The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-03-24
SALT LAKE AND COLUMBIA RIVER R. R,

4 From all obtainable information upon th
progress and prospects of the bill introduce,
at an early day Of the present session Of Con
gress, providing for grant of public domain
in aid Of this most important project to an in
land empire Of country in area, it's success il
not only very probable but almost certain
There is not more important railroad bill be
fore Congress, and the vast and vital necessit,
and utility of the measure seems to be under
stood and appreciated both by the House ani
Senate Committees having the subject under
especial consideration. The recent passage Of
comparatively unimportant bill granting pub
Tic lands in aid of the construction of short
local railroad line projected in the State oi
Oregon, in the Senate, assures beyond all reas.
enable doubt, the passage in that body Of this
bill whenever it shall come up in its order for
action, and we learn the prospect is equally
favorable for its passage through the House.
1t may therefore reasonably in due time be
expected to become law. The u. S. Gov.
ernment is directly interested in the SPEEDY
completion and permanent maintenance Of
such road for postal communication and pur-
poses, and still more for necessary military
purposes in the transportation of troops, NUM-
tions Of war, and military stores Heretofore
Indian wars have been carried on, military
posts established and maintained, and troops
and military stores necessary, transported
fromplace to place at an enormous expense and
with great and unavoidable delays, which the
construction and use of this railroad will to
great extent remedy. Where facilities exist
for the rapid concentration of troops at any
given point within an area of country hundreds
of miles iE extent the Indians soon learn the
folly of committing depredations, or of CON-
mencing any overt acts of hostility. In this
view alone, this proposed railroad line, once in
successful operation, from the main trunk
Union Pacific to the .navigable waters of the
Columbia river will do more to secure peace
and ensure tranquility among the Indians
throughout the whole range of country trav-
ersed by it, than would the maintenance of
standing army of thousands of troops distribut-
ed at various points at military posts through
out the Indian country. There can be no ques-
ton that the annual saving in this way to the
National Treasury would amount to large
sum of money, certainly at least three-fourths
of the present annual appropriation and ex
penditure for that purpose, to say nothing of
the probable loss of life also prevented.
A further and very important consideration
is the certain rapid settlement of the entire
expanse of country from terminus to terminus
Of the road by actual settlers, and the establish
ment of thousands upon thousands of perma-
nent homes,- the founding of villages and cities,
and the growth of population and development
Of every material resource of now cOmpara-
lively uninhabited region of country The
productive industry of this constantly increas-
ng population, rapidly peopling an inland Sec
ion of over one hundred thousand square
niles of now vacant public domain, would very
soon amount to an annual U. S. revenue greater |
han the value of the lands granted by the
;erms of the bill to aid in the construction of
his railroad, at the minimum Government
,rice of 81 IS per acre. The residue or al.
ernate sections of lands retained would more
'eadily bring 50 so per acre than the whole
would sell for ST 25 per acre without the road.
IN fact the almost complete isolation from any
md all market facilities whatever would neces-
arily prevent any considerable settlements be-
ng made, or population being secured, to most
# this vast region for very long time to come
n the future. All who now live in any por-
ion of the country adjacent to the projected
QUITE of this road know that more salubrious
Innate and greater natural advantages of sur
ace and soil can scarcely be found anywhere,
While the known mineral wealth of the entire
elt of country from east to west, and extend.
ng for many miles north and south, is abso-
ltely incalculable and inexhaustible. Idaho,
Southern Idaho, is vitally interest
d in the success of this measure. Our Dele
ate in Congress, Hon. j. K. Shafer, is exert
1g himself to aid in every honorable and le-
itmate manner in the success of this BILL
he entire Oregon and some of the California
clegation in both Houses of Congress are do
,g all in their power to ensure its passage.
special credit is due to the efforts of Hon. {
eOrge HI. Williams, u. s. Senator from Ore ,
on, and Hon. Joseph 8. Smith, member of the
louise of Representatives from that State, and
3