Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-03-26
ST. CROIX LAND GRANT.
The Discussion In the HOuse-speech of the
Hon. J. Allen Barber.

Hon. J. Allen Barber.
The Senate bill extending the time
for Wisconsin to complete the ST
Croiy and Lake Superior r. r. came
up for discussion in The House OF
Representatives on the 10th inst. An
amendment was offered to the bill by
Mr.. Ketcham of New York, to de.
clare forfeited to the United States
the lands granted to Wisconsin to
aid in the construction of said road
Whereupon Mr.. Barber of this State
spoke as follows:
Mr.. BARBER. Mr.. Speaker, I have
not hitherto obtruded myself upon
the House | do not propose to occu-
py much of its time in the future.
intend humbly and quietly to gi, 9
my vote as my conscience may die
tate to be right. | propose now to
answer the gentleman from New
York, Mr. KETcHAM,l the chairman
of the Committee on Public Lands,
who has spoken 10 opposition to this
bill. Some of these statements are
so wild and extravaganza that | was
astonished to hear them. The gen>
tleman calls this new grant Men
may differ about that.
The opponents of this bill denounce
it as a new grant and they say there
is quite a general and growing senti-
ment against this land. grant policy
in aid Of railroads. The friends of
the measure say that it is not a new
grant, but that it is simply an exten-
sion Of time to the State of Wiscon-
sin to enable her to complete con-
tract fairly entered into between that
State and the United States for the
building of these roads.
Now, stripped of all 7erbiage, what
was the original act ? 1t was SIM
ply proposition on the part of the
General Government that if Wiscon-
sin would cause to be built railroad
from Madison, by way of Portage TO
the ST. Croix lake or river, and thence
to the:west end of Lake Superior and
Bayfield,, and would forever, free of
charge or toll, transport over that
road all the soldiers and munitions
Of war that the United States might
wish TO have transported ov-
err the road, then the United States
would give to the, State of Wiscon-
sin for thus completing these roads,
each alternate odd-numbered section
on each side of the line of the road
TO the width Of six miles and the un.
granted land-tO be rendered by said
road more valuable-shouId they be
sold would thus be at double the min
imum price of other lands, TO wit,
81 80 per acre.
Now, here was a proposition !;
here was contract offered to the
State Of Wisconsin. The State at the
earliest possible period, by the action
OF her Legislature, accepted that con-
tract and agreed to fulfill it. The
earliest period at which the State
could act was in the winter of 1856
81. The State Immediately employ
ed its agencies for the completion of
these roads. But at that time there
came severe financial disaster thro'-
out the West. Every bank suspend
ed and many went into bankruptcy.
There was great scarcity of mons
ey in the country. The produce Of
the farmers was worth almost moth
ing. To obtain exchange on New
York we had to pay from six to ten
per cent. paid six per cent. in gold.
Others paid ten per cent. in gold
How was it with the Government of
the United States? This great and
wealthy nation was unable TO borrow
money except upon exorbitant dis
counts. This condition of monetary
depression continued until the open.
ing of the war, and prevented the
State from entering upon the work
to any great extent.
When the war came one party to
the contract was threatened with an
utilization the other party proved
loyal ond true. Wisconsin with only
seven hundred and fifty thousand in
habitants, sent over ninety thousand
men to the field to uphold this Gov
ernm mt that had made this contract
with the State in regard to the build
ing of those roads. Wisconsin sent
into the ranks of the Army almost
one eighth of her entire population.
Men were recruited right off the lines
and the works of these railroads to
go and uphold the Government
Does it then come with good grace
from this Government to say that
the State has no excuse for the delay
during the long period OF the war ?
But the State did enter upon the
work. 1t has completed more than
one-half. This very lineIof road, from
the st. Croix lake TO the west end
of Lake Superior and Bayfield,, was
begun before or during the war
When the recruiting officer came and
took the men from their work, the
company had graded almost twenty
miles.
The gentleman from New York
says that Wisconsin took no steps to
build the road. Sir, Wisconsin has
built and completed more than one.
half, and was grading this very line
of road while the war was going on
The gentleman further says that this
company want TO obtain these lands
TO sell them at high prices; that the
lands are of immense value; that
they areworth at least ten dollars an
acre. Why, then, have not home-
steaders gone and taken the migrant
ed land ? There was nothing to hin.
der homesteaders from going and set
ting one half of all the lands desig-
mated within this contract.
But the gentleman from New
\ ork says that there was an unwar-
rantable contract between the Gov.
ernor of Wisconsin and the Commits.
fioner of the General Land Office
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