LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE
368
had succeeded in arousing interest in his plan both in and out of Congress, to such an extent that even in the crowded session when the Territorial Act was passed there was found time to give
it brief consideration. Senator Benton had been and was astonished that any Senator would take the time of the Senate to suggest its consideration; he had studied the history of Oregon and California before Niles (who had moved to take up the bill) had ever thought of it; he would never vote a million acres to any man. It would not
skeptical
be surprising, thought Benton, if Whitney brought in a bill damages to reimburse him for going to the legislatures of all the States in the Union for recommendations. Nevertheof
notion that there was something in the scheme was gaining ground, for twenty-one out of the forty-eight Senators would have been willing to consider the bill. less the
At the next session not only did Whitney's bill reappear, but there were requests from Timothy Carver and his associates for a grant to construct a railroad over the same route, and one requesting government aid in building a railroad across The last request was from W. H. the Isthmus of Panama. and others who had secured a long-term contract Aspinwall Benton favored this to carry the mails for New Granada. idea and brought in a bill to assist the project but the Senate was not interested. Another plan which Benton brought up at this session, and again in the next, was for a National Central
the grants of land to railroads, but strip of territory a mile wide from the
Highway he opposed
he would
set apart
a
Missouri frontier to San Francisco, with a 1000-foot branch whereon all kinds of roads might be con-
to the Columbia,
structed railroads, plank roads, macadamized roads, and even one with "magnetic power, according to the idea started by Professor Henry," when that should have ripened into pracHere everyone might travel without payment in the ticability. 41 he preferred. way notion had progressed to the point railroad 1850 the By
where the House Committee on Roads and Canals brought 41 Globe,
XIX,
470-4.
in
