The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-03-17
Oregon Central Railroad Company's
Land Grant Open to Settlers.

For many years We have been
accustomed occasionally to hear
complaints that much valuable
land in Clatsop county was hinder
ed and in fact debarred from settle
ment owing, in the first place, to
the fact that IT had been withdrawn
in favor of the Oregon Central
railroad company, and in the
second place, that the said railroad
company not having complied
with the conditions upon which the
subsidy was granted, had no right
or power to sell any portion Of said
land. I'm former issue of TuE
ASToBIAN we announced the
rumOred intention of the Oregon
and California railroad company
tO absorb the old Oregon Central
railroad company, and as a result
of this, in the month of January
they issued the following circular:
Land Department Oregon and California
Railroad company, WeStSide DIVISION.
Portland. Oregon. January 3, lSsl.
SIR: In view of the numerous ap-
plications of settlers on lands within
the limits of the Withdrawal in favor
Of the Oregon Central Railroad COM
pany for the uncOnstructed portion OF
It's road for some sort of title 10 snch
lands, this company has resolved to
sell the lands enuring "a the grant OF
the Oregon Central Railroad company
within said limits. excepting coal and
IRON lands, to actual settlers on the
condition, that the purchasers agree
10 take back the purchase money paid
by them, without interest, in case of a
declaration of forfeiture of the grant
by congress, and that the company Is
bound to pay back all moneys paid by
the purchasers Immediately upon such
declaration Of forfeiture.
The said lands will be sold to actual
settlers only, at the rate Of 81 % per
acre, on the usual terms of the com
pany, viz: one tenth of the principal
down and the balance i'm nine annual
payments of one tenth each. No.
interest will be charged on deferred
payments. Paul Schulze, Land Agent
Oregon and California Railroad COM
pany.
The result of ltms action of the
Oregon and California railroad
company is to show settlers plain
ly upon what conditions they may
now locate upon the land within
the limits of the subsidy granted
to the Oregon and Central railroad
company, viz: Price, 81 80 per
acre; ten per cent. in cash, bal
lance in nine annual payments,
without interest. The purchaser
to agree to take back the purchase
money from the company, without
interest, in case of declaration of
forfeiture of the grant by congress,
and the company binds itself to
pay back all moneys paid by the
purchaser Immediately upon such
declaration of forfeiture.
We are informed that when an
application for land is granted, the
company impose upon the settler
another binding obligation to the
effect that no timber shall be sold
off of the land purchased.
The best that can be said of the
present condition. of this land
grant, so far as settlers are con-
cerned, is that now they know
upon just what terms and condi-
tioRs they can locate. If there
shall be no declaration of forfeiture
Of the land grant by congress, then
their title to the land by the rail-
road company is guaranteed, and
even If declared forfeited, as the
land would revert to the govern
ment, the locater's chance of pre-.
emption would probably take pre-
cedence Of all others.
All applications for land must
be made at the Office of the county
clerk.