New-York tribune., 1878-03-28
NORTHERN PACIFIC.
A BILL TO EXTEND THE TINE OF THE ROAD EIGHT
YEARS PREPARED IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

A BILL TO EXTEND THE TIME OF THE ROAD EIGHT
YEARS PREPARED IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON March 27.-The Senate Committee
on Railroads Will undoubtedly dispose of the bill
extending the time for the completion OF the North
ern Pacific Railroad, tomorrow, by agreeing TO the
substitute which has been prepared.
This substitute extends the time for constructing
the main line of the road by the way OF the Valley
of the Columbia River aud Portland, Oregon, to
Kalama, Washington Territory, eight years, on the
express condition that where preempton and home
stead claims were initiated. or priv ate entries TO
locations were allowed upon lands embraced in the
grant TO the company previous TO the receipt OF
orders for the withdrawal at the respective District
Land Offices. the lands embraced In such entry
shall not be held as within the grant to said CON-
pany aud shall patented TO the persons who have
lawfully entered them.
The substitute also provides for the patenting Of
all unadiusted and suspended entries in the Cen
eral Land Office, and for the opening TO preemp-
tion and sale by the Government vi all the lands
granted TO the railroad company until they shall
have been earned by the company, and the title
transferred from the Government TO II. All moneys
received by the Government for lands granted 10
the company are to be invested in United States
bonds, and the proceeds paid over to the company
whenever the lands shall have been earned. All
iron and coal lands granted TO the Northern Pacihc
Railroad Company are excepted from pIeGmption,
but the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to
dispose of them under the provisions of existing
laws. The extension of time for the construction
of the Northern Pacific Railroad does not apply to
the main line north of Tacoma, nor TO the branch
line of that road across the Cascade Mountains 10
Puget Sound III Washington Territory, and all lands
granted ~ the company for those hines and not
earned by it the date Of the approval OF the pro-
posed act, are to be restored TO the public domain
10 be dealt with other public lands.
The extension of time proposed is on the following
condtlOns
FIrst-That the Northern Pacific Railroad shall be
built from the mouth Of Snake River, or some other
suitable point east or at the town of Umatilla, IN
Oregon, to Portland. Oregon and TO kalama, wash
ington Territory, the south side of the Columbia
| River.
| SccOnd-That the work upon 1t shall begin within
nine months after the approval Of the act.
Thrd-That not less than thirty three miles OF
the main line from Portland Oregon, eastward shall
be constructed within the first year, twenty-five
! miles during each succeeding year, and sufficient
amount on the eastern end 10 make in all 100 miles
wear of the main line until the completion Of the
road which must take place within eight
wears from the date Of the passage OF
the act. failure either to begin OF
prosecute the construction and equipment OF the
line in the time and manner specified, is TO be fol-
lowedby forfeiture of all the rights, grants priv
ieges and franchises given in the BILL and those
rights etc. shall nure TO the benefit OF the Portland
Salt Lake and South Pass Railroad the same con-
ditions as those under which the grant is made to
| the Northern Pacific Company.
| The bill authorizes the Northern Pacific Company
| to issue bonds not exceeding in amount $4,000 to
the mile to aid in the construction and equipment OF
the road, and to mortgage its property for the Sc
! curity of those bonds.
The lands granted TO the company will not be
subject 70 taxation until they shall have been sold
or conveyed contracted TO be conveyed, from the
| company itself An additional section of the bill
transfers the land grant made TO the branch line of
| the Northern Pacific Railroad across the Cascade
| Mountains amounting in all to 100000 acres TO
| the Portland, Salt Lake and south Pass Railroad
! COMPANY on conditions similar TO those under
which the grant is extended to the Northern Pacihc
! Company
Senator Mitchell, chairman Of the Railroads Com
mIttee saws that il Is the determination OF his COM
uittee 70 get the bill before the Senate Immediately
There is some decided opposition to IT. but u Is SAID
by those ho a-c in position to judge lnteiilgenty
that the bill will be reported formally to the senate
to morrow.