road to be built.
The Senator will recollect that a short
time ago, when resolution was agreed upon
by the Committee on Public Lands in regard
to the route of railroad in Minnesota, it
was stated to be for the purpose of changing
the direction of one of our roads to make
this connection. We ask for no money upon
it. With the lands we will build the road
from Lake Superior to Sioux City, or the
Iowa line, provided we know we shall get an
outlet still further west, a connection with
the great Pacific road. Of course it would
not become me to speak in regard to the
branch from Omaha City. The Senators
from Iowa know more about it. l should
be glad if they would consent to have that
stricken out, aud make this national meas
ure, confined strictly to national purposes.
Any person who would say that road from
the head of Lake Superior was not neces
sary, might IS we'll say that one from Chi
cag0 was not necessary.