Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-10-27
TA1IRoAp PROMISES.

cbs.r,v made. 1t is in their fulfill
ment in good faith that the people
have the deepest interest, especially
when the subjects of these promises,
when fulfilled will confer favors and
advantages to tho people Who are the
rrom;.ees The northwest, and in
fact the whole. people Of the United
states. some seventeen years ago, were
promised, at an early day, a continent
tai railway from Duluth to cross the
continent in the shortest and most d.
roct route to Puget Sound, with
branch running to Portland and in
consideration Of this promise twenty
square miles Of the government lands
on each side Of the road in the terrific
ries, and ten square miles on each side
Of the road in the states, through which
the road was to pass, for each linear
milo Of the road, was pledged to the
company, as bonus for the building
to 10 conveyed to them in fee, when
ever 1 section Of twenty-five miles was
finished. and 80 on for each subsequent
section Of twenty five miles. To make
this secure the people, through the
provisions Of the act grantingthis land,
caused that these land within the twen-
u mile limit in the state and 40 nile
limit in the territories, on each side Of
aaid road. be reserved from the op-
GRAFTON Of the pre-emption and home
stead laws, so soon as the builders had
tiled, ia the General Land Office. their
Mat Of the line Of said road. The pc.
Rod in which they weie to complete
che whole road was limited to certain
number Of years. and if not then COM
plsted, the grant would b. liable to a
forfeiture. Upon these conditions the
Northern Paciis company commenced
the building Of the road, and the PEG
pls Il tho whole northwest, and we
may say Of the whole Union, acting
upon tho good faith in the iulfllment
81 these conditions, both on the part of
The government and the company,
made settlements dong the whole line
IL the road and ia tho immediate vi
cinity thereof, in order to be prepared
TO avail themselves Of the advantages
which would accrue to the people SO
soon a. tho road was completed as q
trAnsoontinental highway from the wa
aers of the Atlantic to the waters Of
The Pacific. Thousands Of these set
4lors made great sacrifices and emf
grated from remote states, territories,
aud even from foreign countries, and
made settlement along the line Of this
projected road, and large numbers Of
them have remained there for the peri
Cd Of twelve or sixteen years, and
others who came later have been there
: lsss time, while many who became
discouraged u tho apparent bad faith
In not fulfilling the conditions for
building, have abandoned their posi-
tom It great sacrifice and sought
other localities where they could make
their homes prosperous and their labor
remunerative. In subsequent acts of
congress tho lenience Of the govern
nssnt permitted the company to change
~ main line from direct one over
the Cascades to their branch down the
Ca}amhia river, and their branch TO
W route Of the original main line
Asgpss the Cascade mountains. This
Interchange Of main line and branch
was not brought out by the instru
mentality ct any portion Of the people
d the northwest living in either state
o. territory, through which the main
line vas to extend, but against their
wishes, and protest. The financial
agent Of the Northern Pacific failed,
and I'll work stopped on the road.
The stock was bought up by the bond
holders, who became the assignees
and owners Of the road, and again the
lsniency Of the government was i'm
plored for an extension of time for the
oompletion Of the road, which was
graated, upon the express understand
ing that both main line and branch
should be bull. forthwith, and to this
end Billings, the president Of the com.
pany. bent al his energies, and sue.
cseded in forming syndicate to fur
nish $40. 600, 600, and work was pushed
With vigor and the people again had
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