The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-02-02
Inc R,il,o.a L.nds Of Nevada.

EprroRs ISpEPIxpESrs For some, reason,
the Sacramento Union has, from the time the
first spade was stuck on the Central Pacific
Railroad. waged most bitter and unceasing
warfare against that corporation. One canAot
fail to notice, that while many Of its structures
are well supported by facts, some OF its TRADES
have no foundation; besides bearing with
them a statement Of facts directly at warfare
with the best interests of this State> / refer
particularly to the Unions "hobby Of land
monopoly, with which it has been tickling the
ears of the landless.
In the Union of January 2sth the following
language appears;
The argument that land gifts 10 railway
companies benefit the public at large, because
they secure good roads, has become a hack
neyed falsehood. 1t was plausible when the
first grant was made-that to the Pacific Rail-
way-but since then experience has shown
that nothing is to be gained to the people by
such donations. Those who received them
have been among the most iliberal and OPP
pressive in the management of the roads, and,
II there were law for il, i: would be sound
policy to strip them of all that has been
granted The plan Of protecting and fostering
these corporations ut the expense of the peo-
pie is diametricaly opposed to the general
welfare and to the principles Of the common
law. We should protect the people first, and
let the corporations take their chances under
the wise old rule that regarded them as things
without souls or human sympathies. Lands
are valuable chiefly for what they produce
The average annual products of 100 acres in
this State are worth ten times the Government
price of the land. If, then, 1000 acres are
withheld from settlement and cultivation by
any sort of monopoly for five years, it is
equivalent TO a public loss of the price of
90 900 acres.
The first period in the above quotation has
no support in the railroad history of the Mis-
sissirpi River States, and were the Union
editor acquainted with the management of
the Illinois Central Railroad lands, and the
grants In Minnesota, he would never have
penned that sentence, unless TO crafty NOR
bid passion, trusting that the distance between
their land and ours would render contradiction
improbable. The lands in Illinois before the
construction of the Central road were value
less afterward, they became the most ralu-
able and productive Of any in the West. At
81 per acre to an actual settler, with five or
ten years 20 make the payment II was and is
easier 70 make the payment than TO pay it all
at once under the presumption law at half that
price. The terms established by the Mime
| sofa railroads have been made so easy that
settlers have preferred the odd or railroad see
tons to tie even OF Government sections. 1t
| is for the interest Of the companies TO facili-
| tate settlement aud cultivation of the soil.
The Central Pacific is, so far as their policy Is
| made known, following In the same track laid
down by those Eastern companies. Settlers
can purchase Of the Central Pacific lands at
81 80 per acre, on five year time, and the
even or Government sections sell at the same
price per acre Dy presumption, with the linlAl-
ity to have the payment entire demanded
within six months.
Now we're the rerrErks 0f the Union con-
fined i'll effect 10 the company, they would
not be worth notice, int its constant hnrping
about railroad land monopoly has led the
thousands in the States and many in orr own
midst to believe that there we're no lands left
within the financial reach oi men with ur,il.
nary means. This impression, spread far and
wide, has and still does operate iniuriously 10
our interests, and prcycntf many people from
becoming land owners. \ farmer in Lampl"
valley most RgretiIhly suSpriscd when told
that the company would sci lnm his ranch at
- % per acre. The company has abundance
of these lands, and their terms are Within the
reach of every man who lSIs the means "a
! move on II quarter section and cultivate It,
From long experience i'll the land depart
ment of the Government, and having closely
watched the land management OF railroad
companies in two of the great wheat growing
States Of the West, | feel warratted in saying
that the railroad companies. from self-interest
: have and still do offer cheaper homes TO the
landlcss than the Government. We, in thii
region Of country, want IL understood tina
there are railroad and Government lands il
abundance, all within the reach Of the pool
nan.
Respectfully, yours,
JAMES C. Dow.