The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-27
Retrospective and Otherwise.


fic, Fremont and Elkhorn Valley railroad,
mentioning particularly the intentions and
expectations of the company, not only as to
work to be done on the west end of the line
in Nebraska, but Cory Ills, and its future
terminus Iaquina. Having resided in the
wilderness thereabouts ten years before the
advent of railroads, and in Fremont at the
time the proposition came to the citizens of
that town, to aid in building the S. c. & P
to that place, AMI subsequently the incep-
ton and building of the F. & E. V R, and
the aid given to the latter, and, as from
statement, we are t. be connected with the
work of '.lang syne;' it may not be out of
place to our readers. t. take review of that
work, and see if we can how this plan oper-
ated there, and whether the people prosper
ell or not, under the bur lens they voluntar
lily assumed, aud also how we compare with
that county in cline, resources and loca-
tion.
Fremont lays the platte river opposite
junction made with it by EIkhorn Valley
which runs north by west. At this place
some three or four n, dred persons had con-
gregated, some of whom had resided there
since the fall OF 1856 The Union Pacific
had laid it's road through the town ami
county upon its south line in the spring OF
1866. 1t was i'll the summer of 1868 lead
ing citizens We're called together to consider
a proposition presented by the agents of the
5. Z. u Z. The proposition was, that if the
citizens of that county would give S50,0
payable III twenty Years with interest, they
would connect with the U. Z. at FIR mont,
otherwise they would pass beyond it or tap
the U. Z. east Of town. The little str OF
road to buili; in th,t county was only some
tive or SIX miles. Now as the country there
Is all Hut, one place was as gool as another
Tor city purposes, and to the raiIrot a mile
more or less either way m. lie no difference
to them for wherever the 70 sd caanecte
with the U P, there the town would be-
In short, 1t was pay or move, the latter
method being the cheapest and being also
'Hobsons choice" 1t was accepted, and
doubtless was wise conclusion. The road
was complete spring 1869
Immediately upon the completion of this
work, orders Were issued for the construc-
tion ef real running from Fremont up the
Elkhorn VelIey, and beyond the northern
line of the county. .his was a startling
proposition to the people, for they hal hard
ly got their breath fr1 their first effort and
now to assam ) a farther bur,len of taxation,
seemed an impossibiity; but, having pa
taken of the benefits accruin to the country
through the much less 3ned rates of the new
road, i was lever the people used effect
ually for taking holl Of the new en5arprl.e e,
50 that when the proposition was submitted
to the people it was adopted.
The amount asked at tns time, I am in
doubt, but the u. 5. can<us showing the i'd
debtedness of tie counay, IL may BE- stated
as 300, ,000 aud right OF way. The length
of the road Is about % miles. TIE prop
osition svbmitte;l for this LITTER road was
exemption of taxes f"r twanty years, and
right of way. Bnt as the Territory hll he
come State with cons s5itu sion fDrbi l,iin
the exemption of property from tax .tinn,
an equivalent of bonds wer. given to .eb
the emergency. The right OF way Was sub
met by the company.
In these business tran sactinns between the
railroad and people, their relation WIS never
seriously disturbed misunderstanding oc-
curret, but they were met and adjusted with
a spirit and dignity, becoming both par
ties.
The county of Which we are writing Is
fat and unfluating, It's soil in the valley; is
Il black sandy alluvial. The uplands are "a
rich loam There is not rock or pebble to
be found for miles over the prairies AMI then
only i'll the deep creek bells where the soil
has been wash ed vty and the drift boul
ders exposel. Timber is, was scarce, no
coal or other minerals within its BORDERS.
Soil, water and the bit of timber they may
or may not have, with the climate common
to that country and location, is their only
natural wealth. The population at the time
Of these Undertakings is not easily obtained
but the census of 1870 gives as follows:
population. 1912, Indebtedness, $4,000
In 1880 population IL, 2j3, Indebtedness,
slS9,0OO. B.fore the S. ;. & z. formed il
junction with the T. P at Fremont, the lat
Ter road charged for car of ten tons, say
# lumber, from Chicago, distance $40 miles
s2O7 currency. The new road shortened
his some 60 miles, and at once cnt down the
ate to SIT, and later to about $S5. This |
gave an impetus to business, it lessened the |
price of lumber to the consumer $40 per M
eet at one time besides etfecting all other |
in simular manner; and
gain it not only refrainel from placing
ligh tariff upon things brought, but it car
led away the wheat, corn, beef and other
raised by the people at cores
,onding rates, and which had neither before
btained or anticipated. Tins, this new
Dad took less from the people and gave
lore and the writer never before saw this
rinciple of aiding deserving and necess ary
,,,>royanants exemnlifiel for good so much