The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1869-02-05
THAT MEMORIAL.

The following FROM the Con9ressiOna
( Globe OF Jan. 18th, was noticed in the
kilograms of that date. and we believ,
its true motive suggested in this paper
The names of the petitioners are sub
stantiative of the conjecture that tn,
proposal is solely in the interest OF ri.
val enterprises to prejudice Congress
against the subsidies asked, that of John
I. Blair. of New Jersey. widely known
as the Iowa Railroad King. figuring al
the constituent" of Mr.. Freelinghuy-
sen. We would indeed be gratified &c
see the government contract the cons
struction at the figures they name, in
preference to that asked by the corpa>
nies. but as those companies hold the
charters. the whole question resolves it,
self into giving subsidies to the holders
of the charters or postponing the work
until they expire:
Mr.. Frelinghuysen. Ipresent peti>
tion from a number of capitalists, sta>
ting that they understand that props
osition is pending before Congress TO
epdow the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company and the Eastern Division of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company
with n Government subsidy of $4,000.
So. 900. and $4S,OOO per mile, accord>
ing to the nature of the territory; and
they are further informed that these
companies have already had granted to
them forty sections. or $4,000 acres of
land per mile, and that it In proposed to
give them the privilege of mort,
gaging the road for an
amount equal to the Government
subsidy; that in addition to the grant
OF lands, these subsidies, at the rate
named, will, for both roads. amount to
the enormous aggregate of 1926, 600 900,
and probably $3.50. 900 900; that the me-
morialists will undertake the constrnc-
tion of either or both of these roads,
with the same land grants. and with a
Government subsidy of $4,000 q mile
for the entire line, with the right of
mortgage to the same amount; thus IL a.
king saving to the Treasury of the
United States of $75.OOO.OOO that they
will give bonds equal to the amount Of the
subsidy for the completion of both roads
in ten years, the bonds TO be endorsed
by capitalists representing $780, 900.
offer this memorial because one OF
the capitalists who sign IL is q constitu-
ent of mine.
Mr.. Conkling. Who are the memo.
rialistsg
Mr.. Frelinghuysen. Franklin Haven,
George b. Upton, John T. Coolidge, 3.
8. Dana. Henry j. Gardner, George
Baty Blake, Glidden A. Williams. Jo>
eeph Nicklcson & Co., John l. Blair and
w. s. Williams. In Offering this me-
mortal desire, however. to say that l
am opposed to the granting of any sub>
sides tor railroads excepting where the
faith of the nation is pledged. I be-
lieve that the present rate at which
railroads are being built across the cons
tinent by the aid OF the Government
shows that they can be built at a suffi-
ciently rapid rate without that aid. and
with it that they are more likely to be
we'll constructed when they are not un>
reasonably hastened in order to get the
subsidy. But if we are to grant subsi-
dies, ! am in favor of granting the
smallest amount. move the reference
of this memorial to the Committee on
the Pacific Railroad.
The motion was agreed to.