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Show 352 HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAND LAW DEVELOPMENT in 1829 on credit extending up to 4 years, in contrast to the Federal government's cash sale policy. Land near the river which would be benefited by the improvement of navigation was quickly grabbed up. For some years the remaining 77,000 acres found no market at $1.25 an acre. A House Committee report doubted that the lands would ever sell for that price and recommended that Alabama be permitted to sell them for what they would bring; otherwise, the improvement could not be completed. In a quickly adopted and rare measure Congress responded by repealing the section requiring sales at not less than $1.25 an acre, permitting them to be sold at any price.35 Construction of the canal around the shoals began in 1831 and was sufficiently completed by 1836 to permit boat passage. Unfortunately, insufficient care had been given to the planning and only in high water could boats approach the canal, which proved a failure. A half-century later new surveys were made, a new canal was built and opened to traffic in 1890.36 Grant for Rock River Canal In summarizing the achievements of the National Republican administration of John Quincy Adams, it is clear that the Federal government, through generous appropriations, subscriptions to the stock of private companies, and liberal grants of land to the states had stimulated an extensive program of internal improvements. Not a state had failed to receive aid for harbor improvements, dredging rivers, or building canals. Some of the projects were not to be completed or undertaken for as many as 20 years. Later administrations which had a more conservative outlook on the use of Federal powers-while they could prevent additional appropriations 35 S. Doc, 23d Cong., 1st sess., Vol. II, No. 84, 1834 (Serial No. 239); House Reports, 24th Cong., 1st sess., Vol. II, No. 505, 1836 (Serial No. 294). 38 Alabama, A Guide to the Deep South, "American Guide Series" (New York, 1941), pp. 90-91. and grants for internal improvements being made-could not turn back the clock for those already authorized. Some of the projects were ill-planned, others were inadequately financed and had to wait almost too long for completion. The railroad era had arrived before some canals were completed, but all had contributed largely to the growth of the areas they served, had accelerated the shift from near subsistence to commercial agriculture, and had aided the development of rapidly growing commercial centers.37 Whether from sincere conviction or political circumstances, Jackson could not continue in Adams' brand of nationalism. Federal aid to internal improvements was reduced, though by no means ended. In addition to appropriations for the extension of the National Road through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois and for the construction of other roads, Jackson approved an act to authorize a survey of a route for a canal in West Florida and to donate a right-of-way and an additional 90 feet on each side of the canal, and to reserve every section of land through which the canal was to pass. On March 3, 1835, he approved an act granting a right-of-way plus 30 feet on each side for a number of railroads in Florida, reserving for 2 years all sections and fractional sections over which the projected railroads were to pass.38 The continuous flow of petitions asking for donations for canals, and later railroads, indicated that the Democrats would find it increasingly difficult to remain faithful to the principles Jackson or Taney had enunciated in the veto of the Maysville Turnpike bill. The next breach in the policy to which Jackson may have thought he had committed his party came on June 18, 1838, when Van Buren signed a measure granting to an incorporated company the odd sections for a 37 Scheiber, "Internal Improvements and Economic Change in Ohio," passim, and John Bell Rae, "Federal Land Grants in Aid of Canals," Journal of Economic History, IV (November 1944), 167 ff. 38 4 Stat. 474, 778, and 5 Stat. 145. |