North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-09-23

have never lived in Nebraska: / have
never set foot in that state /; but l say that
congress could never have contemplated
such grant as has been conceded to these
parties by somebody, do not know who.
see the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr.
Taffe), sitting near me. / do not know
how long he has lived in Nebraska, but l
presume he has lived there long cnou oh to
be somewhat familiar with the nature of
the country there. will ask him to state
to the house whether it is practicable to
build road from Sioux City on anything
like direct line to connect with the Paci-
fic railroad?
WHAT MR.. TArFE SAYS.
Mr.. TArFE-I have lived in Nebraska
for about twelve years, and have a gencr-
al acquaintance with the country through
which such road would have passed. l
have lived opposite Sioux City for about
seven years. OF course do not propose,
by mere assertion, to contradict profession
al statements Of fact made by engineers {;
but, from my general knowledge of the
country, l have no hesitancy in saying
that there is practicable route for rail-
road from Sioux City to Columbus, and
good route and this say in opposition
to any published report of any engineer
who Processes to have examined this route.
And let me state further the engineers
report, which have seen and read, and
which believe wa: made to a party who
has an interest in that road, states that
| the engineer has examined every ravine
and creek from Sioux City down to the
Omaha reservation and then it goes on
| to make some general statements about
the character of the country. Now, so far
as that is concerned, l will say that there
is not ravine, and only one creek, be-
tween Sioux City and the Omaha reserva-
ton. l state that from personal knowl-
| edge of the country, acquired by a seven
years residence there.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE, of Wis.-I state from
| information from several reliable gentle
men who have resided for years between
Sioux City and Columbus, Nebraska, that
the route for railroad between these
points is an excellent one, and entirely
practicable to the point Of intersection
with the main Pacific railroad at Column
bus or uny point east of it. l have no
doubt, it was for the interest of those
parties to build read down the valley of
the Missouri river, over dead level ground,
and obtain subsidy of sixteen thousand
dollars per mile, together with grant of
land, so as to enable them to intersect with
another road OF theirs rAnning west from
Cedar Rapids but, sir, it is a violation OF
law and a fraud upon the people of the
Uaited States. do not call attention to
this, with the expectation of remedyine
anything that has already been done. Our
land is gone and money spent, and there
is no help for it. The secretary of the
treasury issues to railroad company, one
million six hundred thousand dollars in
government bonds, in direct and positive
violation of the law. The secretary OF
the interior certifies to the same company
a vast body of land, equally without law,
and the people are, | fear, without remedy.
If they may issue one million six hundred
thousand dollars without law, why not one
hundred millions of dollars? | advert to
the matter now for the purpose Of urging
upon Congress, in the future, when dis
posing of the various railroad schemes
| for sachss'n great number and great power
are afoot and some are already before Con-
gress) to be more guarded. IL is safe to
say that one hundred and twenty-fv
millions of dollars, in additional bonds,
will not satisfy present demands. The
fact is, you can never satisfy those rail
road lobbyists. Their cry is still "give,"
'give." The more you give the more they
demand. Increase of appetite grows by
what it feeds upon.