Mr. CONNESS. Now, Mr. President, there is another fact that appears, so far as the Niobrara route is concerned, in the discussions that were had before the committee, namely, that if it were adopted by the order of congress for the construction of a Pacific railroad branch, it would make a very long and a very expensive route to the Treasury of the U.S. before it could connect westwardl with the Union Pacific railroad, and that is an additional reason why it should not be adopted. The time will doubtless come, when more population gets into that country, that branch roads will connect with the main trunk or Union Pacific railroad; but that time, in my judgment, is not yet. ow, sir, the question directly before us, and the cause of the introduction of this measure, is the line located from Sioux City, east of the Missouririver, and crossing the Missouririver a considerable distance south of Sioux City and thence running to Fremont, where it connects, I believe, with the Omaha branch of the Pacific railroad. It apears that this Iowa company have deposited temap now before me, as the plat of their route, in the office of the SecyInterior and the lands, I suppose, have been with rawn from the market in accordance with law. I believe that the construction of a road over this route would be unwise, inasmuch as it runs east ward and not westward, and that this route, as contemplated by the language of the substitute of the Senfrom Iowa, would be set aside. Certainly the U.S. are not willing to build a branch of the Pacific railroad from Sioux City, which shall run eastward and in the lengthof 100 miles only make 5 miles of westward distance. The route which the company has adopted, as shown by the map which has been de sited, is one that ought to be set aside. Itink, as I suppose all right minded persons think, that the route should be left to engineering. I have no objection, and never saw any during the discussion to this Iowa company, composed of owners O contiguous railroads interested in seeking this western connection, being the company to build the branch. Indeed, my opinion is that they are the best able to build it; that committed to their hands it will be built soonest and best, for we have, in addition to the motive of personal interest that they will have in assuming the franchise, the amount of interest they have in seeking the connection by their other and existing roads. But whether the President had a legal right to designate them is a question for the Senate to decide. Whether it is well for Congress now to confirm that designation is a question also for the Senate to decide, and I have no advice to give upon these propositions. When the hi 1 before us was in committee it seemed to me not an extravagant thing to recommend that the bill should pass as agreed on by the committee; in other words, I thought this company would eventually build the road in any case. that they were the company best able, organized for the purpose, determined to take the franchise, able to go on with the surveys and demonstrate the best route. I thought they would eventually get it in any case. As to these other companies spoken of by the Senfrom Michigan, I think none of them are yet organized.