The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-26
A New Railroad Job.

A New Railroad Job.
More than thirteen years have passed
away since the original grant 10y Congress
of July q 1864. to aid in the construction Of
railroad and telegraph line from a point
ON Lake Superior. In the State of Minnesota
or Wisconsin; thence westerly by the most
eligible railroad route as shall be deter
mined by said company. within the terri
tory OF the United States. ON line north of
the forty-iifth degree of latitude To some
point on Pugcts Sound. with branch via
The valley of the Columbia river, to point
at or near Portland in the State of Oregon.
leaving the main trunk line at the most
suitable place. not more than three hundred
miles from its western terminus
Twenty alternate sections of land per mile
on each side of the line through the Terri
tories, and ton alternate sections on eacn
side in the States through which the line
passes were given in aid Of the work and
the total grant was estimated at forty-seven
millions of acres The act required the work
10 be commenced within two years and To
Doe constructed, equipped. furnished. and
completed by the 4th Of July 1876. When
the two years had nearly expired. Congress.
by Joint resolution. May Z. 1866 extended
the time two years for the commencement
aud completion Of the road. During these
two years nothing was done, and Congress
passed Il second Joint resolution, July /, lS6s
giving an additional extension Of two years
for beginning the work. and fixing July t.
1877, definitely IA the time for it, compile
tion.
subsequently, two other joint re-oluti ions
were passed. April 10. 1869. and May 30. 1870
the first authorizing branch line. and the
second a radical change III the location of
the main line and branch, and the issue of
bonds in aid Of the construction and equip
ment of the road and TO secure the same 10y
mortgage. aud So ON. Thus Congress legis-
lated five times in favor Of this project
until ii finally fell into the hands OF JAY
COOKE ~ CO.. with what result l. known.
The franchise expired on the 4th Of July
LAT by uon-fulhlmcnt Of is conditions. The
road is not completed. A new company has
stepped into the shoes OF the old, but it
rannot inherit its privileges without new
lcglslation In default of such legislation
about forty millions of acres Of land will
legally revert to the Government. and the
question now is what should bee done to pro-
tcct the public interest in this vast terri
tory.
Before the adjournment Of Congress, HIP
Tile MITCHELL introduced a bill ostensibly
e. renew this land grant by an extension of
III main line through the valley OF the CO.
lunhla and Portland, and to extend the time
eight years in which to complete the road.
The usual false pretence- Of protecting the
Treasury and Of creating a sinking fund of
course figured largely in this device Of the
IA married n ~
when it Is carefully examined there is really
nj bottom nothing but a scheme TO build
road from Portland, Oregon, to Salt Lake.
nnder cover If the renewed charter, callngit
branch and modcstly asking "A grant of
five and half millions Of acres as an enter
Ing wodg" for larger subsidy.
The Jubbors represented by HTpPLE-MIT-
CIELL, at the head Of whom stands JAY
GOvLD. have no Thought 81 continuing the
Northern Pacific. That Is put in a. a mere
blind, to attract support from Minnesota and
other States. and to enlist the active aid Of
the ylcumizcd boudhollcrs all over the coun-
try. The cloven foot sticks out in the eleventh
section of the bill, wherein ii is provided, if
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
"slall not commence the construction of
the said common road at the city Of Port
lul within six months from the date of the
alnguyal If this act ., then the said
Portland salt Lake and South Pass Rail-
road may, within three months after such
failure 60 commence or prosecute as afure-
said, proceed In Ike manner and upon like
coudif lns To- the commencement and con-
tt.ucilun at the city Of Portland Of such
coumon road. and shah be entitled TO the
aid granted for its construction and SO on.
The mask was torn OF when HIpPLE-MIT-
CHILL failed to answer the pointed qucs-
tions pat by Judge THURMAN. He was pre-
tending 10 advocate legislation for the bcne-
fl Of the Northern Pacific, 10y which the
creditors might be- saved from absolute loss,
and get hc could not tell what mortgages
IT, company had executed and what they
co,or, Whether the lllst mortgage had been
foroclo-rd and The road sold, and il So. when
dd the sale take place, and who were the
purchasers for what sum was the sale made
L. thOiu. onl lad they organized new
cDmlany; lal a." franchise tobe corpor-
htiou passed e. The new purchasers. and, il
-. hld tine o,d corporation ceased to exist
H'itAor could he tell what amount Of bonds
Tie ola company Lad issued, and if there
~'s a.. provision to pay tAenl il his new
ill.,
~ boudA,ldor # the Northern pacin,
could gam cent by the passage Of thi,
bil. DiNcstod If the sAams in which il
Is cnNclopcd, the whole project Is to gc
grant iu favor Of LAY GOULD aud hi.
RseoO iatc5 In and cut If Congress for
railroad from salt Lake t. Portland, Will
special privilege and 10 Disguise it undc
another name. Although they are quit
willing 10 make combinations for this Oh