Mr. RAMSEY. Mr. President, a brief statement will show howunsubstantial are the arguments in opposition to this bill. If the bill be passed it will require 5 years until 1871to complete from 200 to 300 miles of this road, and all the surveys, according to the estimate of the company; and in all that time the Treasury of the nation will be called upon to contribute but $1, 700,000 to initiate this great work. The Senfrom Ohio, who has arrayed himselfin opposition to this bill admits that some day or other this work must be accomlished, and that it must be done by the aid of the Government, if not otherwise completed; he surely then will not persist in counseling the loss of 5 or 6 years, a period so momentous, as the last 20 years have shown us, in the development of new Territories, the enlargement of the bound aries of civilization, and the vast addition to the wealth and commerce of the world, for comparatively so insignificant a consideration. y, sir, the thorough survey of the conti nent on that line which this project will secure, and the 200 or 300 miles of road which it will construct, will be greatly more valuable than all the money we ask. You will get infinitely more than the worth of your mone. As I speak so many advantages present themselves to m mind, the magnitude of the interests involve is so palpable that I fear to enter upon the subject now would be to do injustice to the theme. But take a prosaic statement which alone will justify the passage of this bill. By making 300 miles of road from the termination of Lake Superior westwardly, you reach the Red river country; and 400 miles more bring you to the Missouri river. Thus by making 700 miles of railroad you connect 2500 miles oflake navigation with 400 miles of navigation on the Missouri river, from Fort Union or Fort Bert hole, into the heartof Montana, at FortBenton, making nearly 3500 miles of a continuous line of steam communication by lake, river, and rail. Thus by making 700 miles of railroad you are brought into the very heart of the continent. The Missouri river from Fort Union to Fort Benton is navigable more months of the year than it is below that point, down toward the borders of Kansas and Nebraska. The navigation below is often indifferent, but from Fort Union Westward to Fort Benton there is good navigation through almost all the usual months of navigation upon that river. It must be remembered that your principal lines of railroad between the East and the West are now about the line of fort degrees. This line would be about the 4fih degree. Now, look at the great development that has already taken place in the country north of 45 dearees. There is the erritory of Montana with alrmdy a population claimed to be, and I suppose it is, quite 40,000 people, producing about one quarter of all the go] product of this continent, assumed now to be about 100millions. That Territory, so rich in gold, is said to produce about 25 millions annually. Then you have the whole of the Territory of Washington, lying north of 45 degrees. You have not as yet provided any accommodation for the travel and development of that extensive district of country in the North; you are confining your accommodations and your appropriations to about the line of 40 degrees; and it is not reasonable to so pose that the country will be longer satisfied with such a discrimination. Need say more? I have merely interjected topics for consideration, and facts which are irresistible, on which, if the hour were more opportune, I should with pleasure dilate. Pass this bill and the expenditures it may occasion will be well re aid.