The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-02-23

pine lands,
"Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin. The
pine timber of Wisconsin generally grows
upon barren, sandy land. The gentleman
from Maine lMr. Peters, who is familiar
with pine lands, will have no doubt say
that pine timber grows generally upon the
most barren lands
"Mr Peters. As a general thing pine
lands are not worth much for cultivation"
And further on, I find this pregnant
question the joint production of the two
gentlemen from Wisconsin:
"Mr. Paine. Does my friend from In
diana suppose that in any event settlers
will occupy and cultivate these pine lands?
"Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin. Partic-
ularly without a railroad7"
Yes, sir, particularly without rail
road" 1t will be asked after awhile, am
afraid, if settlers will go anywhere unless
the government builds a railroad for them
to go on. Laughter
desire TO call attention to only one
more statement, which l think sufficient
to settle the question. 1t is one made by
the gentleman from Wisconsin Mr. Paine,
who says:
These lands will be abandoned for the present
1t may be that at seme remote period there will
spring up In th2G region new KIND OF agriculture
which will cause demand for these particular
lands and they may then come into use and be
val9aeis 5 Tor fgTieghIinEai S purposes But know
diana understands that for the present aud for
many years to come, these pine lands can have no
pine timber which stands on them"
Now, sir, who, after listening to this
emphatic and unequivocal testimony of
these intelligent, competent. and able
bodied witnesses, laughter who that is
not as incredulous as st. Thomas himself,
will doubt for moment that the Goshen
of America IS to be found in the sanoy
valleys and upon the pine-clad hills of the
st. Croix? daughter. Who will have
the hardihood to rise IN his seat on this
floor and assist that, excepting the pine
bushes, the entire region would not pro-
duce vegetation enough in ten years to fat
ten a grasshopper? Great Laughter.
Where is the patriot who is willing that
his country shall incur the peril of re-
naming another day without the amplest
railroad connection with such az mex
hanstible mine of agricultural wealth
Who will answer for the consequences of
abandoning great and warlike people, in
possession of country like that, to brood
over the indifference and neglect of their
Government2 (Laughter.l How long
hO04O ~ OC DCIOIC luCJ HOQlO lake 10
studying the Declaration of Independence
and Matching out the damnable heresy of
secession2 How long before the grim de-
mon Of civil discord would rear again his
horrid head in our midst, "gnash loud his
iron fangs and shake his crest of bristing
bayonets" Laughterl
Then, sir, think of the long and painful
process of reconstruction that must follow
WI th aronr1V,oar7fc 10 he
Constitution the seventeenth, eighteenth,
and nineteenth articles. The sixteenth, it
is of course understood, is to be appropri-
ated to those blushing damsels who are,
day after day, beseeching US to let them
vote, hold Office, drink cocktails, ride
astraddle, and do everything else the men
do. lRoars of laughter. But above all,
sir. let me Implore you to reflect for single
moment on the deplorable condition of our
country IN case of foreign war, with all
our ports bleckaded, all our cities in state
of siege, the gaunt specter of famine brood
ing like hungry vulturs over our starving
land our commissary stores all exhausted,
and our famishlng armies withering away
IN the field, a helpless prey to the insatiate
demon of hunger; our Navy rotting in the
docks for want of provisions for our gallant
seamen, and we without any railroad com
munication whatever with the prolific pine
thickets of theSt. Croix. (Great Laughter }
All, sir, could very well understand
why my amiable friends from Pennsylvania
Mr. MYERS, Mr.. KELLEY, and Mr.. .O'NEILL)
should be so earnest in their support of
TINS bill the other day, and if their honor
able colleague, my friend. Mr. RANDALL,
will pardon the remark, will say con-
sidered his criticism of their action on that
occasion as not only unjust but ungenerous.
l knew they were looking forward with
the far reaching ken of enlightened states
manship to the pitiable condition IN which
Philadelphia will be left unless speedily
supplied with railroad connection in some
way. or other with this garden spot of the
universe. (Laughter.) And besides, sir,
this discussion has relieved my mind of a
mystery that has weighed upon it like an
incubus for years. could never under
stand before why there was so much excite
ment during the last Congress over the
acquisition of Alta Vela. I could never
understand why it was that some of our
ablest statesmen und most dislnterested
patriots should entertain such dark fore
bodings of the untold calamities that were
to befalI our beloved country unless we
should take immediate possession of that
OCStidDAC 4cAdlG. 1uO SCC 4OH Gudb luCl
were iaboring under the mistaken impress
sion that the Government would need the
guane to manure the public lands on the
St. Croix. (Great laughter)
Now, sir, repeat l have been satisfied
for years that if there was any portion OF
the inhabited globe absolutely in a suffer-
ing condition for want of railroad it was
these teeming pine barrens of theSt. Croix.
(Laughter.) At what particular point on
that noble stream such road should be
commenced l knew was immaterial, and
so 1t seems to have been considered by the
draughtsman of this bill. It might be up
at the spring or down at the foot-log, or
the water-gate, or the fsh-dam, or any
where along the bank, no matter where.
fLaughter) Butin what direction should
it run, or where it should terminate, were
always to my mind questions of the most
painful perplexity. l could conceive of no
place on Goods green earth" in such
straitened circumstances for railroad faci-
ities as to be likely to desire or willing to
accept such connection. (Laughter) I
knew that nsith~~ Bayfield, nor Superior
City would have it, for they both indig-
nantly spurned the munifcence of the
Government when coupled with such ig-
nominious conditions, and let this very
same land grant die on their hands years
and years ago rather than submit to the
degradation of direct communication by
railroad with the piny woods of the St
Croix; and knew that what the enter
prising inhabitants of those giant young
cities would refuse to take would have few
charms for others, whatever their neces-
sites or cupidity might be-. Oaughter.) }
Hence, as have said, sir, I was utterly
at loss to determine where the terminus
of this great and indispensable road should
be, until [ accidentally overheard some
gentlemen the other day mention the
name of Duluth" [Great laughter !
Duluth The word fell upon my ear
with peculiar and indescribable charm,
like the gentle murmur of a low fountain
stealing forth in the midst of roses, or the
soft, sweet accents of an angels whisper
in the bright, joyous dream of sleeping in
nocence. Duluth Twas the name for
which my soul had painted for years, as
the heart panteth for the water-brooks
lRenewed laughter.l But where was Du-
futh2 Never, in all my limited reading,
had my vision been gladened by seeing
fha celestial work in nrint II.au0hter