This grant has been talked of as a subsidy and as a donation. It was no such thing. Here was the United States owning public land from the Missouri River through to the Columbia River. It was a vast wilderness. As was said the other day. it was inhabited by hostile bands of Indians which were costing us millions of dollars to keep in check. It could not be reached by immigration. The Government has received its consideration for its contract. This road has been built across the continent. The mountains have been tunneled. the country has been made accessible. and today there are settlers under the preemption and homestead laws on lands all along the line.
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immigration