Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-02-11
OUR RAILROAD.

efianSs.
Since then gentleman OF this place
handed US copy Of The Bill and an inter-
es,ins pamphlet. which has been printed
with il. giving some considerations in
support of the application for said grant.
The Bill! is as follows:
BE II enacted By the Senate and
House Of Representatives. of the United
States Of .9merica in Congress assem-.
6ied. That there be, and hereby is.grant.
ed TO The Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Company. 10 aid in constructing rail-
road from Hsgerstown, in the State Of
Mary land, by way Of Jefferson county.
in The Stale of West Virginia, and by the
way OF Page county. in The State of Vir.
GINS. t. a point a, or near RusseIvile. in
the State Of Tennessee, six sections OF
land per mile for each mile Of said rail.
road TO be constructed by said company,
said lands TO be selected by said com
p,ny from the pub ic lands OF the United
Sis,s open TO entry and not appropriated
by settlers or others bv title complete or
inchost: said lands 10 be granted and
patented 10 SAID company in ins.allmenis
OF one hundred and twenty sections
whenever twenty miles OF said rosd shall
have been completed and in running or
der, and the residue thereof whenever
said road shall be fully completed as
hrsi-class rslliosd Provided. That
twenty miles Of said railroad shall be com
pleied within two year. from the passage
OF this act, and the whole thereof within
SIX years find provided further.
That The lands hereby granted. as soon
Il. patented TO ssid company, shall be put
into market through agencies or officers
in The vicinity OF and convenient to said
land. and shall be sold 10 actual settlers
in Quantities not exceeding one hundred
siI.y acres TO any one individual, and 8,
price not exceeding two dollars and fifty
cents per acre.
Accompanying The considerations. "
(Which we copy below is map showing
the original boundaries Of Augusta Coun-
~. Virginia, defined By statute Nov.
1896. extending westward TO The Missis'
sippi, and including the States OF Ken
lucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, al Of
which territory north and west Of The
Ohio wasa free gyf from Virginia 10
the United States by deed dated March
LIST, 1884.
Although Congress could scarcely do a
better work than to use smoll portion OF
the public lands in building up the great.
~ impoverished South, and re.estsblsh-
ing an approximation TO It's former pros
periiy, yet there are special reasons Why
Virgins Of all Others should be entitled 10
confederation. and why the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad IN particular presents IN.
usual claims upon The liberaliIy If Con-
gre,s. Virginia was once the foremost
of the United STATES, her territorial pos
sessions stretched noIthwsrd 10 the great
lakes, and westward TO the Mississippi
River. The Congress Of the United
States then occupied the petition OF p
timoner. and asked that Virginia should
surrender for HE use and beneti, Of the
Confederate States all that immensely
valuable DOMAIN which now constitutes
the wealthy aud populous States OF Ohio.
Indiana. Illinois. aud portions Of Others,
the wealth Of which can only be conPu-
ted now by thousands Of millions.
Vnginl. wss then rich, and in spirit
OF generous IlbersllIy she ceded TO the
General Government this immense terri.
tory. without other consideration than I's
application to the use and benefit Of all
,he Slates. Virginia included. With
noble patriotism The General Assembly
Of The Slate OF Virgin. by resolution OF
Jan. %. 1871. declared that "lhe good OF
the country should be preferred 10 every
object OF smaller importance and that
the happiness, strength. and safety OF The
United States depend under Providence
upon The ratification Of the articles Tor
Federal Uniou.
Virginia. the mother Of Presidents. the
cheIsn ed home OF statesmen and patriots
whose fame will never perish while hlsio-
~ endures. il now Impoverished. A pit
lance i. asked in return for her munih-
cencs. Oppressed by debt. which IN
proportion to population and developed
resources 10 excessive. she can no longer
draw upon her treasury as she once did
to aid in the construction Of improve
menn on which her future prosperity es-
senlIally depends. and as the great dona'
ton of public lands was made By her for
the use and benefit Of all the States pir-
ginia included, and az no direct benefits
have ever YET accrued to Virginia from
the disposal Of these lands, the nropriety
OF the presen, application cannot for mo.
menl be questioned. particularly when i.
10 considered thai only six sections per
mile have been asked for, when other
railroads with claims less strong. have re-
eeivcd twenty. and when the bill cow be-
fore Congress imposes conditions aud re-
sricuons from which other corporations
have been exempt.
OTHER CONGREGATIONS.
The cons lderslions that have been urg-
ed in favor OF . grant Of public lands, APP
ply with equal force to all other Virginia
i'm provemen,s projected To furnish cheap
transportation through her territory be.
,,o.n ,La Atlantic 90 ,hnatd and The pTeal