, 1878-04-10
Another Railroad Bill.

WASHINGTON, March 30-A bill allowing
eight years additional time for completion of
the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad
to Portland and kalama was adopted by the
Senate railroad committee to-day. The COM
pany is required within nine months to COM
mence at the mouth of Snake river and build
eastwardly on the south side of the Columbia
river twenty-five miles of road the first year,
and at least forty miles annually atterward.
They must also within one year from enact
ment of the bill commence work at the lower
Cascades of the Columbia, and within one
year thereafter complete and equip the road
around that portage, and within the following
year must complete the railway around the
Cascades at the Dalles on the south of the
river. The line from Umatilla to Portland,
as well as the road from Portland to kalama,
must be built on the south side of the Column
bia. The company are required to construct
one hundred miles each year, inclusive OF the
Pacific Coast operations above Indicated. In
the use of said portage roads, the Northern
Pacific Company shall not make any discrmi.
nation in regard to freight or passengers, and
shall receive from and deliver to all boats, per-
sons or companies at the time engaged in navi-
cation of the Columbia river all freights and
passengers on equal terms, without discrimi-
nation. 1t is reasonable and just and the
rights Of all persons under this act may be en-
forced by judicial proceedings in any court OF
competent jurisdiction. The bill also gener-
ally reserves the power of Congress to provide
by law against unjust discrimination and ex-
cessive charges on any part OF the whole road
The bill surrenders to the Government
about 100000 acres of land, heretofore
reserved for the abandoned branch
across the Cascade Mountains, and provides
for grant of precisely the same number of
acres to the Portland, Salt Lake and South
Pass Railroad Company on condition that it
commence at Umatillawithin six months,
build twenty-five miles the tirt year and at
least forty miles annually thereafter, and
complete the whole road within five years of the
enactment of the bill. In case however, tho
Northern Pacific Company fails to comply with
the conditions prescribed regarding the COM
mencement and prosecution OF work Mt the
Cascades, the whole land grant from Portland
to Umatila is to be transferred to the Salt
Lake Company, which shall thereupon con-
struct 33 miles the first year, and 25 miles an
nualy towards Umatlla This part of the
line is i'll any event to be common road for
the use of both companies. The provisions
regarding the protection of the settlers rights
are the same as those reported by they Nub-
committee last week-all even numbered sec
tions to be sold as at present for two dollars
and a half per acre to pre.emption settlers;
but homestead settlers, either present or pro-
spective, may take one hundred and sixty in
stead of eighty acres, to which they are now
limited within the railroad grant. All lands
in odd numbered sections are to be sold by
the Government to actual pre.emption set
tiers, at one dollar and quarter per acre, un-
til the adjacent five mile section OF the road is
completed and accepted whereupon the Gov
emment is to pay to the company the proceeds
5f lands already sold; and also to give it
patents for such lands as have not been sold,
or to which preemption rights have nst al
ready been attached In the latter casd, set
tiers must be allowed to perfect their titles
and obtain their lands at the Governments
price. 1t is stated that the bill was modified
so as to allow the commencement of work at
the Cascades instead of at Portland, as u con-
cesson to Mitchell's colleagues, Grover and
Williams, who opposed his original require
menIS