Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-09

of the United States it must be completed
within the next two years. They hope to CON-
plete considerable portion of it within the
next year. They hope to begin at both ends
of this route, both on the navigable waters
of the Mississippi at st. Croix going north,
and also on the navigable waters of Lake SUI
perior at Superior
am informed by a gentleman connected
with this road that the men who are interest
ed in it are about to build rolling mills at the
city of Superior, in the State of Wisconsin.
to make the iron. Their arrangements are
made. Men of interest from PENNSYLVANIA,
from New Jersey, and from New York, are
going into this to build rolling mills at Su-
perior that will produce fifty tons of iron per
day, from the mines which exist within fifteen
miles OF Superior, some of the best iron
mines IN the world. The route which they
have located goes through the iron mines of
Wisconsin in Douglas county. 1t is also in
the neighborhood of the copper mines in
Wisconsin. A question was raised here the
other day on the subject of those copper
mines. / had not looked into that matter
very much. but happening to see my old law
partner from the State of Wisconsin, learn
ed some facts from him on the subject. he
told me that about fifteen miles south of SUI
perior copper mine had been discovered, in
which he himself had an interest, from which
the per centage produced is as great as in any
OF the mines in the upper peninsula of Michi-
gan
Now, Mr.. President, one word in cOnclu-
sion. About two years remain in which il is
to be determined whether this Wisconsin
grant shall be perfected by the building of
the road. Will not the Senate give them
those two years? If they fail to complete
their road, let their grant be taken from them
and let the grant 90 on the other side of the
river but so long as it is seen that in good
faith they are attempting to build it, l ask is
it wise, is it Just, is il rational is it for the
interest of Wisconsin or the special interest
of Minnesota that you shall build or attempt
to build up another and rival line, which,
commencing at point fifteen miles distant
from the other, will terminate at the same
place on the lake? Would it be wise in any
landhOlder thus to give away his lands p
What is the ground upon which the United
States makes these grants 1t is upon the
ground that the United States is great land
holder, and that by giving away alternate
sections of its lands it can increase the value
of the remainder for sale in the market
This is the main ground upon which these
grants are made. / ask, would il be reasona-
BILE, or wise, or practicable fer any landhold-
er, in order to improve the remainder of his
land, to give alternate sections of land upon
two railroad lines one hundred and fifty miles
in length, where the termini at one end were
fifteen apart and at the other came together,
when by giving to both and making them ri
walls perhaps neither would be built whereas
if he gave upon one only it would secure the
building of the road?
do not think any consideration of Ma
tiOnal character, do not think any consider
atiOns of the real interests of Minnesota or
of Wisconsin demands this additional grant.
When we have grant to build a road from
st. Paul to the head waters of Lake Superior
it is no harm to Minnesota if the people of
ST. Paul and the people of Hudson shall ride
in the same cars and go over the same road,
when the distance is no greater, and all the
estimates are that it can be built much
cheaper"
The debate was continued at great length.
Hendricks, of Indiana, formerly a commits
sioner in the land Office and familiar with the
land grant business, said he favored the bill
with great deal of hesitation, and did it
only because he thought Wisconsin would fail
to comply with the terms of the grant made
to her.
The Senators from Iowa and Minnesota with
johnson, of Maryland, also warmly opposed
the reference of the bill
The Senate, by vote of 80 to s refused to
recommit the bill, when Senator Doolittle
moved TO postpone the bill until the Thursday
following, which after debate was agreed to
by vote of % to 9.
Whatever may be the final fate of the
measure, the Senators from Wisconsin have
ably and zealously indicated the rights and
interests of their State.