The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-03-14
NORTHERN PACIFIC LAND GRANT.


The following leading editorial from the
Oregonian of March 7th Is remarkable one,
considering the very friendly attitude that
paper has always maintained, not only to-
ward the Northern Pacific road, but toward
Its management. 1t qualified its position
materially in . subsequent editorial, evil
IDENTIFY under pressure, but this undoubtedly
stands Is the free view Of Its editor:
"The resolution Of the House committee
providing fol- the forfeiture Of the Northern
Pacific land grant will undoubtedly be
adopted by the House, though 1t may be
modified somewhat In favor of the railroad
company before 1t finally passes through
Congress. This resolution provides for the
cancellation Of the entire grant between the
Missouri river and Wsllula Junction. There
Is no installing the temper Of Congress. The
New York Tribune did not think the com
mittee on public lands was in earnest, but it
is; and, while their action is very severe
against the railroad, the RAILROAD has itself
to blame for IL. These lands were donated
10 the company, not TO make Its managers,
the lucky hslders of Its franchise, million
aires, but TO extend facilities of intercourse
aud transportation through an undeveloped
region. In other words, they were granted
for the benefit Of the country, to enable set
tiers TO occupy and improve, and enjoy the
lands traverssd by the railroad. The act
was made very liberal la its terms, and II
good policy had been pursued In the con-
struction Of the road, IL might have been
completed within the time specified In the
granting act, and for many millions of dol
lars less than II has cost.
tIVhtIa ha farfois,r~ ~ sha r~o,t -.
threatened prior to the completion of the
road, the directors passed resolution to be
used a. an argument with Congress, showing
that they purposed using their lands accord.
ing to the Intention of the Government; that
the company would sell the land west Of the
Missouri river-that portion Of the grant
that was In peril Of forfeiture-for $500 an
acre TO actual settlers. This resolution was
distributed far and wide in the form of cir
cular, and inserted % m advertisement In
the newspapers of the country, and on the
faith Of 1t settlers occupied the land. But
the company, for some reason satisfactory TO
itself, went back on Its promise, and by re-
fusing to sell at that price subjected many
people to great hardships. IL advanced the
price Of lands TO point that presented small
inducements to emigration west Of the Mis-
souri,, and has thus retarded the develop.
ment Of the country. In addition to this
advance upon the piice Of lands, the com.
pany has affixed conditions to their sale, In
the reservation Of mineral and coal that may
be discovered on the lands, and rights Of
way through them, compelling the pur-
chasers to fence against any railroads that
may be built, thus imposing conditions that
are grievous to be borne, and calculated to
delay the settlement Of the country. Some
OF the NEST conservative and influential
newspaper In Washington Territory, such
IS the Seattle Post-I nteliigencer and the
Walla Walla Waterman, have protested
against this policy Is unjust In itself, and
adverse TO the interest both of the railroad
company and the country. Such . policy
needs no Characterization In words. The
mere statement of Ii IL It's condemnation"