The Placer herald., 1865-12-30
Remonstrance against Donating Mineral
Lands to the Pacific Railroad Company.

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Perhaps one Of the most important pro.
positions which will come before the Legisla
ture is the memorial and resolutions Of Sem
ator Belden of Nevada, instructing our Sen
ators in Congress, and requesting our Repre-
sentatives to use all efforts to prevent the
issuance of any patents TO lands upon the
line Of !he Pacific Railroad, until the Legis.
lature can have time to memorable Con.
gress, sskng that body 10 amend the law
donating lands to the Central Pacific Rail>
road Company, approved July 2, 1851.
Although strenuous exertions were made by
the Company, the resolutions passed readily
through the Senate and Assembly, and un
doubtsdIy ere this have been telegraphed to
Washington.
The law Of Congress donating lands to
the Railroad Company made an exception of
such AS contained mineral, but so far AS they
have been surveyed and plots filed, there is
nothing to distinguish agricultural from
feared that patents would issue from the
Commissioner of the General Land Office,
when it would be too late to correct errors.
We have heretofors had occasion to refer
to the mineral lands of California in conpec'
ton with the Pacific Railroad Company and
have endeavored to show the injustice which
might be done by allowing the Department
unadvisedly to issue patents to mineral lands.
The large number of settlers, together with
mining claims already worked, made the
subject Of more than usual importance. BY
giving title to the company, many persons
woull have been ruined, or at least they
would have been mads entirely dependent
for property which rghtfuIy belonged to
,hem upon the will OF Others.
The inhabitants of California for 18 years
past, or, in fact, ever since the mines were
first discovered; have endeavored to have the
mineral lands of the State SO managed as
not to pass into the hands of a few persons,
thereby becoming monopoly; and with this
view their sale has been steadily opposed.
Lands within the limits of the mineral re-
gion have been belI by possession, both for
mining and Agricultural purposes. This
system has worked passably well-better
perhaps, up to the present time than any
other that could have been devised. The
lands, so far as occupied, are in the possess
sion of such persons AS desire TO work them,
and as soon as the title shall pass from the
United States it should be to those who have
settled upon them in good faith.
The same principle holds good in respect
to lands Gituated in California. as in other
States and Territories OF the Union. 1t has
always been found advantageous to divide
the public lands into small tracts to be oc,
cupied by settlers. The county has pros
pered under such policy. Is it not to be
wondered at, when the sensiliveness Of our
,;xans is cousiIarad in ralaiion IN tha min
eral lands, that an attempt to obtain from
the General Government q strip Of territory
including alternate SECTIONS 40 miles in
width, extending entirsly across the noun,
tains, embracing some of the richest GROUND
in California, should alarm the public, apd
induce acton by the Legislature.
As much as the people Of California de-
sire the Pacific Railroad, they are unwilling
to concede every thing to sYch an end; nor
is it bslieved that the completion of the road
can be at all expedited by allowing the COM
pany to take lands which have already been
orcnped and improved hy private iudividp-
ais. The General Government gives large
bonus to the company, and the State of Cali
fo,nia, together with several coupties, haye
voted still more. Congress has also made a
donation Of agricultural and tinbered land.
which, by neglect or mistake, is sought to be
located upon some Of the richest mines in
the State. The Senate and Assembly in thjs
inetance, as was to have been expected,
promptly and by an overwhelming vote, sp-
proved the resolutions 10 be sent to WASH
ington, notwithstanding the opposition ot
the Railroad Company. S. r. Bulletin.
I