, 1869-02-12

90 not regard tne proFislOu VI wv Nii' "A'NA -
quires three fourths Of the votes cast at the
special election to be in favor of allowing the
Couuty Commissioners to subscribe to the stock,
as an objection, yet was obliged to consent 10
this n order to get the Committee to report it.
had decided before yours was received to
keep this bill separate aud distinct from all 9th
ers, and not to endanger its passage by allowing
any thing, or any ,Other railroad project to be
attached to it. have taken the liberty to send
a copy of this letter to the Wsla walla STATES.
NAN. Yours, ALvAN FLANDERS.
RAILROAD IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
Mr.. Ashley, OF Ohio, from the Committee on
the Territories, reported back bill a. R. No
lO4l) granting the right of way to the WallA
WA,a and Columbia River Railroad Company,
aud for other purposes with an amendment in
the nature OF substitute therefor.
The Clerk read the substitute, as follows.
That the right of way through the public lands
be, and the same is hereby, granted TO the
Walla Walla aud Columbia River Railroad Com
pauy, a corporation existing under the laws OF
the Territory of Washington aud duly incorpor>
ated, for the purpose Of constructing railroad
from said town of Walla WAlla to some eligible
point on the navigable waters OF said Columbia
river 10 said Territory said right of way hereby
granted TO said railroad is to the extent of Que
hundred feet 10 width on each side of said road
where it may pass over the public lands also
| all necessary ground, not TO exceed five acres
at each station, for station buildings, work shops
depots, machine shops, switches, side tracks,
turn tables, and water stations.
| Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the
county commissioners of the county of WallA
| WallA, in the Territory of Washington, be- and
they are hereby, authorized aud empowered to
aid in the construction of the Walla Walla and
| Columbia River railroad, by subscribing to the
capital stock of said Walla Wala, aud Colum 5a
| River Railroad Company 10 the name and on be,
half of said county of WallA WAlla, aud by issu>
ing bonds of said county, payable at such time
as said commissioners shall think proper, aud
bearing interest of not more than eight per cent
per anhum 10 payment tor said stock so by them
taken in said railroad company, or by issuing
bonds bearing interest aforesaid, as a loan TO
| said company, to be used in the construction o.!
said road, or to aid said company in the con
struction of said road by the credit ofssid coun
ty 10 any other manner the said commissioners
may think proper Provided, That the said
subscription loan, or other aid SO given by said
commissioners to sald company shall in no case
| exceed the sum Of $500, 900 And provided fur
ther, That the SAID subscription, loan or other
aid shall have been submitted to the people of
said county and been voted for by three fourtbs
of the legal votes cast at au election held for
that purpose: AHd proVided further. That if
said vote be taken at a special election the no.
tice shall be the same as provided by the laws
of said Territory for general elections.
SEC. 3. And be il further enacted, That the
county commissioners of the county of Walla
Walla, in the Territory OF Washington, be, aud
they are hereby, authorized aud empowered to
bold special election At such time as they may
designate, after twenty days public notice,
which said election shall be governed by the
general laws of said Territory upon the su jecl
OF elections, at which election the aid to be
given by said county to said WallA Walla and
Columbia River Railroad Company, either by
subscriptions to stock or Otherwise, SHALL be
submitted to and be voted upon by the lega
voters OF said county in such manner as said
commissioners may designate.
Mr.. Ashley, of OHIO. This bill grants to the
Wala Walla and Columbia Rrver Railroad
Company, an organization created by the laws
OF Washington Territory, the right of way through
any vt the public lands from Waila Rala to the
Columbia river, distance of thirty miles, ant
at each of their stations or depols they are en-
titled to take five acres of the public lands
Otherwise there are no public lands aud there i.
no occupancy Of the public lands granted
The county commissioners of WallA WallG
county are authorIZet 10 subscribe $780, 600 Il
the stock ofthis county a vote Of three tOurtha
OF all the voters, at election of which tbt
same notice is 10 be given as is given at genera
election IN the Territory. There is no grant y
money from the Government involved 10 the bill
Tue Government has nothing to lose. | believ'
the bill is sufficiently guarded to secure tn
rights of the people there in that it requires
three fourths of all the voters to authorize th
subscription.
Mr.. Price. wish to know if the FIVE acres 70
, depot grounds includes the two hundred feet il
width or lie exclusive Of it The bill is not sui
hcieutly definite on that point.
Mr.. Ashley, Of Ohio. They are TO have on
hundred feet on each side of the road and nv
, acres in addition.
, Mr.. Price. The bill does not say so.
, Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio. The land only cost
81 rs an acre. l have travelled over the ground
, aud would not give ten cents acre tor som
} OF it,
Mr.. Price The bill does not exempt minerA
a lands from occupancy by the company. It ha
oeen The universal custom, in granting lands an
the right ofway through the public lands tbrouR
the Territories OF the United States, to exemp
I all mineral lands.
a Mr.. Ashley, OF Ohio. Well, there are no mil
eral lands within good many miles of-the pro
posed road from Walla WaliA to the Oolumbi
river. rt r.
J Mr. Price Is that certainl
Mr.. Ashley, ofOno. II is very certain. Th
4 ouly point ia the bill is whether the House
willing 70 authorize the eommissiouers Of Wall
. Walla eouuty, on vote of three fOnrths of il
, people, to subscribs to road TO let them out
. the nAvigable waters Of the Columbia
2 Mr.. Welker. desire to ask my colleague wh
it is necessary that we should pass an act 9
: Congress to authorize subscription TO the ca pi
tai stock Of this road on behalf Of this count
{ 10 Washington Territory7 Has not the territoI
D iAl Legislature power TO confer this right upo
the county,
Mr., Ashley, ofohiO. au glad to answer tb
geotleman that they have not By an act whic
drew myself no territorial Legislature has au
thori;y 70 grantany special privileges whatever
Mr. Julian. How much ls1d does this bi
q grspt1