Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-02-21
OF LAND GRANTS

FORFEITURE OF LAND GRANTS
The Oregonion OF the 18th discusses
the forfeiture question aud shaves very
closely between boards of trade. and ner
chants and the wi.le, Of the people at
large. We copy the llowin,
"The House CONN., &c on public lands
hare decided that the Northern Pacific
Company has earned but 1868, 200
acres of land, and that 81 ,537 $40 acres
are forfetable. While it il proper that
the committee should lean to the side of
the Government, still the plain facts of the
case should not be ignored Under the
grants the Northern Pacific Company
failed to comply with the stipulations AS
to time, and Congress had the right to
declare the lands forfeited But no for
feiturc was declared; the company went
on in good faith to build the larger por-
ton Of the road. and ultimately succeeded
The question now arises whether Congress
has the power to forfeit lands actually
earned in the prosecution Of the work,
after the timc stipulated in the charter
had lapscd, Congress having in the mean
time declared no forfeiture? And even
if it should DC declared legal to withhold
the lands, would it be equitable to DO 80?
In the most ordinary affairs of fife due
allowance is made for failures arising from
unforeseen circumstances, and no one
should be held responsible for what he
could not forsee or prevent. Then the
Northern Pacific has this in its favor---it
is not paper road, and there are equities
that appear to cn;itle it to the considcra
ton Of the public. But the people were
not pleased, when, upon the opening Of
traffic combination was made with the
old Pacific railroad monopoly. They justly
feel that the great land subsidy was given
fer the benefit Of the country, and not to
provide basis for the enormous enrich
mcnt of few men in New York. The
question with the people is, would further
iavors to the company benefit the country
or would they simply increase the facili-
ties Of stock jobbing, aud really augment
by 50 much the more the fortune of some
successful gambler OF gamblers of Wall
street, enriched already beyond the Wild
est dreams Of avarice?
This journal has contcndcd for the
Northern Pacific because the country
needed the road and the only way 10 get
it was through the land grant. 1t believes
that the company now has equities SO far
as the road has been built. As to the
remainder, or unearncd portion, of the
grant, it is simply question whether the
country would be benefited the more by
declaring it forfeited, or by extending the
time. The portion lying in Oregon
ought, undoubtedly, to be released at
once, since there is no probability that
the road will ever be built from Wallula
to Portland, nor is there any need Of it.
OF the grant for the Cascade mountain
division this is to be said, that many per-
sous in both sections Of Washington ter.
ritory want the road, and they would
take it as proof Of hostility on the part
Of Oregon to their interests If an innu-
cncc from this state should be exertcd for
Of the grant. The desire Of
development there may as
yet be in the ascendant over the anti
feeling; but it would be as
much mistake to accept the resolutions
Of board of trade in Walla Walla or
Seattle as an expression Of the views Of
the people Of Washington territory at
large as to suppose that the board Of trade
of Portland, the organ Of the banking
and mercantile classes, represents the
views of majority Of the people Of
Oregon on railroad questions or the mort.
gage tax law.