New-York tribune., 1878-01-21
THE TRANsCUNTINENTAL ROADS.

DiaZ Government IL WditlnE W sec IL 'iio
limited States will not back down.
THE ETRANSCONTINENTAL ROADS.
.pcrNrNTs As TO THE NORTHERN PACIFIC's APPEAL
FOR TINiE-TnE TEXAS AND PACIFIC ROUTE TO
yICKsBUEG.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
w.su1vGToN Jan. 20.-A discussion of the bill
"To extend the time in which to construct and
compete the Northern Pacific Railroad" " took place
in the House subcommittee yesterday. There were
nresent of the committee Mcssrs. Hewitt. Morrison,
Rice of Massachusetts,, Luttrell and Landers; also
Mr.. Browne the vice-president OF the company, Mr..
Ellett. chief-engineer, Mr.. Gray, attorney for the
.,mnauv Senators Mitchell and Grover the Repre-
,ptatiye from Oregon. the Delegates fr0IA Idaho
and Washington Territories. and Mr.. McGuvra,
representing the opponents OF the bill. The meas
ure proposes to add ten years to the time within
which the road may be constructed under the man.
areu,ent of the present company, without foreitDg
Its land grant.
The case on the part of the railroad was presented
by IFS attorneys at a former meeting OF lie COM
mittee.
Yesterday Mr.. MeGilvra. representing the citizens
ST Washington Territory, made an argument in
favor of an amendment which lie had submitted,
the substance Of which was First, to confirm the
foaut and extend the time for the completion of The
main line of the Northern Pacific Road; secondly,
10 declare the forfeiture of the grant to the branch
hne and thirdly, to open Up the whole grant to
settlement OH condition that odd sections OF land
not occupied when the company earns them by the
construction Of its main line, shall DO delivered 10
IT. and in cases where these odd sections lave been
sold the company shall receive the amount pad
therefor by settlers. The citizens of Washington
Territory desire to accomplish three things First to
open all the lands Ill that Territory to im-
in orler thar ihp cOuntrV
may be developed as rapidly as possible secondly,
to secure the construction of the main
line of the Northern Pacific Railroad at the
earliest possible date Thirdly to secure the con-
structicn of railroad from Puget Sound to the
Eastern portion of the Territory, over the Cascade
Mountains as soon as practicable. They are con-
WINGED that such road will never be built by the
Northern Pacific Company, first, because the route
now suggested by the way OF Natchcz
Pass, is wholly impractlcabe one. and
secondly because 70 per cent OF the stock of the
Oregon Steam Navigation Company, which now hes
n monopoly Of the transportation between the
Eastern and Western sections Of Washington Ter
ritory by means of the Columbia River and the
poItages at the Cascades and the Dallas is owned
by the-Northern Pacific Company. This makes it
contrary TO the interests of that company TO con-
,truct any road across the Cascade Mountains.
Mr. McGllvra, in addition TO printed argument
which he filed in support Of the amendment pro-
.,osed 1uadc an oral statement, taking the ground
that the whole grant has lapsed that the branch
line located IN 1878 has been abandoned; and that
new branch line attempted to be located in 1876,
extending over n route upon which it is impractica-
bic TO construct road, has not been surveyed. and
amapof 1t has been filed in the General Land Once
only for the purpose of cnde1vorng to Obtain SUB
sdy in land fora local coal road already built by The
company. Nh McCilyIa further asserted that The
location Of this last branch and the construction Of
the railroad are in the interest Of land rNg Whlc
he characterized as sort Of Clcdit MoOilier, ana
which is known the Lake superior and IuGct
Land Company. This ring was created, lie SAID to
hold the title of property winch the Northern racine
might desire to keep free from mortgage or other il
cuinbrance and to speculate il town sites.
Mr. McGilvra called attention to the fact that this
railroad company, with the most generous land
grant ever made TO a private corporation, after tie
lapse Of years, has constructed only 55OCf the 1870
miles of its road, and that 1O5 of these arc mere
postage road FROM Puget Sound 10 the Columbia
River He also said that the company has aban-
dOued its original line for "a branch road ana during
a long series Of years has kept thlcc-tourths of tie
public lard in Washington Territory from settle
nient. lie also asserted that the amendments Of the
bill are ia the interest of honest settlers the only
class who do ANYTHING to build up states. Tie
position OF the question: he SAID IS that the company
is in default and asking TO have that default set
aside by the pending BILL and should therefore DC
reCnlred 10 show afrmatvcly gOod faith and honest
purpose as we'll its ability 10 carry out the plans
which il now proposes. As the company has not done
tins, ana does not even HOW sdy l!il IL VIII
construct a road the Natchcz Pass, there is no
reason why the grant OF land should be any longer
extended. 80 - -
During Mr. McGilvra's argument, Mr.. Hewitt,
Chairman of the subcommittee, asked the rcpresen-
tatiye of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
what lie would say to an amendment 10 the bliI al
lowing another company to construct Il branch linc
and take the lands III case Of default by his com
pany.
The reply was that he was willing such an amend
Ineht should be made.
Mr. McCiyra then said that If the, bill was so
amended as TO provide that II the Northern Fachg;
Railroad failed, within q reasonable time TO be fXed
III the bill 10 construct It's road beyond the summit
OF Natchez Pass, then the Seattle and Walla Walla
Railroad Company should have these lands for
the construction of their road over another and
practicable pass il would be perfectly satisfactory
TO the people of Oregon. and that the Seattle ana
Walla Waa Company would certainly get the lands.
General Press dispatch says Representative
Chalmers, of Mississippi member OF the Texas and
fscinc Railroad Committee, will Introduce bill pro-
viding for trunk line Yicksburg, with connection to
81, Louis, Memphis and New Orleans, Monday The
new feature OF the bill ls that the Memphis connection
will be made by the Memphis and Vicksburg Road down
the Mississippi Valley, thereby avoiding the objection
raised by the Iron Mountain Road 10 II Memphis con
hectOn. 10 will further provide that the Government
shal issue greehbacks receivable for all dues except III
terest on the pu6lc debt and allow $4,000 per mic TO
The respective roads 10 he butt bonds OF the roads,
payable in United states currency In hity years, and
bearing per cent interest secured by first mortgage
Oh the respective roads and all their property and
ings and for SINKING fund 10 be Invested ia United
sates bonds to Dc held By the secretary o. itt Treasury
" meet the bonds Of said roads
MEXICO A LITTLE UGLY.
UARANTEEs HELD BACK BECAUSE OF HOPE THAT