Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-23
SATISFACTORY REAsoss roR FORMER
DELAY IN CONSTRUCTIONS.
Ipetaluma Courier. February eth. j

JPetaluma Courier, February 6th.l
About fifteen years ago Congress granted
to the above named companies II. 500 acres
of land per mile of road in alternate sec.
tions located on either side of said roads,
In aid of their construction. from a point
on the line of the Central Pacific Railroad
to Portland, Oregon, the California and
Oregon Company to build northward and
the Oregon Central to build southwark,
each to meet the other at the State line, so
as to form . continuous line of railroad to
Portland. The point of junction with the
Central Pacific is at Roseville, about twen-
ty miles from Sacramento. The grant COM
mences twenty miles north of the juno
ton. The road to Redding is located
through the heart of the Sacramento val.
ley, which ends at Redding. Prior to the
acquisition of the territory now comprising
the State of California, large grants of land
had been made by the Mexican Govern
ment to private parties, comprising the
larger and better portions of the valleys,
which, under the treaty of 1913, the
United States agreed to protect. Since the
American occupation, and prior to the
concession made by Congress to these
railroad companies, under the pre-emp-
ton and homestead laws nearly all the
valley and foothill lands were appropri-
ated so, that In order to obtain the amount
of land granted in the concession, an ex-
tension of ten miles on either side of the
twenty mile limit was made as indemnity,
fer the loss of the valley lands, which had
previously been granted and acquired by
private parties. This, of course, extended
E, he nSotr fur
as to make the value of the grant compare
lively of little value, go far as the Califof-
MIA and Oregon road is concerned, unless
opened up to settlement by its completion.
Notwithstar ding this drawback, this COM
psny, with commendable enterprise, in the
expectation of meeting the Oregon Central
at the State line, prosecuted the work and
completed the road to Redding. The bust
ness depression extending from 1872 to
1878 caused the Oregon Central to suspend
operations, and there appearing to be no
prospect of their completing their portion
of the road to meet the California company
according to the terms of the grant, the
latter, finding it very difficult to place its
bonds, which were predicated upon the
road and land grant, without great sacri.
fee to the company's interest, suspended
the construction of its road beyond Red
ding until such time as the Oregon company
was in condition to commence the recon-
struction of its road with assurances of
successful completion. This suspension
of construction extended beyond the
time stated in the concession.
The difficulties between Redding and the
Oregon line TO be overcome are more for.
midable than any on the line Of the Cen
trail Pacific. The cost of construction will
be very great and without the aid afforded
by the land grant the disposal of the Sc
curities for its completion will become
more difficult. Therefore, viewing this
question from commercial and industrial
standpoint, viewing it also in the light OF
a California enterprise, the benefits of
which inure to the trade of this State, we feel
inclined to ask the Pacific coast delegation
10 make an exception in favor of these two
companies between Redding and Portland,
who are prosecuting the work of their
respective roads with energy and skill.
The non. action OF Congress hitherto in not
declaring the grants forfeited is very strong
evidence of recognition on its part of
the great difficulties these companies have
had to contend with and Of willingness
to extend the time for completion of
through line to Portland. This fact
should have weight also with the pres
ent Congress in giving those COM
panies an extension Of time for the
completion of their difficult work, and
the Pacific coast members will be fully
sustained by the whole State if they
ask to have these grants excepted from
the general Act declaring the forfeiture of
land grants to railroads. The non action
of Congress has been the means of creating
equities, which, under common Jaw prsc-
tice, would make strong case IN behalf of
these companies. Under specific contract
limited as to time, where there were no
penal damages to accrue, contractor of
the first part, if the second party does not
object, can prosecute to completion the
work and collect the stipulated price IT
the work done. The equities in this case
present even stronger claim to recogni
tion on the part of the Government, as it
loses nothing in any event, and if the roads
are completed the value to the Government
of the remainder of the land will be doubled
and the facilities for transportation will
cause it to be occupied by thrifty popu.
lation. There is another feature which we
cannot lose sight of. 1t is a lamentable
fact that the United States has no navy,
and four steam sloops of war could block
ade the principal ports of our Pacific pos.
sessions indefinitely. Without a through line
of railroad to Oregon and Washington Ter
ritory we would, so far as communication
is concerned, be as remote from our north
ern possessions as we were from the At
lantic seaboard, in 1862, when it became the
all. absorbing question how to provide in
land transportation to the Eastern States
In view of these considerations we feel
justified in advocating the extension of time
TOR the completion of these two roads,
There is not an industrial interest in the
State that will not be benefited thereby.
But, while we advocate the extension of
time for their completion, we will also adj
vocate the insertion of clause in the bill
that in case the roads are rot compl ted 80
as to form a continuous through line to
Portland within two years from date, then
the grant, on the uncom2leted portion.
shall be forfeited and restored to the public
domain without any further legislation by
Congress The completion of the great
Northern Pacific Railroad to the Pacific
ocean is another and most important fact
in favor Of the rapid construction of
through line of railroad from the great
commercial emporium of California to
Portland to maintain our present position
in relation to the commerce of the world
The people of California will approve the
action of Congress if it exempts from for.
fixture the grants to these two roads, be-
tween the two principal commercial ports
of the Pacific slope.