Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-10-30
LAND-GRANT LEGISLATION.
How and When 1t Began and who sup.
ported it in Congress.

The Wabash s. Erie Canal, Illinois Central
aud Pacific Grants.
The following letter, written by Ed
ward Mcpherson to K. Frank Carson ex-
plains itself.
DEAR SIR-In reply to your inquiry
for facts respecting "land-grant" legisla-
ten, have to say that about sixty years
ago, uHder the administration of JOhA
Quincy Adams, the United States enter
Cd upon the policy Of granting alternate
sections Of land to states in aid of pub
lie imprOvements-frs of Canals, then
the best available means of conveyance,
and next, of railroads which haye large
~ superseded them.
Indiana and Ohio received the first
grant. The purpose was the eOnstruc-
tiOn of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The
bill passed both houses after full debate
by decisive majOriJies. This was in
1927. This and subsequent grants to
canals disposed of about 100000 acres.
The next grant was to the states of
Illinois, Mississippi and Alabama Gin
aid of the construction of a railroad
from Chicago to MOBILIZE Out of this
came the Illinois Central railroad. The
Will was pdSSel III lOOO Wy a NObo VI ncdl-
ly two to one in the Senate, and by a
majority of twsnty.six in the House,
and was approved by Willard FILLMORE,
President.
From that date to 1861 numerous acts
were passed granting lands to states or
corporations for railroad purposes, and
were approved by the two Democratic
presidents. All of these railroad grants
aggregated 100000 acres. Of this
amount, Alabama received nearly 4,000,-
600; Arkansas, 3,500000 Florida, 3,000,-
600; Illinois, 100000: Iowa, 100000;
Kansas, 100000; Louisiana, 100000;
Michigan, 4,OOO,OO0; Minnesota, 12,500,-
600; Mississippi, 100000; Missouri, g.,
100000; and Wisconsin nearly 5,C00OC0
LATER GRANTS.
The grants above referred to were for
purposes local to the states in which the
corporations were created. In 1862
when it was proposed to construct rail
roads through the territories to the Pa
eific ocean, the grants were made direct
ly to the corporations. These were
made during the period from 1862 to
1871, and were approved by the various
Republican Presidents. The first was
to the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroads. the next to the Northern Pa
eific, the next to the Atlantic 81 Pacific,
and the last to the Texas 81 Pacific.
These grants aggregated 100000
acres of which the Union and Central
Pacifics were voted 22,500.OOO; the Allan
tic & Pacific 100000; the Texas & Pa
100000, and the remainder to various
smaller corporations.
The total grant to states for railroad
purposes and to corporations for railroad
purposes are in round numbers 100000
600 acres. In some cases the conditions
have not been complied with, and bills
for forfeiture have passed one or both
houses of congress
Since 1871 no new grants have been
made, nor are any likelyIto be made, all
parties having declared that sufficient
amount of the public domain has been
given for the purpose OF improving the
transportation facilities of the people.
NO PARTISANSHIP IN THE VOTES.
It is we'll to recall the fact that the
question Of making grants has never
been q partisan one. The first grant
in 1927 was supported by such states
man as Thomas H. Benton, VIM r. King
VIM. Hendricks, Edward Everett, Daniel
Webster, Andrew Stewart, and Aaron
Ward, and antagoHized by such as Levi
;. Woodbury., James Buchanan, George
Dufie, James K. Polk, Thomas Clayton,
Michael Hoffman, and VIM. G. Rivers.
These gentlemen were representatives
of both the great parties into which the
country was then divided,
The second grant. being that Of 1850
received the active support Of such
statesman as George 4. Badger, John
Bell, Thomas H. Benton, Jesse d. Bright,
Lewis Cass, Thomas COrwin, Jefferson
DAVIS, Stephen A. Douglas. Henry Dodge
Augustus c. Dodge, Samuel Houston,
VIM. r. King Willie p. Aangum, Will
lam H. Seward, Truman Smith, James
Shields. Daniel Sturgeon, Edward d.
Baker, William H. Bissell, William J,
Brown, James 8. Green, George W. Julian
Horace Mann, John A. McClsrAand. Rob-
ert N. MeLane, John s. Phelps, william
A. Richardson and Alexander H. Steph-
ems; whilst It was antagonized BY euch
rs Salmon P. Chase. William l.. Dayton,
Robert N. T. Hunter, Andrew Johnson
Preston King, Robert G. Schenck, and
James A. Seldom.
THE UNION PACIFIC GRANT.
n The grant of 1862 to the Union Pacific
railroad company received the support
of Zachariah Chandler, Jacob C0llamer
Edgar Cowan, Garrett Davis, James R
DOOlittle, Jacob N. Howard, Anthony
Kennedy, Milton 8. Latham, Henry N
Rice. Charles Sumner. Lyman Trumbull,