Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-15
THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON ROAD
GRANT


THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON ROAD
GRANT.
There was superior opportunity during
the session of the Anti Chinese Convention
in this city to ascertain the personal views of
representative men of the State concerning
the suicidal policy proposed by political
factions to drive through Congress a meas
IRE forfeiting the land grant to the Cali
fornia and Oregon Railroad Company.
Though meeting several hundred citi-
zens from widely separated sections of the
State in the four days, not one was found
who favored the Henley forfeiture pro-
gramme. We were more impressed than
before with the fact that the sentiment of
the people of California is practically a
unit on this question. They look upon the
proposed forfeiture as hostile to the best
interests of theentire State, and as certain,
If triumphant, to break off the scheme to
connect the waters of the Columbia and
the Gulf by rail, and out of which de-
benefits to the country.
The natural conformation of the Pacific
valleys and ranges point to the necessity of
such construction; the imperative needs of
California commerce demand it; the local
interests of northern California are at
stake IN the matter; good faith with the
hardy mon who bo,ra ceo,o 49,
ern mountain region to conquer it to pro-
duetion and the uses of population, de-
mand 1t; the best interests of the Federal
Government in approaching its wild lands
and opening up vast region to the land
market, dictate it. To say that the voices
Of the commercial bodies of the chief
cities OF the State, Of the people of Cali
iornia and of southern Oregon; of the
conquering population of the north re-
glon; of the trade of the Sacramento and
san joaquin valleys; of the press of Cal
ifornia; of economic Justice and business
discretion, are Of no value in this matter is
absurd
the people that the land grant be not for
feited, stands only the shylocl1 of political
ambition, demanding "My bond my
bond" and thirsting for the technical
pound of flesh. Governmental wisdom, if
ever Congress gives fair consideration to
The question, certainly will put the seal of
10
fixture. 1t has been already shown what
As termed taches in availing of the grant
within the period allotted for construction
OF the road, was only technical. and that
in fact it would have been the hight of
financial folly to have undeitak the COM
pletion of the line, until assurance of
through connection could be given
The grant proposed to be forfeited gives
what value there is to adjacent lands, and
therefore determines the period in which
the mountainous region on the northern
State line shall be opened up to settlement
As mere investment the Government
could not do better for the public lands
than to extend the grant. To forfeit it. is
to level public land values in vast region
at single stroke without an iota of COM
pensating advantage, to say nothing of
dealing staggering blow at the commerce
of the State, and from which it will be
long in recovering.
No work of equal Importance to that of
completing the link that will at once
bring ipto existence a great trunk line of
railway parallel with the Pacific coast.
and traversing the richest valleys on the
globe, has been undertaken in recent
times. No railroad work of greater phvsi-
cal magnitude within like mileage has
been projected upon the continent. No
work that will yield such immediate and
broad benefits has been entered upon since
the completion Of the transcor tinental
railways. Because the almost super
human endeavor was not comprised within
period enormously calculated in the out
set Is the only reason now advanced for
the forfeiture. But such a great railroad
project cannot command needed eapital
upon the security of its roadbed alone.
Though the lands on which credit is to
be based are not valley sections, though
they have but nominal value and are To-
Gated in a region well nigh inaccessible
still the fact of the land grant is the essen
tial basis upon which capital can be drawn
to the support of the enterprise. Without
this the road cannot be pushed to COM
pletion.
That it was not long ago constructed is