Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1871-03-04


west, stream Of water known u
I the nomudio inhabitants Of ih'
neighborhood as lherlver st, CrolS
became satilod that the consIrnc
tion of railroad from that raging
torrent to some Foint In The own
zed world was essential 10 the hap
pincss aud prosperity Of lhs AIherl
can people, II not absolutely lnd's
pensablo to the perpetuily OF re
publican institutions ON this cont
neat. [Great laughterl ] felt IN
stinctive'y that the bnundless re
sources OF that prolific region o.
sand and pine shrubbcry would
never be fully developed without d
railroad constructed and equipped
atthe expense Of the Government
and perhaps notthen. Laughter
had ah abiding prosentimentthat
some day or other, tho people oi
this whole country, irrespective ol
party affiliations, regardless OF sec
iional prejudiccs, and "without dis
tinciion of race. color or previous
condition of servitude," would rise
in tLoir majesty and demand an
outlet for the enormous agricultural
productions OF those vast and FER
tile pine barrens, drained III the
rainy season by the surgins waters
of the turbid St. CroiX. Great
laughter,]
These Impressions, derived sim,
ply and solely from the "etcrnaI
fitness Of things" were not only
strengthened by the interestlngand
eloquent debate on this bill, 10
which ! listened with so much pleas
ure the other day, but intensified,
if possible, as | read over this morn
ing the lively colloquy which took
place on that occasion. ] will ASK
the indulgence Of the House while
| read few short passages, which
are sufficient, in MY Judgment, TO
place the merits Of the great enter.
prise contemplated in the measure
now uiider discussion beyond all
possible controversy.
The honorable gentleman from
Minnesota, (Mr. WiISon,) who | be
lieve is managing this bill, in speak
ing of the character of the country
through which the railroad Is 10
pass, says this:
1--WE want to have the timber
brought to us rs cheaply rs posi-
bic. Now, you tic up tho lands
in this way, so that no title can be
obtained to them-tor no settler
will go on these lands, for he can
not make u living-you deprive us
of the benefit of that timber"
Now, sir, | would not have it by
any meats inferred from this that
the gentleman from Minnesota
would insinuate that the people out
in his section desire this timber
merely for the purpose Of fencing
up their farms 80 that their stock
may not wander Oft ane die OF star
walton among the bleak hills Of the
St. Croix Laughter. | read it
for no such purpose, sir, ana make
no such comment on it myself. In
corroboration of this statement of
the gentleman from Minnebota, |
find this testimony given by the
honorable gentleman from Wiscon-
sin, (Mr. Washburn.) Speaking OF
the same lands he says:
"Under the bill, us amended by
my friend from Minnesota. nine
tenths of the land is open to actual
settlers at 50 90 per acre the re-
naming one-tenth is pine timber
cd land, that ia not fit for settle
ment and never will be settled up
on but the timber will be cut Oft.
| admit that it is the most valuable
portion Of the grant, for most OF the
grant is not valuable. 1t is quite
valueless; and if you put in this
amendment Of the gentleman from
Indiana, you may IN well just kill
the bill. for no man and no compa-
ny will take the grant and build the
road.
i simply pause here to ask some
gentleman better vcrsed in the
science of mathematics than | am TO
tell me if the timbered lands are in
fact the most valueable portion of
that section of country, and they
would be entirely valueless without
the timber that is ON them, what
the remainder of the land is worth
which has no timber on it at all ?
I Laughter.
But further on l find most en-
tertaining and instructive inter
change of views between the gentle
man from Arkansas, fMr. Rogers }
the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr..
Washburn,) and the gentleman from
Maine, (Mr. Peters apon the sub
iect of pine lands generally, which
l will tax the patience Of the House
TO read
Mr.. Rogers-Will the gentle
man allow me to aek him n ques-
tion?
Mr.. Washburn, of Wisconsin,
Certainly.
Mr.. Rogers-Arc these pine
lands entirely worthless except for
timber?
Mr.. Washburn, Of Wisconsin
They are generally worthless for
any other purpose. l am personal
ly famiIiaar with that subject. These
lands are not valuable for pnrp0ses
of settlement.
Mr.. Farnsworth-They will be
after the timber is taken of.
Mr.. Washburn-NO, sir.
Mr.. Rogers-I want TO know the
character Of these pine lands.
Mr.. Washburn.-They are gen.
orally sandy, barren lands Ny
friend from the Green Bay district,
tMr. Sawyer,) is himself personally
familiar with this question, and be
will bear me out IN what l say
tlst these pine timber lands are not