The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-10-13

will give this enterprise the encourage,
ment and assistance which the interest of
every man in the State demands that it
should have, the road will be speedily
commenced and pushed on to final com.
pletion. The construction of this road
will double the whole amount of the tax.
able property in the State, aud reduce
the rate of State taxes fully one.half 1t
only remains now with ourselves to say
whether we will have this great work or
not; whether Oregon shall wake up and
start forward in the glorious race OF
wealth and prosperity, keeping pace with
the other States of the Union. or whether
we will stand listleSs, do nothing and lag
behind all our sister States in the Union.
Let the members of the Legislature take
hold of this matter with true public spir-
it and give it prompt and liberalsupport.
We are informed that General Bidwell
the author Of the Bill which passed Con-
gress, has gone to Europe TO secure for
eign capital for investment in this great
work 4 company of the most response
BILE and wide awake business men in the
State has already been incorporated to
take and manage the grant for this State.
They mean business The thanks of ev-
cry true friend of the State are due to the
few individuals who have so persevering-
| ly worked at this matter for the pastthrec
years, as to now bring it within the abili-
/ ty of the State to make it n success.
For the information of our readers, we
copy the following article on the subject
from the San Francisco Bulletin
Oregon Statesman.
The Oregon Railroad bill alone passed
both Houses, after protracted and wor-
rying contest in Committee and in open
session. and has received the approval of
the President The enterprise which il
contemplatcs had perhaps the best claim
to National assistance Of all its fellows,
for it involves the construction of n road
about GOO miles long which will connect
500 miles of Northern California and all
of Oregon directly with the Pacific Rail
road. and with the general railway system
that must ultimately centre at the bay oi
San Francisco, possessing thus superior
importance as a commercial and industri-
al agent Viewing it In this light, the
/ Legislature of California, at its session in
| 1861, passed resolutions urging our del.
egasion at Washington to use their ihfu-
encc to secure n grant Of lands in It's be
half. Through the energy of Mr.. Cole a
bill making such grant was got through
the House in 1865. but failed in the Sen.
ate for lack of time and attention. The
passage Of the second bill, which is now
IA law. is due mainly TO the able and per.
scvering advocacy of Mr.. Bidwcll, whose
intimate acquaintance with the industrial
and agricultural interests and wants oI
our State led him to give the matter de.
gree of Jealous attention which has final
" secured It's reward The bill grants to
the California and Oregon Railroad Com
pany. already organized under the laws oi
this State, and to a Company to be or
ganized in Oregon, the right of way foI
a railroad and telegraph line between the
city of Portland, in Oregon. and the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad in California. The
California Company is to begin its end o.
the road at such point on the Central Pa
cifc Railroad in the Sacramento valley
as it may select, and run it thence north
erly through the Sacramento and Shasta
valleys to the northern boundary of the
State; and the Oregon company is re
quired to begin It's end of the line at Port
land, and run thence southerly through
the Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue
River valleys to the southern boundary
Of Oregon, connecting with the Califor
MIA road but either Company first com
pleting its road to the boundary between
the two States is privileged to continue i
beyond the line, if the State consents, un
til connection is made. The companic
are granted every alternate section of va
cant public land, not mineral, to thu
amount of 20 sections per mile, 10 sec
tons On each side. If the alternate sec
tions, designated by odd numbers, arr
? anywhere occupied, pre- e-empted, sold
granted or reserved, other land in liel
thereof may be taken, nearest and no
more than ten miles beyond the limit
first described. It is not probable tn,
companies will get in either State al
amount of land equivalent to 20 section
per mile for every mile of the road, bu
: they will obtain tracts large enought t.
make the franchise an exceedingly valu
able one, and to warrant the investmen
of capital for the construction of the road
d Sections IF al least 20 miles are required
f to be completed every year, and the Who'll
road to be done by July l, 1875. Th'
: guage must be the same as that of tn
: Pacific Railroad, and the companies ar
required, In consideration Of the liberia
: grants made, to transport the mails at al
!, times at reasonable rates, and to conve
, free of charge the troops and property O
the United States The provisions as t
: the issuing of patents, examination of tn
road by Commissioners, and control an
r supervision oft by Government are sim
. liar to these in the Pacific Railroad Act
t The liberal terms of the bill ought to in
: sure the practical commencement of tn
a a road at an early day. It was stated i
d Washington, when the bill was befor
Congress, that heavy capitalists connect
ed with the New York Central Railroa
and others in San Francisco would tax
hold of it as soon as the franchise was oh
: tanned. With the completion of shor
> line now under way between Lincoln an
z Marysyille, there will bea continuous lin
d of railroad from Sacramento to Oroville
distance of SO miles. The Californi
: and Oregon Railroad Company will prob
ably begin their work at Oroville, an
push the first section of 20 miles north
: ward towards Chico, on the Sacrament
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