The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-02-27
THE BRIDGE BILL KILLED.

Soon after the meeting of the Legislature
Mr. Jones, of Salina, introduced bill which
had for its object the bridging Of the streams
Of the State by mortgages upon the internal
improvement lands of the State for FIVE years.
and distribution to the counties of such of
the mortgages as they might, respectively, by
vote Of their people, require; the counties
receiving the mortgages to pay the interest up
on them at seven per cent, and the State, at
the end Of the time, selling sufficient Of the
lands to pay off the mortgages-no one county
to receive exceeding $4,000. By the Act of
Congress under which these lands were donat-
ed to the State, they are to be employed for the
purposes of internal Improvement, and can
be used by the State for no other purpose what
ever. They amount to $4,000 acres They
were selected BY Commissioners appointed by the
Governor in 1861, and at cost of over 5000 to
the people. During the past two years we have
had them on hand, but they have been of no
benefit whatever. Their sale at this time BY the
State 10 not desirable, for the reason that they
would not bring in the market any thing like the
money which they would bring if held Eve years
and the Railroad should be built, which We have
good reason to believe will he in that time The
object of the bill introduced by Mr.. Jones was te
save the lands to the State until they had attain
ed to something like their true value, and at the
same time make them available to the people in
the erection of bridges, thereby facilitating inter
course, travel and commerce, along our fertile
valleys, enhancing the value of real estate of the
country, and saving the people grievons load
OF taxation. The bill was carefully drawn. and
with view to securing exact and even handed
justice to all portions ofthe State. Nocomplsints
were made that the lands were about to be used
Tor improper purposes, that the State did no,
need bridges, or that inequality or uufairness
would result In the distribution. Yet the bill
has been killed. and our streams are to 90 un.
orldsed' and our internal improvement lands
are to De lett on our hands. utterly worthless and
useless, and, as they cannot be sold, occupied OF
improved, curse to the State instead of HESS
ing, a. they were designed by the donor.
Why has the bill been killed? We confes,
that We dislike to give the reason. We dislike
to do il, because it is q confession that vilainy
did not die out in Kansas politics when Borde,
Rufianism expired. We dislike to do it, becau..
1t Will be confession that our own Republican
party has nursed into life brood Of scoundrel.
whose records make those of Buford and Titu.
respectable. The Bridge Bill vas killed becars<
Nj. Jones. Mr.. strickler. Mr.. Fuilington, and
Mr.. johnson, Mr.. Grover and Mr.. Brumbaugh
were opposed to the election of Thomas Car
ney to the United States Senate, and because i.
was believed by the Gubernatorial Legislative
conspirators that the West was unit in opposi
ton to the fraad. No other reason-none what.
ever. L. ttt
That tl,s desperate character Of the "forty
thieves who at present control the Legislature e