The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-02-04
Denver. Pacific Railway.
REMARKS OF HON. W. LoUGHRIDGE,
OF IOWA,
In THE HOUSE of HktHEsENrATlvg gs,
January 25, 1863,

On the bill 6. No. 500 for land
granting the right ofway over the
public lands to the Denver Pacific
railway, and for other purposes.
Mr.. t,OUaHRIDGE. Mr.. Speaks
er, should really almost despair of
anything like economy IN the expen-
ditures Of the Government by this
Congress if thought there could De
any probability of the passage OF
this bill in the form its passage is
asked for by its friends upon the
floor. / regard this as as one Of the
most bare, bald, and inexcusable at
temps to deplete the Treasury for
private gain that have ever known;
and say this without any personal
feeling 10 the matter, and after hav-
ing carefully listened to the speeches
Il cannot say arguments-made BY
it's friends in its advocacy
Sir, what is the case made out p
Wehave sat here, the Representatives
of the people, and heard the claim of
this railroad coiipany tc this 1884,
900 Of additional subsidy, and now it
Is for US to say, representing the in
terests of the people and as the guar
dams of the Treasury, whether the
claimants have made out such case
as will justify US in adding that
amount to the already crushing na-
tional debt. Gentlemen of experience
and Of talent have advocated the
claim, and if there were any sound
claims or good reasons / have no
doubt they would have been brought
to our notice. But must say, with all
due Difference TO its advocates, that l
have heard no one good, sound, SEN
sible reason in support Of this subsi-
dy.
What is this case? The Govern
ment, with q great stretch Of liberali-
ty, in 1862 granted to this company
subsidy amounting to SIC, 900 mile,
and every alternate section of land
for ten miles on each side of the road,
to build their road from the Missouri
river at the mouth of the Kansas,
and TO unite with the Union Pacific
at the one hundreth meridian Of Ion
gitude. In 1864 Congress, with q
still further str etch Of liberality, au
thorized the company to place first
mortgage upon the road for Sig, 900 a
mile, to take precedent Of the Gov
ernment lien, which act, they Of
course took advantage of to the last
dollar. In 1866 this company ap
piled to the Government for permis
sion to change the route Of their
road, for some reason best known te
themselves, and this was also gran
/ ted. But the law especially provi
ded that the company should be en-
| titled to only the same amount Of
subsidy that they would have beer
entitled to had they connected theil
road with Union Pacific at the ont
hundredth meridian, the distance
being ascertained to be three hun
dred and ninety-four miles; and il
| further provided that the company
should connect with the Union Pa
cific at lsome point not moro thar
6fty miles west OF the Merida 0
Denver.
Now, after having received all th'
subsidy they were granted, they
come and ask in this bill for an addi
tional subsidy for fifty-four miles -
Why grant . subsidy for fifty foul
miles to Cheyenne Wells and no fur
ther? The same reason that woult
justify it to CheyenneW ellswould re
quire it clear through to the point o
intersection with the Union Pacific
Railroad, and tho reason would seen
to be stronger; for tho farther ou
they get the nearer they are to tn
"poor Indian" who at this tim
time seems to be godsend to thes
railroad lobbyists.
Sir, what kind Of a showing doe
this company make to us end to tn
country of it's disposition of wnat
has already received with such las
ished hands? 1t has received o
ready
IE subsidy 81, 1908 ,O0
BY first mortgage, in cash 6,3o3,OO
Two million five hundred
II thousand acres ofas fine
i land as lies in America,
II unless they themselves
i the the pcopls. worth se,a5o,o 90
i. sls,S56,0 ,0C
i This is what they have receive