Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-08
WHOLE NO. lO,728.
THE OREGON RAILROAD.
its importance and Benefits Considered
in a Pointed Manner.

1o" -" w III you Kindly allow me
space IN your valuable paper to say few
words feiallVe to the California and Oregon
Ra1lroad, the early completion of which is
known and admitted by all business men
OF this coast to be of the utmost import-
ance both to the individual and the State
FOR want OF this line of communication
the people OF this State and the merchants
OF our large business centers in particular.
are feeling 4 loss of trade. The State at
large IS also deeply interested immense
districts OF Northern California and South
ern Oregon are virtually out of the market
ana IN commercial sense out of the world
Hood agricultural, mineral and timber
iandS that are now, on account of their iso-
la'lon, almost worthless TO individuals and
the state would at once be brought within
easy reach ol emlgrantS and capital, there
by lnsurlng speedy occupancy and deyeI-
opment, profitable alike to the capitalist.
enrigrant and State.
Any one familiar with the district in
question can clearly see that for want of
railroad communication every interest of
the farmers, miners and stock men OF that
portion OF the State is raral wed. There are
thousands OF acres of first-class grain, tim
Der and grazing lands lying between Ash
land, Or, and Delta, Cal, that are totally
and not within the practical
reach of labor and capital, and to say that
these lands will remain in this condition So
long as they are denied the advantages of
railroad communication is simply making
an allegation, the truth of which is patent
TO any one at all familiar with the land
locked character of the country.
Surrounded as it Is by lofty and rueped
mountains, spurs of the Sierras. making it
extremely difficult and expensive TO reach
by emlSrants, its great attractions and adj
yantages of soil and climate as an agric,1It-
ural and stock country, are now and must
forever, remain unknown to the stream of
enterprising emigrants now flooding our
State, and as result the splendid resources
OF this vast country viii remain undeyel-
Oped. Lands that would soon blossom rs
the rose and afford pleasant and profitable
homes to the actual settler, mineral lands
that could be made deliver their hidden
wealth to well-directed enterprise and capi-
tai, adding immensely to the revenues of
the State, will remain idle, a range for a few
bands OF sheep and cattle, the home of the
grizzly, lion and Cayote, until such time as
the California and Oregon, or some other
party shall complete this line Of railroad.
and make this region practically accessible.
1t would seem reasonable that every citizen
would comprehend and admit the policy,
nav more, the necessity, both for the pros
perity Of the commercial interests of the
whole coast and that of our large cities
IN particular, of the early COM
pletiOn of this road Every merchant will
attest the fact that the trade of this State is
being lost on account of the lack
of facilities for cheap and rapid transporta-
ton.
Assuming that am correct in the above
statement, the inquiries naturally arise.
Why is this connecting link not made
Why does the California and Oregon Rail
road halt in the good work? 1t seems TO
me that it is not because they do not want
to build the road, nor do | think IL is be-
cause the people of the State, and especially
those who are most interested. do not want
the road. As evidence of the correctness
OF the latter statement, see the petition of
the last Legislature to Congress to extend
the time for the California and Oregon to
the road This halt in eonstruc-
ton think is mainly due to the character
Of the country to be traversed, the same be-
ing admitted to be by far the most difficult
and expensive for ra lroad construction vet
attempted in the State, together with the
discouraging effect of the bill now pending
in Congress, to declare the land grant for
feited.
But Notwithstanding the great obstacles
ol an engineering character to be overcome,
if Congress would regard with favcr the pc
-ition of our people through the Legisla-
-ure, and extend the time as desired. it is a
fact that the road would be
speedily completed. Railroads like other
operations. are not conducted for
glory, and in order to interest capital in
such enterprises, fair showing must be
made of a reasonable profit on outlay The
cost of this line is great, the chances of i'm
mediate profit small, oWine 10 the Fact that
steamers and sailing vessels between San
francisco and Portland viii come in direct
to carry freight and passengers
I lower figures than the cheapeSt railroad
rates, though not ass sac and speedy. which
oeheit IS not afforded to the inland towns
lIIu stations, consequently it is necessary
20 give encouragement. For the sake of ar
!ument, admitting that the completion of
his road Will be a paying investment. it
would also be paying investment to every
lhzen of the State, as the material interest
)f the citizen is closely linked with the in
'rease Of population guaranteeing a corre-
'ponding increase of capital and enter
1rise
1t seems plain proposition that it would
)nly be acting the part of wisdom for the
people of this State to raise their voices as
lne man, and say through their representa-
ives 10 Congress, Extend the time of
orfeiture of this grant Us desired, ana let
IS have this all important road, and not
listen to the political hobby riders that
nave not the interest of the people of the
State in view, but in their selfish greed
eagerly back any hobby that promises in
wen remote degree TO carry them within
each of the public crib However lust to
he people the Acts of Congress forfeiting
he railroad grants may have been, and will
)e III other cases, the people of this State
not the politicians) claim that for Congress
o declare forfeited the grant to the Califor-
lla and Oregon Railroad would be the re-
'erSe to the best interests OF the people, to
he State and to the railroad company,
Who, believing in the good faith and liber-
llity of the Government, have already ex-
pended millions in projecting said road into
he very heart of the Sierras. an outlay of
,apital that is, and viii ever remain unpro-
luctiye, unless the line is completed.
The people want the road, the emigrants
hat are here, and many that are TO come,
want cheap lands that are accessible. And
what have we against this great and lasting
good to the people and the State? The land
granted to the railroad company, the value
If which, when compared with the benefit
'eceived by the people and the State,
lwlndles to insigniicance The lands
covered by this grant are least valuable. for
obvious reasons, as by far the larger portion
If the desirable lands, those suitable for
tock and agricultural purposes, were taken
lp, much of 1t in large tracts. years ago,
)riOr to the Act of Congress granting vacant
ands to the railroad company On accoun'
If the land in this portion of the State be-
ng practically inaccessible to emigrants
md settlers, they have been, and still are.
out of the market there being
10 buyers, and are now offered cheap to
lctual settlers, and if made accessible by
he completion of this road, would soon be
occupied and developed by an enterprising
population.
The land granted to the railroad COM
)any canuot be sold unless the road is
quilt and, unsold, it is of no practical use
o the people of the State. Then by all
means let the railroad company have the
grant, and make all they can by its devel-
3pment and sale, the revenue Of the State
aill be increased, and still we, the peoT lie,
Will be infinitely the gamers thereby. for
80 long as the road is Withheld, so long
Will the railroad lands be of no practical
value TO anyone. Then let us, the people
ot the State, who are SO yitally interested,
and the merchants of our principal cities,
As one man, speak through public meetings
and by petition to Congress, in such man
ner as 10 gain our cause, the extension OF
time prayed for, and hush the senseless cry
Of the political Hobby Rider" the So
called ant;-monopolist. S. d. PRATHER.
BoDIE BH.LIARus-Th Free Press of Sep
tenber 4th says
At the Senate billiard-room all night