Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-06

has been make known to the world as
worthy of settlement? Is it wrong thai
the government has been able to sell
its lands within the Northern Pacific bel,
so rapidly, getting as much for the hall
sold as for the whole without the railroad .
Indeed, the government would not have
been able to sell any without the road. Is
1t wrong that this great area is by its
products adding so materially to the wealth
OF the country? Is it a wrong that as the
road progresses the region is civilized and
the Indian question is settled, and fort
after fort can be dismantled? Why, do
you know that it costs the government a
million OF dollars year to support regi-
ment of cavalry in the northwest, and it is
an easy matter to see that the progress of
the road will save, in few years, more
millions to the government than the in
terest on the cost of the entire road from
the lakes to the Pacific ocean. Believe
me, gentlemen, this question is not alto
gether one-sided. The government has
more interest than the private individuals
who are involuntarily in this corporation
and constituting.it today.
1t is against the policy of the govern
ment to build railroads itself, and yet they
must be built. Questions of economy and
humanity-military and postal questions
of all sorts demand that this great road
should be built and penetrate this vast
region. just the other day it was an
nounced that the Dominion of Canada had
voted $10,000,000 for this year, $4,000, 600
for next year, and $4,000, 900 for each sue.
ceedng year, up to $100000,0 900, for car
rying forward the Canadian Pacific across
the continent to Puget Sound; and l see
now that the premier Of the Dominion
proposes to move for grant of 100000 900
of acres of land to help forward that
enterprise. While the Dominion is doing
this, am here as the head of this corpor.
alton to combat resolution that the land
grant given to the Northern Pacific
which proved so inadequate at first to keep
the road from bankruptcy-which is not
by itself sufficient basis of credit to go
on with the road, and has to have added
to it the eai inings of the present construct.
ed road, now clear of debt and earning suf-
ficient to pay interest on new issues of
bonds; | say | am here to combat reso-
luton declaring forfeiture of this land
grant.
This company wants to go forward with
this enterprise. 1t believes if it can cary
it successfully through to completion,
tuCtC Will NC a ICWuIu lOI tHc ldUOI, Llulc
and capital invested in it, 1t believes the
government will have much greater re-
ward. To arrest the road in its present
condition is ruin again.
! have explained to you how the land
grant in Minnesota and Dakota does moth
ing more than really pay the interest
sWii1R Nuupl 1sasg. xxussl huoN me Ji6nr
when diSasfer cafna nn mt have m
exaggerated view OF the value of the 1an6
grant on the unconstructed road. Its val
ne is basis of credit, but it takes time to
realize that value, it takes time to bring
into that region, filed now with Indians, a
population that will give business, and
the whole is needed to enable the compa-
ny to go on. 1t is said by some that it
would be better for the government to
have the lands, and give the company a
certain amount; but that the government
will never do; besides, it is better for the
company to manage and handle the lands,
than for the government, because, under
the epresent land'system, there is an inflex-
ible government price of $3.50 per acre
for the land, whereas, under the railroad
system, the maximum price is $3.50 and
it is scaled down to 80 cents and under.
The very elasticity of the c0mpany's prices
effects sales and brings in settlers, and
without the sales and settlement the road
would be of nosvalue. 1t is just as inn
portant to have business after the road is
to be built as 1t is to have money to build
it.
The government needs this road. 1t is
its duty TO see that it is built. 1t has no
right to leave those great regions on the
Pacific coast so difficult of access. 1t has
no right to leave this great belt Of country
chrrf n,r from colt 1a,r, a n oph nivi1izoftnn
The road is needed as a military road for
cheap and rapid transit of troops and sup.
plies; as post route for economical and
rapid carriage of mails to several states
and territories; as means of humanely,
promptly and economically settling the
Indian question; as great saving of ex-
pense by the dismantling of forts and re-
duction of military force; and needed to
keep a great and growing commerce
from falling into the hands of the do
minion of Canada, sc vigorously pushing
its road across the continent to Puget
Sound, and striking for the trade of Asia.
Once built, it will be source of nation.
al wealth and bond of national unity
But if this company is arrested in its
work, who is going to build it? Not the
government, as l have said, the govern.
ment does not build railroads. And what
corporation will take it up if this corpor-
alton, with its history, with all it has un-
dergone, with its now earnest prosecution
of the enterprise, is arrested in its work
by the hostile action of congress propos-
ing to take away its land grant, and SO
strike a fatal blow at its credit.
Take away the land grant and the COM
pany sees no way to 60 on with the road
beyond the two divisions in construction
so far under way. The land grant apper-
tanning to these divisions understand no
one proposes to take away, The officer OF
the government who has special charge Of
railroads realizes this necessity of the
land grant for the completion of the road.
He commends, in his official report, the
management of the company, and recon-
mends an extension of five years to be
given to the company for the construction
of the road.
On every consideration, the extension
asked for should be granted; with it and
the road already built, the company hopes
to secure the large amount of capital
which is yet required: but, if an extern
sion cannot be granted, certainly il would
be the most monstrous thing, it seems to
me, to declare forfeiture.
have not attempted to speak of the
questions of law in this case. They were
IL y Al.