, 1878-02-09
Northern Pacific Railroad.

Northern Pacific Railroad.
Especial Washington Corr. to Evening Dispatoh1
WASHINGTON, January II. 1873.
On the Goth ult. Hon. O. Jacobs and
John j. McGilvra appeared before the
House Committee on Pacific Railroads..
and to the bill for extension of time for
ten years on both the main and branch
lines of the Northern Pacific Railroad,
introduced amendments of which the
following is a synopsis:
l. For the immediate restoration Of
all the land Withdrawn on the main line
north Of Tacoma, and which was not
contiguous to or conterminous with
their completed main line. The rea-
sons urged in favor thereof were the
same es those stated in the printed ar
gument of Delegate Jacobs sent you.
2. For the restoration of all the lands
withdrawn on the old branch line-for
the very obvious reason that the route
on which they were withdrawn had
been abandoned by the company.
8. For the perfection of tho Branch
Grant. The reasons for this amend~
ment are fully set forth in the printed
argument sent you.
4. That ie the time be extended the
lands be thrown open to settlement un-
der the pre-emption law at $3.50 per
acre. and that the company receive the
proceeds of all the lands sold up to the
time the lands become earned by the
completion of the road. would have
preferred SLIPS per acre, but am salts
fed that could not get that. I am
satisfied the other will be granted. The
reasons for this amendment are obvi-
GUS to every one who has given the
subject any attention. The principal
ones presented were these: 1st, you
have no guarantees save the words of
the company that rod of this road will
be built within the extended time
hence at the end of that time we may
find ourselves in the same condition
we are to>day-the lands tied mp and
no road built. 2. In the mean time the
settlement of the country will be re-
tarded. and the Development of Its re-
sources delayed, 3. It is bad policy
for the government to place in the
hands of any corporation the DISPOSE
ton or ownership of such vast quanti>
ties of the public domain. The gov
ernment ought to retain the disposition
of its own lands. and to grant them on
such conditions as it may seem just to
actual settlers, etc. 5. The fifth amends
ment offered made the canned lands of
the company taxable the same as other
property. The laEds are earned when
every condition is performed named in
the charter, and when that fact is duly
found by the commission provided for
in the charter. When these conditions
are performed and the fact is SO found
the title vests absolutely in the COM
pany. The patent when granted is but
the evidence of that title. but is not the
title itself. 1t always. by relation,
reaches back to the time OF the full per.
formance of the conditions, Hence the
company are the absolute owners of
these earned lands. and they ought not
to be permitted to escape a reasonable
taxation, for that portion of them, at
least, which are surveyed. But the law
casts upon them the burden and duty
of the survey of these lands, and they
ought not, beyond reasonable time at
least, to escape taxation ty voluntary
neglect to discharge that duty. But the
injustice is deeper. The company have
sold and are constantly selling these
earned lands, and they not only pros
tect themselves from taxation by refus~
ing to receive patent. but they are
successfully covering the property of
their vendors. but state the funds
mental propositions urged. 1 cannot
state the argument fully for want of
space.
6. Amendment offered proposes to
save the rights of those settlers who
have made contracts of pnrchate from
the company and who have exhausted
their prescription and homestead rights
and also purchasers from the govern
mert.
All of these amendments are not only
right and proper in themselves, but
they are all supported by the memoir
ials of the Legislature, which have been
presented. z.
Bridgeport, Conn.,, is taking great
interest in q genteel tramp who
strolled into music store the other
=: L.