Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1868-02-14

The following message was cent 70 The
Legislature on the 25th ult.
ExECUrivs OTvIcs, Jan. ~, 1868.
Gentlemen Of tie Senate and Hosse Of Rep
resent0sirss:
There are few subjects of especial inter
est to which desire to call your attention,
and which wish to make the basis Ct some
recommendations for legislative action.
The successful settlement of the claims Of
our State against the general Govesnmeni
hes placed her finances il . most sstisfac>
tory condition. Col. Dewey, BY whose faith.
ful services 20 large sum has besn placed
in our treasury, ought 70 receive the thanks
Of the Assembly and . compensation more
nearly Commensurate TO the valuable results
he has been insssumentsl in e6eceine. The
good fortune which has attended his connec.
tion with this matter. plainly indicates The
advisability Of empowering him 70 conplete
ito FINAL settlement. would therefore rec.
ommsnd that he be authorised 70 prosecute
the work 70 it. conclusion, and moreover,
that be be allowed certain per cent upon
claims 70 be recovered, in addition 10 The
compensation be nov receives.
nAlL1oADs.
The development Of our agricultural and
mineral resources l. largely affected BY the
completeness and extent ofour facilities fcr
transportation. This fact renders II impsra.
tive that the State pursue liberal aud even
generous pslicy 10 dealing with this class Of
corporations.
The Dubuque 1 Sioux City Railway Com.
H. vsu fes1o1 40 nnvv, vlv 18th enn >snAr
tial conditions upon which their grant was
bestowed, would unite with my predeces-
sor in recommending its resumption BY the
State. Whatevsr company shall b invest>
I'd with this valuable grant, feel bound 70
urge thss the condition Of time be made es>
peeislly prominent 20 that the fertile region
which has 90 long awaited the completion Of
this line, may be placed in early eommuni.
cation with the great markets Of the interior
and the East.
The act Of Congress approved May 18th.
1864, conferred upon the State . grant Of
land "to Aid in the construction Of railway
from point at or near the foot Of Main
street, in South McGreeor, in said State, IN
westerly direction, BY the most practicable
route on or near the 430 parallel Of north
latitude This grant of land wss cosferred
upon . corporation known ~ The McGregos
Western Railway Company, but no patents
have been issued to them BY the Secretary
Of the Interior, on the ground that the cen.
ditions Of the grant had not been complied
with By the company. This action vas -.
ken only after . careful examination OF the
subject BY competent officer Of the depart
meut Disclaiming any other feeling than
IN earnest desire for the promotion Of the
interests of that section affected by the non.
ful6llment Of those terms, and incidentally
Of the State, cannot perceive how tho &C.
ton Of the secretary could have been other
wise in the premises. The line Of road now
constructed DOES not start from the desiena.
ted point and does not run in the direction
proposed BY Congress-. While road from
McGfegor to ST. Psul 10 . most commenda>
bic enterprise, and merits, - it receives, the
gratitude Of Northern Iowa, sense of geo.
graphical propriesy forbids us to barber The
idea that such road comedies With the 43e
parallel or secures the object intended in the
land grant.
The company. then, which was the bens-
fcisry Of the grant, having failed 70 execuss
in good faith the trust reposed in them,
uoem u tno eoriy uuty oI Suc 0SoSo W beSUme
il and hold il for the benefit Of some eorpor>
alton which will undertake and prosecute
the work in accordance With the lettsr Of he
lsv. to it, early and final completion.
Whatsver may BE- the authority Of The
Stao over railroad corporations already
formed, and land grants already csdsd, il i
plain that in the disposition ofthoss which may
hereafter revert 10 the State, regulations nay
be imposed for the pro. sction Of the iussrssis
Of the people against the impositions Of mo.
nopolies. Fully conscious of the danger Of
estAblishing any restrictions tending % dis.
courage these valuable enterprise, am
nsverShsless persuaded 70 recommend the
insertion in every future giant Of : clause
prohibiting discrimination in the arrange.
ment Of freight tariffs aud fares in this STATE.
While the people demand railroads, they 81,
90 demand just aud equitable rates Of trans
portation. Reason would seem 70 indicate
that the expense Of transportation should be
pro rata. With some modification Of thia
rule in the case Of short distances, il could
work no injustice for il would simply sub
ject railroad companies to the same lave o.
compensation which prevail in oil other ~
enucs Of labor.