The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-01-08
RAILROAD MEETING.


d. and S. L. Railroad adopted resolutions
which we publish below, favoring that enter
prise. The urgent and immediate necessity
Tor railroad connecting us with the Union
Pacific, and the Columbia river, is too gener.
ally admitted to require debating now; and
the plan proposed by Col Chapman is of so fair
and equitable nature, that all may endorse it,
whether opposed to public aid to such enter.
prises or not. We hope, therefore, to see the
measure universally approved by our people,
and would be glad to see petitions circulated
praying Congress to grant the desired aid. Our
Territory is excelled by no section of country
on the Pacific coast. in the qualities that go
to make up great commonwealth; and when
we have the advantages of railroad commun-
cation, the increase of population will be pro-
portoned to the natural advantages of the Ter.
ritory. Without population no country ever
was, or will be developed; and without rail-
road Idaho will acquire population but slowly;
for the Union and Central Pacific roads, the
only means of travel between the East and
West is. and will continue to be, controlled by
California, and immigrants are compelled, in
the interest of California, of course to pay the
same price for tickets to Salt Lake City or
kelton, that is charged to San Francisco
While this state of things continues, they will
go there instead of coming here.
| We quote condensed statement of Col
Chapman's plan. and of the amount aud nature
Of the assistance asked, and also, the reso-
lutions passed by the meeting above referred
to. from the Statesman:
| That the L. d. & s. L. Railroad Co. after
years of effort had at last got the right of way
through the Cascades, the key To the whole west;
had the right of way from Congress over the
public lands, with right Ia cut timber and other
privileges that the company was alive and ma
king earnest efforts To get capital; that the
people oi Eastern Oregon were very enthusI.
astc, and would undertake IN grade the road
from the Columbia river IL Baker City. That
In order to speedily complete the road he would
make one more application Ia the general Gov
ernment for aid, and in new way, consistent
with the great reiurm movement against rail
road monopolirs and their exactions. and the
feeling against subsidies. The proposed bill to
be introduced into Congress would make this Il
military and postal road. subject 10 the rrgula-
iions of the Government. aud which is tn per
form all government service. mail. army. Iudi-
an and oil others requred and for all this SER
vice the Government 10 pay iisc per cent in
terest on ten thousand dollars per mile on the
bonds of the road. as the same shall be proper.
" constructed and accepted. The length of
the road being 800 miles, the bonds would be
- na,l al ,,,Su sx,h h..,, ,tI
$3.50 900 The transportation generally not to
exceed seventy per cent. oi the charges o! the |
Union and Central Pacific roads and to be pro
rata The company to report annually. re-
ceipts and expenditures, salaries of officers and
all such; construction and repairs, and with the
report, pay into the u. S Treasury twenty.
five per cent. of the net earnings, to be invest.
ed in United States bonds as sinking fund
with which to redeem the principal; Congress
to have power to legislate to prevent or remedy
frauds. extortions. and abuse of power. The
whole line from the Union or Central Pacific |
to the Columbia river, to be completed in three
years. The bill was guarded in every way to
protect the rights of the people. That the
Government now pays annually for the trans
portation Of the mails from kclton on the Cen
trail Pacific to the Columbia river 1920 900,
and from Winnemucca to Boise City S77 900.
Here alone is 1897 900 for two routes, all of
which would be included in the s250,000 inter-
est money to be paid besides the other trans
portation in the way of troops, supplies, etc,
for which thousands of dollars are expended by
the Government so that by paying five per cent
interest on the bonds, the Government would
have the service much better performed, and
save large sums annually, Independent of the
incalculable benefits to the people Of the States
and Territories connected with the road; so as
mere investment the Government would make
money, and could not possibly lose anything
He then went on to prove that . narrow gauge
road could be built over this line fully equipped
stocked. and set to running, for less sum than
$4,000 per mile, giving the figures, the esti
mates, and calculations and allowing literally
for everything. He then showed that the mo-
rev could be easily procured if the proposed
bill was passed. that then any number of cap
talists stood ready to take the bonds, and fur
nish the money Immediately, having faith in the
enterprise. He acknowledged that this was an
;nauspicious time to ask Congress for aid, but
the bin was 80 fair, So unobjectionable, so ad-
vantaqeous to the Government, that he believ-
cd Congress would consider it favOrably. and
that with united effort Of the people OF Idaho,
Washington and Oregon the bill could be pas
sed and the measurg effected.
That ne desired the people of Idaho to study
the matter, agitate it, and lend their support to
th;a imnortant measure, rs they were deeply
;nterested. At the conclusion he was warmly
+. s. Anderson offered the following reso.
WHEREAS. the vital interests and future
nrosnerity of Idaho Territory demands the