Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-04-13
A NEW RAILROAD BILL
The senate committee Makesa Report. :
senator Grover and Representative
williams Secure Important Changcs
In the Sub. Committees Hill. -

Auc SSuut4 COmmIttec NaReS9 NepOft. -
senator Grover and Representative
Williams Secure Important Changes
tn the sab. .C0mmittce's Hill.
WASHINGTON, March 30.--A bill
allowing eight years additional time for
completion OF the main line of the
Northern Pacific railroad 10 Portland
and Kalama was adopted by the Senate
railroad committee to day. [By pri.
vate dispatch We learn that it was adop,
ted by q vote Of six to fivc, with under
standing on part Of Senators that they
are not committed to support it in the
Senate in its present form -ED. The
company is required within niue
months to commence at the mouth Of
Snake river and bnild eu.twardly on
the south side Of CoIun bia river tween
~ five miles Of road during the first
year, aud at least forty miles ANNUALLY.
afterwards. They must also within one
year from enactment of the bill couiucnce
work ut the lower Cascades of the Col
uMbia, and within one year thereafter
complete and equip the rcad arnuni
that ;tage, aud within the follawing
year lnust complete The railway around
the Cascades at The Dalles on the Sonth
Of the river. The line from U,ua'illu
to Portland, rs we'll as the road froul
Portland to kalama, must BE- built on
the South side Of the Columbia The
company are required to construct one
hundred miles each year, inclusive of
the Pacific coast operations above indi
Gated. In the use of said portage roads,
the Northern Pacific company shall rot
make any discrimination in regard to
freigh's or passengers, aud shall receive
from aud deliver to ali boats. persons or
companies at the time engaged 10 naYi-
CATION of the Colun.bia river ali freirhts
aud passengers on equal terms, without
discrimination. IL is further provided
that these terms shall in all respects DO
reasonable unl just, and tho rights of
all p"rsons under this act may be en-
forced by judicial proceedings in any
court of competent Jurisdiction. The
bill also generally reserves the power for
Congress to provide by law against un
just discrimination and excessive
charges on any part or the whole road
The bill surrenders to the government
about 1000, 600 acres Of land heretofore
reserved for TIE abandoned branch
across the Cascade monnta,us, and pro.
vides for grant Of precisely the same
number ofac:es to the Portland. Salt
Lake and South Pass Railroad Com
rany, on condition that it shall csnl
mence work at Uma,ila within six
months, build twenty five miles the irsi
year aud at least forty miles annually
thereafter, and complete The whole road
within hve years from the enactrN Mt Of
! The bill. II. Case, however. the North
ern Pacific Company fails to couply
with the conditions prescribed recording
the coni imencoment and prosecution Of
| wcrk at the Cascades, the whole land
grant from Portland to Uruatlla is to he
transferred to the Salt Lake company.
WHICH shall thcreupon construct thirty
three miles the first year and twenty FIVE
miles annually afterwards toward Una
tlla. This part of the line is in any
event to be u common road for the use
oi both companies. The provisions re
garding protection of the settlers rights
are the sane as tlosc reported by TIE
sub committee last week; all even nua
bered SECTIONS to be sold as at present
tor two dollars aud half per acre to
pre.emption settlers, but homestead set.
tiers, either present or prospective, may
take one hundred and sixty acres in
stead Of eighty acres, to which they are
now limited within the railroad grant.
All lands in odd numbered sections are
t, be sold by the government to actual
pre- -emption settlers Mt one dollar and
quarter per acre until the adjacent fiye
miles section OF the road is completed
and accepted, whereupon the govern
mept is to pay to the company the pro-
ceeds of lands already sold, and also to
give it patents for such lands as have
not been sold, or to which pre- emption
rights have not already attached. In
the latter case settlers must be allowed
to perfect their titles aud obtain their
lands ut government prices. 1t is stated
that the bill was modified 60 as to allow
commencement Of work at the Cascades
instead Of at Portland, as a concession
to Mitchell's colleagues, Grover and vii
liams. who opposed his original require.
ments.-Oregonian.