Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-11-15
ruE RAILR0AD \

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Our telsgraphic dispatches OF the last
flew days inform US that the Central
and Union Pacific Railroad Companies
have presented themselves before Cen.
grsss desiring n settlement or sajudica-
ton Of the naturally existing difficulties
relative to tho lands granted BY Gov
eminent in aid OF the construction OF
said roads. aud proposing to return or
rsconvsy these lands to the Govern.
msnt. The proposition Is intended 8
going toward the repayment Of the Gov
srnmsnt advances Of interest en- the
bonds Of the companies. the companies
TO be credited for the same ct the rate
Of q dollar and . quarter per acre. or
whatever price may DO agreed upon .
fair and equitable. The main point in
this matter. as far ~ the people Of Ne
vada are concerned. IL relative to the
Railroad lands lying In this State along
the line Of the Central Pacific. Alternate
sections we're granted to the railroad
company. Some Of these lands are val
liable. while others are net, but the
actual value OF the whole would be
vastly enhanced were II all owned by
either the railroad company or the Gov.
eminent. In some respects Ii would be
advantageous to actual settlers that the
whole should belong to the company.
but the great majority OF advantages
would be in ths title being invested. or rs-
invested in Government. The prin-
cipal value to these lands Was conferred
upon them blythe railroad. After grant
ing and conveying the alternate sections
Of land to the company. Government
fixed the price OF its alternate Sec
tons ct two dollars aud . half per acre.
thus doubling its regular established
rate for public lands, . dollar and a
quarter per acre. in order to compsn-
safe for the alternate sections granted
to the railroad company. IL will thus
be seen that the company 10 willing to
DO even more liberal than Government
In this matter.
A large portion Of these lands Is
suitable for grazing and agricultural
purposes. yet thsrs are needed sdvan-
tagss which. under the present style OF
ownership. cannot DO made available ;
NJ, for instance. In the matter Of irriga-
ton. Where rivers and streams are 10 be
turned from their CURSES for irrigation
purposes. IL can only DO done by COM
binsJ application Of labor and capital.
nsighboring land owners having to join
together In 30 doing. These alternate
sections Of railroad lands would seriously
interfere in this. as no irrigation canals
could 10 made across the railroad Sec
tons without special permission. In
fact. to acquire a sufficient area Of land to
justify extensive operations in the way Of
cultivation and improvement, anywhere
within the twenty mile limits on either
side Of the railroad IL Is necessary to
purchase from both the Government
aud the railroad companies. These
water rights aud privileges are q subject
for serious controversy. and in many
other respects there ia = continually
recurring conflict OF interest. This dis
advantage 10 also seen in the location OF
school lands. In illustration Of the in
creased sales that would DO made by n
change in the present system. we will
instance the grant Of half million Of
acres made to this State for school pur.
poses. Under the State Law these lands
were permitted to be selected in large
bodies, and the result was that the
grant was disposed Of in tive years. the
lands being sold in such sized tracts =.
could be made ad~vantageeusly available
for irrigation.
II Government owned all these rail.
road lands, there would DO no difficulty
in arranging everything satisfactorily to
actual settlers. and the same land Offices.
agents aud surveyors now employed and
caring for the hall. could with equal
facility manage and care for the whole. at
no apprsciabls increase OF expense, but
with q large increase Of revenue 10 the
national treasury. Aud in this matter
Of surveying. a great advantage would
be gained by the full possession Of that
forty mile belt across the continent. in
abandoning the present system Of sur.
veys by arbitrary township and sec.
tional liuss. which 10 totally ussuited to
the topography. general character and
requirements OF that peculiar section.
The cheaper and practically better sys-
ten for that region. and followed by
nearly all other nations. Is found
in starting from fired natural land
marks. aud running boundaries by re-
ference to the compass, 50 a. TO include
distinct and detachable areas. with due
regard 70 the available water supply.
whether for hsrding or irrisating pur-
poses.
lis easy 10 see that the recovery Of
these lands at . fair rata by Gov.
eminent w"c;d opsmts bsnefeially. not
only 90 actual settlers and the country
at large. hut to the Treasury Of the ma
ton. The lands have become OF real
value. conferred upon them by the rail.
road. and in the hands Of Government
there would be me- difficulty in ~disposing
Of large tracts at the usual Government
rats OF one dollar and N auarter per