Mr. PR CE. It might be so construed; but that was not the intention of the committee. When they had provided for the value of half the lands theyt ought they had done tolerably well for the Government, especially when in addition to that they include 25%. of the gross receipts of the road. I think I have sufficiently answered the financial argument of this subject to prove that there is no money to be drawn from the Treasury of the U.S.; that this is safe arrangement in that respect. Mr. Speaker, the object of land grants to railroads in this country has been to develop its resources. The construction of railroads induces settlement and causes the wilderness to blossom as the rose. It is necessary that this country should be developed in its agricultural resources. In addition to developing those resources we propose also by this road to reach for all time to come the vast mineral resources of the mighty regions now almost deserts and almost inaccessible. I think it is demonstrable, then, that the Government. will not only be compensated by the one 4th of the gross receipts and proceeds of 1/2 the lands, but I am of the opinion that the additional benefits to be derived from this road will he immense, and extend not only to this but to future ene rations. They will be more than tenfoh the amount guarantied by the Government to the company. Any gent ciiian at all acquainted with the mineral resources of Montana and Idaho, and the difficulty of reaching those places, must.see that when wehave annihilated the space between here and there by the construction of railroads the dollars which come from there now will be swelled to 100s and 1,000s, if not millions. This country is to be developed. It is the mission of the men of this day to develop the heritage intrusted to us. In no other way can the regions teeming with untold wealth be developed. Now, let us look at the road in a military point of view. I shall not indulge in an conJectures. I find that Major General Ru usln alls, asst quarterMGen, uses the following language: “In my opinion, from an experience of many yearsin the quartqrmastersDeptin the west and Northwest, it.is of the utmostimportanceto the nation that this road should be constructed at the earliest momentpossible, and a through line of cominunication opened from the greatla ps to the pay eitioocean.by the headwatersof the Mississippi and Missouri." That is not all. Let me now read from QuarterMGen Meigss report for 1865. He says: “I am convinced thatthere in no dificulty tobo apprehended from the rigor of the climate or the depthof snow in the working of the Northern Pacific railroad. which has not been met successfully and overcomein the constructionand regulardaily work sinhgireo, f rVaeilrrmoaodnst, in the Statesof Maine, NewHamp Michigan, and Minnesota and in UpperCanada, along the line of the Grand Trunk. “0f the advantagesto result to the country from the speedy OYODIDRIOITAHIOKMI communicationalong the cuntem nted linc, it is hardly nce essiiryfor me to speak. can add little to the argumentso well set forth by the Sens&Reps of the Northwest in their appeal to Congressof the 9th of this month. “H erctoforethe War Depthas not had any considerableinterest to protectin thenorthern cen tral region. for whose development and protection this road is now so urgently needed." He says in another place: [The enterprise is one worthy of thenation. As a military measure, contributing to national security and defensealone.it is worthyof the costotcifectunl assistancefrom the Government. "The Central railroad to SanFrancise oWill secure that admirable harbor and its trade and the rich State of California, against.all seriousdanger from ii. foreign foe. "But our communicationwith the harbors of the northwest coast.Puget sound, the mouth of the Co lnmbin and with the growing population of Oreuon and Washington, by seafromban FFIDGISOO, wbHIe liable to interruption by n hostils fleet. “1th the Northern Pacific railroad ine peration, troops and materials of war could he rapidly sent from the East to sucporand defendour rising empire in the N orth west. I will now call the attention of the House, and particularly of my friendfrom Illinois, Mr. Wmusunss] to the letter of Lieutenant GenlGrant indorsing those statements. I ask the Clerk to read it.