The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-02-27
cLAGETr,s RAILROAD BILL.

n the House of Representatives, on January lotl
: granting the right Of way across the puoh
LANDS To any railroad Incorporated under IN
J. general Incorporation laws OF the several Ter
ritorirs. has. We believe, passed that branch q
+ Congress, and unless pressed closely Tor time
tbe Senate will also, no doubt pass il before tn
anal adjournment. The bill instead OF bein:
IF any benefit 70 the Territories, Is decided.
; AN obnoxious and outrageous measure. In th'
] first place, it only grants right ol way tw'
hundred feet in width across the pubic lands
and twenty acres of land for every ten miles o
read for the erection of suitable station build
: ings. turn.outs, reservoirs, switches and ma
, chine. snaps; the grant not to extend over an!
Indian or military reservation without further
specla. legislation of Congress. 1t further pro-
sides that in ease any such railroad shall not
BIZ completed within FIVE years after the iorina-
ton of the corporation organized for that pur.
pose, the rights and grants provided for IN
the bill, shall be forfeited as to that portion OF
the road remaining uncomp!eted. lie biii
further contains some prohibltory clauses, TO
the effect that. no Territory shall, in any man
ner, give OR loan its credit to any railroad con.-
pany, nor shall any county q. municipality
therein do so, unless duly authorized thereto
| by an act of the Territorial Legislature; nor
unless said act shall be ratified BY two-thirds
vote Of those voting on the question, " and only
qualified electors. who have paid taxes on real
or personal property. on the last property as.
sessmcut preceding the election shall be euti-
tied to vote on the question
The benefits derived from the general gov
eminent under the provisions Of this remarAa-
bic bill are, first, tie right OF way across the pub
lie lands, right never yet questioned or re-
fused 10 any company, and. second, i grant @!
twenty acres of land Tor every len uliles 81
road. Il is equivalent 10 this, tia; for every
two hundred thousand dollars any Incorporated
company viii expend. ia building leu miles Of
railroad across the barren wastes Of land be-
longing 10 the Government, Congress will liz
nate 10 the company twenty -tse dollars worth
Of land; Il liberal grant. aud great induce
ment, certainly, for companies Ia open up Ia
settlement, by means Of railroads, these waste
aud uaoccupirJ lands of the General Govern.
nrnt. Therefore, ii some veuturrsome cor.
Doratlon will undertake 10 construct line oi !,
:ilic road To Boise City. aud wall complete !. ia $
i've years, they can safely rely upon receiving
About six hundred dollars worth of gool.lor
lothing' sage-brush land without paving for H. :
This IS the SUM and substance Of The bcnc :
is - be derived under the provision. al this p
Important bill oc which Ne Clage.t clalms d
he paternity. {
The bill further provides ,ha. the Lrsisla 4
lrrs al tue severa! Territories u>. in their (
eaeral Incorporation Laws. provide the manner =
which private and public lands may b. con b
emned 'or tie uses 81 the company. fair con- ~
egsatioa being lrsl made therefor; and that c.
u proceedings for condemnation shall be had Il
the Territorial District Courts The bin "a
mounts 10 a nallity: and any benefits. scaat Al
they are, to be derived from il. are defeated tn
the very provisions Of the act itself The IN
ne consumed in organizing an Incorporated IA
'mpany after lis Incorporation. procuring IL
c necessary funds, ETC. iogrihrr With til. IN
avs delays i'll condemn!ng aud for the use IL
tie company would leave but a short por th
N of tie five years in which 10 complete the trl
ad; and If not completed the company forfeit "a
err rigAt OF way, and ground for stations. de-
lter tanks, etc, for the portion remaining SID
completed. The subsequent provisions of ele
: bill, in regard to local aid. assumes that bis
people OF Territory ars incapable OF ov'
'naglng their own affairs. and, ike a parcel in
children, are not competent to Judge as to inv
lat Is 70 Their own interests The doctriu, pol
II the majority shall rule is reversed aid the ha,
D thirds rule, OF tax payers, established in cor
stead Ihree-fourths of the people. of a lin.
unity, or OF Territory. may desire to extend tina
! ~ the construction of railroad, and, yet. tina
one vote more than one-third of those cit;. me
IS whose names are on the assessment roll. hav
n acton is defeated. If Delegate Clagett. no
iegate Merritt, or either or all Of th. Terri. lab
iai Delegates, think that such a bill meet. and
wishes or reqniremets OF their const,tu. of
lhey are wofully mistaken They NAV :,
slider they have thrown tub TO the ,vb,I,.
tue people are not 50 blind to their own in.
's'S 's to be deceived by any such worth. :.
legislative trash US this railroad bill intro. -"
ca oy the Delegate from Montana. ~
~ low
'oUND HIS PLACE.-s,e;,,ooo :. w, you,
LII.