, 1878-05-18
GENERAL NEWS.

aid the construction of the Portland
Salt Lake and South Pass railroad
which was to-day reported to the
senate FROM the committe on rail-
roads recites The fact that in the bill
extending the time for the compile
tion of the Northern Pacific railroad,
which bill has already passed the
senate. some seven million acres of
land heretofore granted in aid of a
branch road across the Cascade
mountains to Puget Sound are re-
stored to the public domain. 1t also
recites that by the terms Of that
measure the road from Umatilla to
Portland along the Columbia river
through the Cascade mountains is
to be a common road for the use
of both the Northern Pacific and
Portland, Salt Lake and South Pass
companies. The bill then proceeds
to grant ten alternate sections of
pnblic lands per mile on each side
of the projected road, commencing
at Umatilla and extending along the
line towards Salt Lake, to the maxi
mum amount of six million acres.
These land are all to be thrown open
to actual settlers in tracts not ex-
ceeding one hundred and sixty acres
to any one person and at a prlce not
exceeding 50 so per acre. Home
stead rights on even numbered sec
tions are preserved to the full extent
of one hundred and sixty acres. and
all existing rights of settlers are
carefully protected. Work must be
commenced at Umatilla within six
months, 25 miles of the road con-
structed and equipped within the
next year and at least 80 miles each
succeeding year. and the whole road
must be completed within four
years from the date of commence
ment. The bill finally reserves to
congress to provide by law against
unjust Discrimination ard excessive
.-.--sr1s-..
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9.-On mo-
ton of District Attorney Murphy,
Judge Wright last Saturday dismiss
ed three Indictments found by the
grand jury on the first of September,
%, O. nst George NJ. Pinney for
oney under false preten-
IS. Iue ground of the dismissal
was that the statements contained in
the indictments are at variance with
the facts.
PARIS, May 9.-It is reported that
for the past few days numerous de-
tachments of Russian sailors have
been passing through France and
embarking at Havre. and even Liv-
erpool, for America to man vessels
purchased there by the Russians.
BERLIN, May 9-Russia has deci-
ded to refuse to liberate Turkish
prisoners of war, numbering about
1000. in consequence Of the uncer-
tainty thai the porte will maintain
neutrality in the event of war be-
tween England and Russia.
WASHINGTON, May 11.-Dennis, of
Florida. who came here with the fraud
revelations, has left for home, equally
disgusted with the Republican admins
tration and the Democta:s. He lnsinu-
ates that the Democratic leaders dare
not Investigate lest their own side shall
get hurt. If he is to be believed, the
two political parties are on this point
like hostile armies, in full retreat from
each other.
ELMIEA, N. Y, May 12.-Catherine
E. Beecher. sister Of Henry Ward
Beecher died at noon to>day at the res
idence of Thomas X. Beecher.
San Francisco. May 13.-The nom
partisan citizens convention of 35 me,
this evening and nominated the follow.
ing delegates at lsrge to the consiitu-
tional convention: Republicans NJ
Es;ee, John E. Miller. J. W. Winans
and W. H. i. Barnes; Democrats-S
NJ. Wilson, Eugene Casserly, j. P
Hoge and J. S. Eager. Nomination.
for 81 delegates for the city and count,
will be made at the next meeting. Fiv,
sub committees we're appointed to pre-
pare lists of nominees to be submitted
Monday evening.
Chicago, May II The Tribune
Columbus, Ohio. special says; Th
Democrats at the cancus Tonight, by