The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1878-03-09

now engaged in the enterprise for its
completion.
The argument, pro and con, on the
subject of national encouragements to
transcontlnental railroads are too famil-
lar to require recapitulatiou. This dis
cusslon was ably and stoutly maintain
ed on either side by statesman whose
intellectual strength and comprehen-
sion of the subject have left little or
nothing to be added. The result was
IN favor of promoting, by public aid,
the construction of northern, central
and southern roads from the Mississlp.
pl valley to the Pacific Ocean.
In pursuance Of this folicy, thirteen
years ago AZ, 100000 acres of the pub
lie land were granted for the construc.
ton OF the northern road Its route
lies through fertile country rich in all
the physical characteristics necessary
Tor the support of a vast and prosperous
population. Its grades are easier than
on most Of the roads in the eastern
states, and where the line DIVORCES
from straight course, to avoid impas.
sible mountain ranges, it opens to set
tlements the fertile valley of the rvers
who's, banks it follows.
Settlers have preceded it in the faith |
OF It's construction, and prosperous ter
ritories ali along it's route are only
waiting for the additional population |
which its completion would speedily
bring to claim their places among the
states.
The committee are of opinion that a
due regard to the interests of these ter
rltor'es, and of the hardy pioneers who
have settled them, demands liberal &C.
ton on the part of Congress to complete
this road, to which, in a measure. the
public faith was pledged; that the land
originally granted are held, as it were,
In trust for the benefit of those settle.
ers; and that, even it, strlctjsslnu ju.
RS, advantage might be taken of the
failure to meet the requirements Of the
charter IN point of time, still, good pol
icy If not good faith, requires the waiv-
er OF that advantage and q reasonable
extension OF time to secure the accom-
pl'snment of this great national work.
1t further appears that the present
company is composed OF those who have {
contributed whatever money has thus {
tar gone into the work, and hat nobody
Else proposes to take it. '
1t Is operating at the present time {
1early SIX hundred miles Of road in
good condition and under excellent t
management. t
n 1874 its net earnings were S 22,a76.49
n 1919 It's net earnings were 1872 ,l4O 90 t
II 1876 Its net earnings were ao2 ,06o a I
u 1917 ITS net earnings were 392, 69s.47 f
us property has actually cost about
~ ooV,O00 in money. Il is free from |
,ept, and Its directors are confident that &
hey eau complete the road upon the c
fedlt OF this property and the land !.
rant, II sufficient time is allowed them r.
he distance from Bsmark to the Col. Ii,
mb'a RIVER is l,205 miles, and the con. ii
truc'lon OF the road for that distance
ives continuous route by rail aud
'a,er mthe lakes to the Pacific Ocean. 7
he committee are of opinion that
hder the circumstances, the company
entitled to the favorable consideration
congress, and that there is a reasona.
le assurance that it will be able to fin.
"a the work during the next ten wears. D,
by the original charter OF the North. n,
IN Pac'fi, company it was authorized o,
construct Its road by two routes ST
lroasn Washington territory, the up W
er neins designated as the main line, a,
al the lower as the branch line. to
by subsequent acts these designations il
ave been reversed, so that its main line
ow tends southerly from Lake Pen d.
rellle to the Columbia r;var .,a .h