Mr. McRUER. I regret to see this evening a disposition to lay these bills on the table. There has not been a more meritorious railroad bill presented this session of Congress than that presented by my colleague, and which has just been summarily disposed of. I wish to say in regard to the bil now before the House, that it was passed by the Senate last February, that it came here and was referred to the ComPubLands, and this has been the 1st opportunity presented to consider it. It provides for the construction of a road twp50 miles long through what is known as the coast range of California. For that 250 miles alon the coast there is not a navigable river. the glnnd is to a great extent mountaine us, and, without a railroad, comparatively valueless. For the 1st 70 miles the land of an agricultural character has been entirely taken up, and there is an absolute necessity for having some chan nel of communication with the waters of the bay of SanFrancisco if we expect that region of country to be settled and occupied. Today that land is worth scarcely anything. Construct a railroad through it and the alternate sections of the public lands which are reserved by the Government will be worth 4 times as much as the whole land is worth or ever will be worth without it. This will be an expensive road to build, and if there is any reason for granting aid by the donation of public lands to aid in the construction of any road this is as meri torious a road as any for which lands have ever been granted. It seems to be the opinion of Congress that California comes here asking immense donations. These railroad grants are not donations, for the Government and the nation are benefited by every section of land that will aid in constructing the road. The alternate sections will be worth four, 5, yea, ten times, in many cases, what the whole country is worth without the road. We have no channels of communication there; we have no navigable rivers flowing to the ocean between the bay of SanFrancisco and the Columbia river; and it is necessary, in order that these lands may be made valuable, that we have some communication to tide waterand to a market. Now, sir, I hope this bill will receive the favorable consideration of the House; and I move the previous question.