The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-07-07
M. FITCH ON the sAulRuAp QUESTION.

Our Congressman has addressed the
following letter, under date June zStn,
to Judge Beatty, as an exposition OF his
official connection with the several prop
ositions for a railroad to put White
Pine in communication with the through
Pacific Railroad. As Mr.. Fitch thought
well for the substance of his letter to
find print. we think full impartiality is
better answered by publication entire;
Your favor received. also an account Of
the indignation meeting at Hamilton.
I do not think there is any occasion
for Indignation at me. l have taken no
step in the matter of aiding a railroad
from the Central Pacific to the Colorado
without promptly and publicly submit
ting the measures to the opinion OF my
constituents. The only copies OF the
various bills on the subject received at
Hamilton were sent by me, and at the
beginning I invited an expression OF pub
lie opinion and promised to postpone ae-
ton until that expression should be OBJ
tanned. The grant proposed was large
and unusual, and for that reason l did
not feel myself at liberty to press its
passage, or even report favorably upon
it to the Committee on Public Lands lof
which l am q member. as l might have
done months a~go-w1thout direct instruc-
ton and Endorsement from the people Of
White Pine and Elko counties. l have
complied with their suggestions as re-
spects amendments, n on being ad-
vised of their last aftion, by telegram,
I withdrew the bill. If they will pre-
pare exactly such a bill as will suit them,
with such grants as will be acceptable,
and send it to me, | will introduce and
press it. If they think it better to have
DO grant from Congress at all, l shall be
equally ready to withhold all effort.
Ny only object has been to secure a
railroad from the Central Pacific Rail-
road to the Colorado. l do not know
but one of the members of the Elko Il
Colorado Railroad and Navigation Com
pany. l observed that this company
was granted some privileges by the last
Legislature, and allowed to receive aid
from Elko, White Pine, Nye and Lin
coin counties, and concluded the fran
chise should go tothem; but l am in no
wise particular, and will cheerfully sub
stitute the names of any good men who
mean to build a road.
l have my own opinions about the
probabilities of procuring money to
build a road with the restrictions and
upon the conditions proposed by the
Hamilton Executive Committee. 1t will
cost over six millions of dollars to build
and stock the road. I do not think the
can be obtained in Nevada, and if
parties should go to New York or Boston
for the money, they would find the rep
resentatives Of roads South and West,
with land grants of 20 sections a mile. of
rich lands, without any restrictions,
there before them, and not successful in
capital, once out of five times, at
that. However, that is not my affair.
will, rs l said before, represent the peo-
pie in this matter, and try and procure
such legislation as they desire.
I do not, as you may conjecture, write
This letter for publication; but l think in
to me, that the substance of it,
with reference to my action in railroad
matters, should find its way to the
Very truly yours,
THos. FITCH,