The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1886-06-24

The Northern Pacific forfeiture bill
has passed the senate and now awaits
the action of the lower house. The
general opinion is that the house will
not concur in the action Of the senate,
because Of the opposition Of the men,
hers favoring ~ more sweeping forfeit
ure. The senate will " no further than
it has, and the result will be, should
the house pass a more sweeping meas
ure, u disagreement, resulting in the
passage Of no bill Of forfeiture what
ever.
The bill declares forfeited $50 much
Of the lands granted to that company
rs are co,erminus with that part of its
main line which extends from Wal
lula Junction to Portland, and that
part Of the Cascade branch which shall
not have been completed at the date
Of the passage Of this bill, and makes
the right of way in the territories sub
ject to taxation. Where persons are
now in possession of the lands forfeited
by the hill, under deeds acquired by
the railroad company, they shall have
the right to purchase the lands from
the United States in quantities not ex-
ceeding 30 acres for $3.50 per acre.
Nothing in the act 10 to be construed to
waive any right Of the United States to
forfeit any other lands granted to them
for failure, past or future, To comply
with the conditions Of the grant,"
Should tho bill become = law, it will
only demonstrate the pusilanimity Of
cunning demagogues. who would aim
to pose as champions of the people.
The recovery Of land or the injury to
the Northern Pacific is insignificant,
while the early completion Of the Cas-
cade division is Of vital importance to
every settler in Washington territory.
The Northern Pacific company have
expected u forfeiture of the lands be-
tween Wallula and Portland ~ the
com pany has 10 intention Of building
line between those points. The Ore
gon Navigation company now opera
ting between those points, will be able
10 handle all the business the country
will ever produce. The completion Of
the Cascade division will give the com.
pany its own Pacific coast outlet and
do away with the necessity of building,
rs the original charter provides, a line
along the Columbia.
The Helena Herald, speaking Of the
Cascade branch says: "This portion is
roughly estimated at about seventy.
FIVE miles. 1t is the most difficult and
expensive portion Of the line to con-
struct, which the grant would have gone
but little ways towards paying for. We
do not suppose there was q section Of
land in the whole forfeited portion fit
for agriculture. II is valuable only for
its timber, and the railroad will virtu-
ally own it anyway, for it is Of no value
without it can be reached by transpor-
tation, and this can only be done over
the Northern Pacific"
The only reesleming feature Ut the
measure is the clause which makes the
right Of way in the territories subject
to taxation. The company, no doubt,
recognize the Justice Of this provision.
But ~ the bill will hardly pass this ses-
sion. the compsn will even be exempt
from taxation in territories for some
time tn come.
Happily the fate Of the bill will make
no difference to the Company. The
Cascade division will he pushed TO
completion. Contracts have been let
aud AN army Of men are at work ON
the great tunnel.