New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-24
LAND GRANTS TO RAILROADS.

The Washington correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Commercial! presents the follow
ing suggestions TO the consideration OF the
readers Of that paper. We copy from his
letter Of the thirteenth instant:
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The indications now are that this measure.
already passed by the Senate, will become
q law. OF course we shall have the usual
cutlery against donating the pnhlic lands to
soulless corporations. and divers and sundry
journals will be sorely distressed. | never
have been worried much in that direction.
Were we to give all Of our public lands to
the construction OF railroads, it would he a
better disposal of them than that in vogue
heretofore. where land spectators and cor
pOrations, making no returns, have taken
up our domains. The land that goes to
make q railroad gives lis something IN re-
turn, and the only question 10 be considered
is, after making the grant, whether the
road will be built. Every alternate section
is small item in comparison TO the good
tina. is realized.
Through these improvements vast regions
are brought within the reach of the enigrant
and the railroad becomes a pioneer instead
of the follower in the march OF civilization
For such good result the land can very
well be given, and when the roads are thus
donated to the government and the use of
the people, a better gift is secured than can
be found in inaccessible regions. 1t is true
that we do give TO soulless cOrpo atoms Il
part OF the public domain. And in like
manner we donated to soulleSs corporations
in Ohiofwo-thirds OF the stock paid in for
making our railroads, and Yet We lost no
thing; the improved value OF our lands.
created through our being brought within
reach of the market, more than repaid our
investment
TT real objection to this business is to be
tound in the creation of lnonopolies that
threaten other encroachlnentS than those
upon our lands. A few men possessed of
the enormous power there guaranteed for
ever through corporation, are dangerous
TO the republic; bat the creation of the
Northern and now of the Soutern Pacific
railroads is in direct anta~onism to the
monopoly we dread. The more Of these
companies we call into existence the less is
the power possessed by any one of them.
But while we are lamenting the loss of
public lands, and playing into the
hands OF one monopoly by striving to
defeat, other. corporations. coinbna-
tons are going on among railroad com
paries already in existence, lar more dan
gerous than those created by Congress. In
few years the great lines stretching from
the East far into the West and South, will
be inder the control of a few n!illionares in
Philadelphia and New York. At u time
when we most need cheap transnortation
and further from the market, these combi-
nations Increase. until now, in the interior
OF Ohio, we have 10 give one bushcl of.grain
to get another TO the seaboard. Here is
work for indignant patriotism. Here is
something that has :! meaning 70 il. and can
constantly employ our highest faculties in
setting right.
To Southern Ohio, ard to Cincinnati, in
particular this Southern Pacific railroad is
of Wifi nj ,o,..o latp
tire railroad system has been SO remodeled
as to funnel everything through Chicago,
and what with Chicago thus absorbing all
the business at the North, and Louisville
blocking rs at the South, orr city is in a
pitiful condition, and il she lifts her voice
against this improvement /. is well 10 he sure
that the principles are well founded for tue
sacrifice is great. ! Go4ibt. however.
whether there is any principle in it.
AS said before, the lands were
almost worthless without tire railroad.
and with the railroad tie rise il value OF
what is left more than pays Tor what
is taken. ] have never mad any great faith
III the financial operations Of Jay Cooke Il
Co., as connected with orr government but
believe that in honestly building the Nor
thern Pacific railroad, and cling its
lands as to accommodate the actual settlers.
they are public benefactors, and in the GOOD
future will be blessed as such. In the mean
time, we want our share OF these lands,
even il it be plumber. When the roads
now built We're first aSitateG il was well
enough to take a high position, perhaps
and fight all corporations, but now that
roads have beer built not only for the bnne-
tit OF other regions, but to ol,r direct injury,
we propose fair divide, and therefore say
again, that / am glad the Southern Pacific
is about TO be a reality.