Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-02-02
REASONS FOR.

some reasons IOr lne actlOn or the
people in demanding a declaration of
forfeiture of the Northern Pacific
land grant may be urged against the
following quoted from the Oregonian's
leader of January oath. The quora-
ton reads as follows
From the Pacific northwest which
wants this road, and which has always
suffered and languished tor lack of
railway connection, there should be no
voice to give encouragement 20 this
raid upon an interest which exceeds in
Importance and value to our section all
other enterprises whatsoever. The
Northern Pacific will at once deliver
us from our isolation and from our vas
salage to California and its corpora
tions. This attack OH its land grant
is inspired by purpose to hold the
northwest in this vassalage and to
make its industry and dovelopement
subordinate to other interests. Any
injurious blow to the Northern Pacific
would be the severest misfortune that
could now ovortake the northwest.
Pending this threatened attack upon
its land grant, the basis Of its re-
sources for construction, everybody now
can see how unfortunate it was that
simple act of extension was not
passed through congress four years
| IoH ,ho, ff 1a
senate committee on railroads, ob,
strucled and blocked the measure by
his scheme to divide the grant, confer
part of it on rival road and load the
remainder with such conditions as
would have rendered it practically val
ueless for construction. At that time n
simple resolution to extend the term
of the grant could easily have been
passed. This would have settled the
whole question. We believe the
friends of this great national enter,
prise will Jc able to defeat the present
attack upon it, as they have defeated
former ones; but it is none the less
true that it ought to have been secured
against this hostility, long since. not
because its own interests so much as
the interests Of the country required
it. Within eighteen months, if the
company is let alone, it will have the
road built through. tits being pushed
from both ends even in depth Of win
ter, with all possible energy. The
country wants the road, and does not
want to sec it checked by rival inter
ests that would forever keep our sec
ton in undeveloped isolation.
The prime and paramount object
and purpose of this grant of land by
congress was measure to develop The
northwest, and secure grea. coItinen
tai high way for the people that would
not subject them to extortions ant
exactions imposed by Corporation fal
beyond the running expenses Of thu
road and a reasonable interest on tn,
money they invested over and above
the value Of the land grant itself, ane
so long as the course pursued by tina
company did not foreshadow breach
OF these conditions the people acqui
esced, and encouraged by all the lenity
possible shown to the company, ano
their representatives in Congress anC
elsewhere synpathized with the com
pany on the failure of Jay Cook IL Co
and suffered the reorganization Of the
company aud extensions of time fol
completion Of the road without mur
mur, and so long as the policy pursued
by the company under President Bill
ings was predominant, complaints
from the people, especially of the north
west, were few and Of but little fore
and effect. But upon foreign al
. yenturer by strategy undermined tn