The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-01-31
therefore, another table, an official report Of

WIuueSOsa, O,VIS A6S,AHo
Missouri, 5S2, ,O44 1,182,012
Kansas, O00,O 1O7 ,2O6
TOTAL, $500, ,595 9,063, ,16S
We repeat, then, that the completion of
the Pacific Railroad is necessity and as
it will pass through the heart of Kansas, it
will open up section of country to the
settler, which for fertility of soil and gen.
iality of climate, is surpassed by no State
in the Union.
STATE RAILROAD SYSTEM.
To improve the immense advantages
which Kansas will reap from this gigantic
national work-the Pacific Railroad-you
must inaugural. State railroad system.
Your first duty, then, will be to locate the
branches authorized by Congress, through
the State, according to law. Your second
duty will be, to look to the establishment
of general State system of railroads. A
rightly combined action on your part would
secure to the State every benefit possible
for a State to enjoy. To this end you will
be called upon to exercise the highest wis
dom and the largest experience; for you
will be legislating, not for the present, but
for the future. Look well to your action /;
see that no local rivalries or p,ejudices en-
danger these great interests. 1t should be
your earnest desire to overlook DO portion
Of the State, and let tho development of
every part of it be the result Of your legisla-
ton. You will soon have public lands at
your disposal; there will be valuable treat
les to be made with the different Indian
tribes. Whatever is to be done, the lands
thus secured should be employs with special
reference to the promotion of general rail-
road system which will develop the resour.
ces of the State, and do equal and exact
justice to all portions of the State.
l cannot close my remarks on the subject
Of railroads without paying tribute Of
respect in behalf of the State, to the Di-
rectory of the Leavenworth, Pawnee and
Western Railroad Company. Their energy
did much toward directing the great nation
al highway through our State.
EXTENDING THE PUBLIC SURVEYS.
In this connection I call your attention
to the importance of completing the public
surveys of this State, at an early day. The
construction of the Pacific Railroad, and
the knowledge that emigration always pre-
cedes enterprises of this character, demands
it. As it is, the settler cannot determine
the even section, nor the railroad the odd
one in accordance with the Act of Con.
gress; besides, no State railroad system can
be perfected without it. The emigration
which must follow the conclusion of peace,
will be immense. That emigration will
naturally seek homes along the pathway of
this great National thoroughfare. You
must prepare to receive it, as settlers will
not locate upon unsurveyed lands. Beyond
this the educational interest of the State
requires it. Our School lands should be
located, so that the selections can be made
before the best lands are taken up. This
cannot be done until the surveys are COM
pleted. Kansas is a State, has assumed the
grave and responsible duties of State
Government, and has the right to have her
lands surveyed. All Instructions in the
way of settlement and improvement should
be removed speedily, that these lands may
be made useful to the State, and become a
source of revenue both to the State and the
Government. l afix the following table,
which will give you important information
upon this subject:
The number of townships surveyed in
this State up to Dec. 30th, 1862,
excluding Indian lands, are 625
Townships surveyed, including all In
dian lands, are 765
Total number of town'ps in this State 2273
Total number of town ps unsurveyed 1903
Thus you will perceive that only one
third of the lands are surveyed. Of these
lands, as have stated to you before, the
Indians hold, but do not occupy or improve,
| fraction less than ten million acres.-
Neither justice nor right can uphold poll.
cy which inAicss such wrong upon the State
and which in reality does great injustice to
the Federal Government.
FOREIGN INSURANCE.
The insurance for the people of this
State is now wholly effected and controlled
BY parties outside of the State. This bust
ness is large and rapidly increasing. These
companies pay no tax whatever for this
privilege, the profits Of which are sent
away, without any profit to the State.
They should pay for the protection Of the
business they enjoy. They should bear
their portion of the common burdens Of the
State. Nor can you mistake your duty
here. It is by distributing taxation upon
all business equally that you can lessen or
relieve the burdens of the people.
STATE CAPITOL.
Virtually, we have received nothing from
Congress for the building Of State Capitol.
We are an exception. Every State West
has been provided for literally. II is true,