The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-12-06
THE CONGRESSIONAL MEMORIAL.
The Astoria and Forest Grove Railroad.
The Present State Of the Matter.

letter of last September.
AT meeting Of the chamber about
three weeks ago, il was decided to
memorialize congress praying that the
land grant be forfeited Accordingly the
following was prepared by an appointed
committee.
To restore 10 the public domain certain
lands granted to the Oregon Cen
trail Railroad Company.
To the Honorable The Congress of the
United States:
Your memorialists, the chamber of
commerce of the city of Astoria, of the
state Of Oregon, would most respectfully
represent:
That on the 4th day of May, 1870. your
honorable bodies passed an act granting
to the Oregon Central Railroad company
of Oregon the alternate sections of land
to the extent Of twenty sections per mile,
including the iron and coal therein. to
aid in the construction of a railroad from
Portland to Astoria, with branch from
suitable point OF junction at or near
Forest Grove, 10 McMinnviile, in the
state of Oregon. Said lands were condi-
tiOnslly granted TO said railroad for a
distance of twenty miles each side of
said railroad, and in case the ten full
sections per mile could not be found on
each side of said road within the said
limit of twenty miles, other lands should
be selected within a limit of twenty-five
miles on each side To make up such de-
fciency.
That said grant was made Oh the eX-
pressed condition that said railroad
should be completed in six wears from
said date, and that said limit expired
more than seven years ago.
That the portion of the railroad most
easily constructed between Portland and
miles,. was built within the specified
time, but since that time no part of the
main line between Forest Grove and As
toria Ga distance of about "A hundred
miles, has heen built. Nor Is it in pro-
cess of construction.
That the president of the company now
holding the grant has publicly declared
his unwillingness 10 build the road.
That at the time the grant was made
there existed a prior grant made to the
California and Oregon Railroad COM
pany that interfered with the allotment
to the Oregon Central Railroad company
on the south and made ii necessary that
the full limit of twenty-five miles should
be granted to the Oregon Central on each
side of its line extending from Forest
Grove TO Astoria.
But that the grant 10 the Northern Pa
cific railroad of lands lying in between
Portland and Puget Sound was not made
at this time, nor until May 81, 1870, by
resolution, and twenty-Seven DAYS after
the grant TO the Oregon Central Railroad
company.
That the grant to the Oregon Central
Railroad company. therefore, is a prior
grant TO that of the Northern Pacific, and
therefore the former company would
have earned all of the overlapping grant
had the railroad been built in accordance
with the terms of the act.
We would further represent that the
lands of this company are rich in timber,
iron and Goals: that the cost of the
proposed railroad is not excessive, and
we firmly believe that the road would
have been built many years ago If the
grant had been held by parties whose in
terests were not against the building
of the road, and would be built now
if the land grant were only declared for
feited.
That this Oregon Central Railroad,
built and to be built, is controlled by
transfers and lease to the Oregon and
Transcontinental Railroad Company, and
the latter company is opposed to any ex-
tension of its system TO Astoria.
We would further represent that the
Northern Pacific are now wrongfully
claiming lands on the north side of the
Columbia, but within twenty-five miles
of the proposed Astoria railroad, which
lands, we believe, should be declared for
feited with the Astoria land grant.
That the continuance of this grant is
acting as barrier TO the settlement and
development of the country and its re-
sources; that II is also acting as bar to
the building of railroad by any other
company through the same section.
WHEREFORE, Your memorialists would
most earnestly but respectfully pray that
all the said lands granted the Oregon
Central Railroad Company, together with
all lands which are over-lapped by the
Northern Pacific limits, and which are
within limit of twenty-five miles of the
Oregon Central Railroads located route
(whether in Washington Territory or in
Oregon and all lands which would have
Injured to the Oregon Central Railroad II
case it had been built, be declared for
feited and thrown open to public settle
ment under the general land laws of the
United States.
And we further most emphatically pro-
test against any transfer or patents be
ing granted of any of this overlapping
grant (or any lands within twenty-five
miles of the Oregon Central route) "a
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company,
and as in duty bound We shall ever pray
Passed the Chamber Nov. %, 1888.
Copies of this memorial were forwarded
TO Senators Slater and Grover, and Con-
gresham George, with instructions tC
hold them until further notified. IL was
also ordered that 800 copies be printed Ia
be sent to the senator's and representa-
tives in congress.
The president and vice-president of the
chamber, being given to understand that
an interview with Mr.. Koehler, the gen
eral manager of the leased lines might
be of value, went TO that gentleman's
Office and mad an interview with him
The following letter is explanatory
thereof:
OREGON AND CALIFoRyIA RAILRoAD.
OREGON & TRANSIT. COMPANY, LESSEE,
GENERAL MANAGER's OFFICE.
PORTLAND, Or, Dec. 1st, 1881.
f.. C. Holden, Esq, Secretary Of Astoria
Chamber Of Commerce, Astoria, Oregon
DEAR SR:-I Vas very mucRpleased a
1
A. w. Berry, Esq, who handed me you
favor of 26th inst. The gentleman viii
no doubt confer with you in regard Z,
the matters discussed at our informa
meeting.
beg TO say that had instructions Il
endeavor to negotiate construction con
tract but that l don't feel authorized Il
enter into any negotiations until the re
cent action of the chamber of commerc
passing resolutions petitioning congress
to declare the forfeiture of Oregon Cen
tral grant has been received.
was very glad, however, of hay
ing an opportunity TO discuss, with tn
two gentlemen named. matters in a gen
eral and informal way, which believ
led TO better understanding of the cas-
on all sides.
regret that / cennot, under the cir
cumstances, comply with the wish ex
pressed by the gentlemen to furnisl
them a memorandum in writing showing
the principal points to be considered Il
case of negotiations, but / shall be glat
to submit one after having received ad
vice of such action by the chamber o
r