The Placer herald., 1864-09-03
SACRAMENTO. Cal. May 7, 1864.
HoN. j. p. USHER, Secretary of the Interior.

Hon. j. p. USHER Secretary of the Interior.
Dear Sir:-Your memorialists, the Central
Pacific Railroad Co. of California, beg leave to
refer to the Pacific Railroad Act of Congress, APP
proved July lst 1862, by which there was grant
ed to this Company in common with others nam
ed in this Act, every alternate section Of public
land, designated by odd numbers to the amount
of five alternate sections per mile on each side
of said Railroad on the line thereof and within
the limits oil ten miles on each side OF said road'
and by Sec. 7. the companies named were Ql-
thorizcd to file maps designating the general route
OF the railroad in the Department of the Interior,
and it provided that the Secretary OF the Interior
should thereupon cause the lands within fifteen
miles OF such designated route Ito be withdrawn
from pre-emption, private entry and sale"
Soon after the passage OF this law. this com
pany filed in your Department map designating
the route of our road from Sacramento to the
Eastern boundary of the State of California and
thereupon an order was duly made Withdrawing
from pre-emption. private entry and sale the
public lands within fifteen miles Of such desig-
mated route in compliance with the law.
Since the passage OF this Act, this company has
been diligently engaged in constructing their
railroad as required by the law and have now
completed and in running order nearly thirty-one
mi les OF their road. commencing at this city and
running eastward into the Sierra Nevada noun
ans. leaving about II miles to the State line to
be constructed.
The public lands have only been surveyed into
sections a distance Of about Sc miles on the line
of the road leaving the remainder of about 109
miles still unsurvcyed.
We would further state that recently large
number of saw mills have been constructed along
and near the line Of the Railroad in this State
upon these unsurvcyed lands and numerous Others
are projected. The owners Of these mills are cX-
tensvely engaged in cutting down and destroying
all the valuable timber trees growing upon the
L.
of the Railroad route including those belonging
to the Government as well as those granted to
this company.
This destruction is carried on in the most reck-
less and wasteful manner-almost the entire
value Of these lands consist OF the timber thus
growing thereon. and if this destruction is per-
mitted to continue, they will soon be rendered
entirely valuCleSs both to the Government and
to the company-whch if the timber is preserved
until the railroad reaches that portion which will
be in one year or eighteen months, they will be
of great value to both, as well as prove source
Of revenue to the railroad in carrying the lum-
Der and wood to market.
In consequence of these lands being unsurvey
ed, it is impossible for this company to show
which OF these trespassers are trespassing upon
the lands belonging to us. and which upon the
lands of the Government, and we have therefore
no certain means OF protecting the company by
a resort to the courts.
The Department over which you preside can
protect the interests of the Government as well
as of this company by issuing instructions to the
proper United States officers in this State, to
force the laws against persons thus destroying
timber upon the public lands. We draw your
attention to this matter. as it is of great impor
tancc both to the Government and this company,
and respectfully request you to take such action
in the premises as you may deem just and proper.
We remain, yours, most respectfully,
E. B. CROCKER.
Gen. A gent and Attorney G.. p. R. r. Co.