The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-10-17
CORRESPONDENTS
sAIEM, Tuesday, Oct. Is, 1868.

SALEM, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1868.
There are several measures which
awaken an unusual degree of interest
whenever they are brought up for the
consideration of the legislative /;
among them are the Homestead Ex-
emption Bill, Col. Chapman's bill to
create the Department of Statistics,
Immigration and Labor Exchange
the bill to tax Chiramen, the bill to
provide for steam tug on the Colum-
bia bar, a bill relative to Common
Schools, introduced by Mr.. Sites of
Linn county, and all questions per-
tanning to Railroads. The feeling on
all railroad matters is intense. Va
rious schemes for the disposal of the
public land donation for Railroad pur-
poses have been considered; but the
suhjoined Joint Memorial, introduced
by Mr.. Stout, Senator from Multno-
NAH, has been received with the most
favor:
To tho Senate and House of Representatives in
Congress assembled:
Your mcmoralis,s the Legislative Assembly Of
the State cf Oregon. would represent, that in
coriance With the act OF Congress approved July
e5th. lSG6, granting lands TO aid the construction
OF railroad and telegraph in California and Ore
gon said Legislature iii by joint resolution,
tie 10Th day Of October. iSGS, designate the
- Oregon CeEtral Railroad Co. as the company
to receive tie grant and franchise under said act
Of Congress; that at tie time Of said designation,
said Legislative Assembly had reason 10 believe
aud dit, taat such incorporated company was
organized and capable OF receiving the grant. and
Intended, ia good faith, o. carry out the provisions
OF said act of Cons sress that after the designation
as ao- essid, two companies iii incorporate anaer
the laws II the State VI Oregon, under the name
ii the " Oregon Central Railroad Company" each
having Tor it object the construction of railroad
and telegraph IN accordance with said act Of Con
srcSss ami lsr tAe purpose og securing the grant
'and franchise intended t. be Conferred by said
II Congress that one filed its articles OF iucorpo
ration With tbe Secretary of State at Salem. on
The 2ist day Of November. 1850 designating it,
oEee zEd business - Portland. Oregon, aud tie
otaSr AsSd as agticsfs Ot Incorporation with said
secretary ii State 0u tie 23d day OF April. 1sGs.
designating It's Cii]ce AID place of business st
Salem, Oregon: that each of said companies
ct.tl~A iAt Trey AFS EAEtkttA 10 anu DuEHl 10
eeye AMI have tie benefits Of ths grant aud fran
eiise under said act Of Congress. and each are
proceeding 10 construct railroad, claiming that
they are doing tie same in tic manner caB,em-
plated by said act Of Congress.
II ! OF tae greatest Importance to the people Of
this State tlat such contemplated read should be
constructed. and it Is the wisa of this Legislative
Assembly and Of the people Of Oregon, that the
appropriations % Congress shalt be applied
to bsst promote the whole interests of the people
aud 10 that end and tiaf sGch object aud desire
nav be re='izcI We respectfully request that the
Congress q. the United Stat would pFog de by
law th1t lhc of tAe tWo incorporated panies
herein mentioned, which shail first build, complete,
stock aud fully oquip hity miles "f railroad con-
tina9usly through saii valley, commencing at the
city of Portland: shall be entitled u and receive
ali The si3s. rights aad privileges intended 10 be
conveyed - s4il act OF Congress, aud that Con
gress shalt provide how il shall be determined
which 6f sid companies have East eunstructed
said road ard telegraph, aud under 10 eircun-
stances peTsnit diversion Of said road from tie
route de.i~ua:ed n ihe eTieinal grant, so far As
the Rogue River aud umpqua yaileys are con
eeTned.
1t . i'll be seen that the substance
Of this Memorial is, that Congress
shall give the lands in dispute to that
Company which shall first build, com
plete, stock, and fnlly equip fifty miles
of railroad, continuously through the
Willamette Valley. II is very gcner-
ally admitted, on all sides, that this
is a fair proposition; nevertheless, on
final vote, Iapprehend that all in
favor of the west side road will vote
against DR. Stout's Memorial, and all
in favor Of the East side road will
vote for it as it is generally under
stood that the West side cannot fulfill
the conditions of the proposition, and
that the East side can. This railroad
question is destined yet to be sort
of Aaron's-rod affair-it will swallow
up all others that cross its pathway.