The Shasta courier., 1872-10-05
SHASTA COURIER.
CoGHLAN's SPEECH AT VALLEJO.

We publish to-day so much Of the speech
of Hon. John MyCoghlan, delivered at
Vallejo on the 18th Of September, as re.
lates to his vote On the "Goat Island
Bill" and the question of subsidies in
general. We ask of all readers of the
COURIER careful perusal of Mr.. Cogh-
lan's reasons for giving the vote he did
and are satisfied that every man not wholly
blinded by prejudice will hold Mr.. Cogh-
Ian entirely justified in that vote. The
Sacramento Union has not had the fair.
ness to publish the measure it condemns
Mr.. Coghlan for supporting, that people
may, for themselves, judge of its merits
and demerits. In personal canvass Mr.
Coghlan can see but portion of the peo-
pie of each county, therefore we print the
material part of the speech, that every
Republican Of Shasta may see how the DO.
sition of Coghlan has been misrepresented.
This is a gathering of my friends to
welcome me to my home, and they will in
dulge me if, On such an occasion, social
and personal in its nature, l enter into a
brief showing of the reasons that guided me
in supporting the bill to lease portion of
Goat Island for terminal purposes.
The bill was not land. grant in any
sense whatever. Had it passed the SEN
ate and been signed by the President ev-
cry foot of Goat Island would still have re-
mained the property of the United States.
The bill simply provides that for the ac-
commodation of the producers of the State,
portion of the Island might be leased
for railroad purposes. This was to enable
the carload of wheat or WOOL or other pro-
duce to be run alongside of the ship which
is to carry it 10 the markets of the world,
without unnecessary and expensive hand
ling and re-handling. Aud it was for no
one road All might use it.
Now 1 propose briefly to examine the
question and see who would be most beue-
fitted by the passage of this bill.
Before the railroad across the continent
was completed, she question of its terminus
at the bay was very naturally the subject Of
discussion with the railroad company and
with many others.
In the Legislature, in 1868, various
measures we're introduced to provide for q
terminus for the Western Pacific, which
was to be the extension of the Central Pa
cific and for the Southern Pacific Railroad
Companies.
Some of these bills proposed to grant
large quantities OF tide land in San Fran
cisco to these companies in exchange for
the expenditure of millions of dollars by
the companies in the construction of bulk
head. These excited opposition among the
San Francisco people, who are very ssnsi
tive on all questions of water froft, and
finally the railroad people made this prop
osition: They were willing to purchase
three hundred acres of the tide land be-
longing to the State and situated in Mission
Bay, for which they were to pay full market
value. The price was to be fixed by 9
Board Of Commissioners composed of the
Governor, Surveyor General, Mayor If San
Francisco and the President of the Cham
bcr Of Commerce. These high and respon
sible officials were well understood not tt
be over friendly to the railroad. The It'll,
of the State was not to pass to the company
until, in addition to the payment of the
price SO fxed, the company should expenc
a half million dollars in improvements or
the property.
This & think was reasonable measure
If it had become law the overland rail
road would now have deep water terminus