The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-06


seven million of acres; not simply voted
but absolutely patented to the State.
and of which ii avails itself. And here
we Of Mississippi are to-day pleading
with the House not to take away from
us the little grant that is mentioned and
referred to in the pending bill.
Let US speak about that a moment.
think the House ought to be advised
about it. On examining the tables and
the papers in the Office OF the Secretary
Of the Interior find that he has made
an approximate estimate Of the amount
Of land in this grant As originally made;
that amount Is 652, 500 acres. I wish TO
state 10 the House this further fact, that
after the forfeiture Of the iith Of August,
1865, the Goyefnment Of the United
States has allowed purchases 10 he made
of lands embraced within this grant.
a great quantity of the original grant
'hAs bttli bought, 50 that according to
the best judges to-day Il Is estimated
that there Is available in the grant 10
the State Of Mississippi not over 500, 900
acres.
There is bill pending before the
House, one introduced by myself in re.
lation to the land grant TO the State Of
Mississippi. II | can get the grant
saved, or rather the forfeiture OF il pre-
vented, the bill which have introduced
will, II passed, rcgrant to the State OF
Mississippi just simply the half million
OF acres now left unsold, asking for no
indemnity on account OF lands that have
been sold Of the original grant.
wish TO state here that we want the
rights Of all purchasers and settlers to
be faithfully protected. Whether this
bill passes or not, whether my amend.
ment Is adopted or not, in any event,
whatever bill may pass, the rights Of all
purchasers of lands will be protected.
In case the House shall see tit 70 adopt
my amendment and not allow this for
feiture, the amount Of land that win be
saved to the State Of Mississippi will be
simply 100000 acres, which, added TO
the 100000 acres we have already re.
ceived, will make the amount granted
to the State OF Mississippi less than
1900, 900 acres, while other States, rs |
have shown, have received from 3,000,-
900 TO 100000 acres each, absolutely
granted 10 them.
There is another reason why this grant
should be made at all, and | wish to say
a word on that subject. II was eminent.
ly right and proper that the grant should
be made in the first place, and every
single reason applying TO the grant then
applies to II now and with greater force.
i The grant embraces section OF com.
try covered for the most part with pine
timber, most excellent pine timber. But
it Is far from market; the country Is
not thickly settled; not much Of ii has
been taken up for farms or pastures. II
: consists Of Just such land IA pays moth
, ing in the world until the country Is vet.
tied ard it, vast resources developed.
just such country AZ private enter
prise never would construct road
! through.
| Another consideration. This Is not a
great trunk line; II Is not line con.
Meeting one great point with another
great point or one great section with an
other great section, like roads that con.
meet the Atlantic with the Pacific. The
object OF this road is TO connect the rail.
roads near the center Of the State Of
Mississippi, where there are vast tracts
OF pine forests, with the Southern Sea,
so as TO give our people In that part Of
the State and their products seaport
for their commerce, and outlet TO the
sea.
| And, Mr.. Chairman, IL is n fair land,
fair a. any the sun shines on, from the
initial point OF the proposed route all
the way TO its terminus, gently sloping
10 the Southern Sea, holding vast posi-.
bilities of wealth In timber, Ia lumber,
in field and herd, waiting only the
magic contact OF capital, skill, and en-.
ergy 10 develop ali these and return
fourfold any benefactions bestowed
upon It.
1t may be possible that In long range
Of years this road may be built without
the aid of any grant; but / stand here
to say that If there ever was section OF
country, II there ever was portion OF a
State, II there ever was a State, to which
It was right TO vote aid by land grant,
this il such case. Take the map and
look Mt this section of county. Trace Il
down from the center Of the State
through all this region of pine forest
far from market, far from any outlet
far from any chance Of development
and you must see what benefcenct
would be grant OF this land, what q
vast benefit this railroad would be.
Mr. Blanchard. Will the gentleman
from Mississippi permit question:
Mr.. Van Eaton. II ! can answer it,
will do so.
Mr. Blanchard. II the land grant II
behalf Of which the gentleman has beer
speaking should be excepted out Of tn.
; operation Of the forfeiture provided TO
in this bill, what assurances can the gen
> tleman give the House that this roac
from Brandon TO the Gulf will be con
structed in the next few years2
|, Mr.. Van Eaton. This assurance, tina
! capitalists have been looking up tina
section Of country, have been examin
: ing into the condition Of this grant, will
the view of assisting the people Of tn
State to build this road II they coul,
avail themselves Of the grant; but the,
: refused 10 touch the enterprise 40 LEM
! as the forfeiture hangs over the grant
); More than that, these men who have th
;; means have given US assurance that the,
= would build the road If they could have
: the benefit of the grant.
. Mr.. Singleton. VIII my colleague
yield to me for a momentf
:. Hr. Van Eaton. Certainly
d Mr.. Singleton. Mr. Speaker, whet
:. the resolution Of the gentleman from