Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-09-26
Government AID to the Northern
Pacific.

Government Aid to the Northern
| Pacific.
The writer of this article has aiways been
| iii favor of Government aid to proper works
Of Internal improvements, and has llad yery
little respect for that portion Of the PLATFORMS
OF the existing parties, wherein they oppose
any further aid to railroads either IN nleney
orlsnsl grants. We 81 pot behave that NINA
jorityso the people 81 the unatea Slater are
opposed to tliesexpe1diture 81 lnonev on val
liable public improvements whlch WI have
tendency to develop the resource OF the
country Before the compilation Of ~ Union
and Central Pacific TO SAM Frshcjsco, the
people we're almost nnanlmons III favor OF
building the sarne. and were willing that thctf
Representatives should vote the means both
IN money and lands, and on lts Completion
the whole nation retoiced. The people, to-
day. would not agree to have this great tri-
umph of American enterprise torn up and
done away with, even ii twice the cost 81 its
construction were rendered. The American
people are for internal improvements-they
are Tor all noble and public spirited enter
prises. Tile clanor against any more aid to
railroads comes from drmagogues VI both
parties-the intelligence Of the nation Joins
in no such vulgar cry. The rapid growth OF
the nation In population and wealth Is due to
the cxtensiveness of internal improvements
and the increase of railroad facilities. 1t is
needless at this late day to enter on any dis
cussion to prove that railroads devotion all
ur Eec,TUHs through which they
pass There is scarcely a State, county or
nelghborhcod in the Union that does not
favorlrail-oads that pass near them. This is
the universal sentiment. The reason OF this
is. they are regarded as Of public benefit and
convenience Therefore, we hold to the
opinion that the citizens of United States
are not opposed to giving money or lands to
aid railroads, when they are Of great public
utility. We believe 1t to be the duty of Con-
gress at its approaching session to assist the
Northern Pacific Railroad as 1t did the
Union Pacific. Tie Company have built 500
miles Of the road without any money aid
from the Government. The road win not
need assistance to thc extent given the Pacific
roads. but Congress can greatly expedite the
Of this grert work. BY timely aid.
We feel convinced the country viii sustain
their rcprcsentatiycs.in such action. There
are several modes in which the road can be
aided by the Government and sustain no loss.
One plan s.lggcsted Is for tile Company to |
some sixteen millions of acres |
of their land grant to the Government at |
81 25 per acre, for which bonds Of the Uni |
ed States shall be issued. to be denominated |
oan bonds to the Northern Pacific. and as
he lands are sold the proceeds to be applied |
o their redemption. This Is plan by which |
he Company would be enabled TO realize /
ome twenty millions OF dollars, and this
would insure the early completion OF the |
pad. 1t will be remembered that the Union
md Central Pacific had until 1874 to COM
,letc their roads. but with Government aid
n money completed the same in 1868, six
ears sooner than their charter required.
This Is urged in order that the commerce OF
he country may have the benefit Of this con-
mental highway at an early day. We have
70 doubt iof the ability of the Company to
nish tlieirroa,l with its present means, but
he work would be greatly expedited II Con-
ress would extend its fostering aid. The
Dad when finished will do more to develop
he resources of the country through which
passes than all the other roads to which
congress has given aid. 1t passes through
he richest mineral regions in our great coun-
~, and will be the means Of pouring I'M
old weaitllinto the lap of the nation. Prcsi-
ent Graut in one of his messages expressed
imself in strong terms In favor OF reaching
no mineral wealth Of the country. and we
eel sure that he will give his approval Of any
ldeious measure by which the MOI thern
'acfic can be aided in its noble efforts to fin
III the road to the Pacific. -aSAt
80 y r. 4 Is II