The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1888-06-02
CHICAGO Il. T. LETTER.
Chicago, Ms, Maytl7, 'Ss.
DEAR MAJoRsCAFTtEY

Ill tniS little CITY OIL OulCuSO We
have a great number, not only OF
incoming, but out going trains.
Yet most OF them have to provide
standing room tor quite a number
Of regular passengers, myself in
cluded, although sthe suburban
trains, morning and evening, leave
every station each way exactly ten
minutes apart for four or 1--WE hours
each day. Now, why is this thus
lyl
Thirty-seven years ago Congress
passed nm act granting the right OF
way, and making s,donatien OF I'M
ssld even numbered sections OF
land, which act was entitled rs
follows: can Act granting the
right of way, and making n grant
of land to the states OF Illinois,
Mississippi and Alabama in aid OF
the construction of a railroad from
Chicago to Mobile" This act pro-
vidcd, and stipulated, that all the
land in the odd numbered sections
should be sold at donble the min
hmm value, which then amounted
to $3.50 per acre. But q large
quantity Of these lands had been
offered at private sale or entry, at
several public Land offices for 123
cents per acre, and tSund no pur-
chasers. As soon as this act pass
ed, the public lands were reserved
from sale until the grant was ad-
iusted-but as soon as the lands
were again offered at public sale or
private entry, every acre sold at
So. so inside Of two years, and then
the states had this immense grant
OF land on hand, and perhaps
scarcely knew what to do with it.
Vulgarly speaking, Illinois took
the "bull bv the herns," and or
ganized the great Illinois Central
Railroad Ccmpany,sby enactment
of its legislature, and thus obtained
q grant of nearly 2,595,OOO acres
of land, some Of which would no.
sell at s12f an acre, for over TWEEN
ty years then passed. But the State
of Illinois being somewhat wiser
than some outside folks, kindly be.
queathed this magnificent grant o.
land 10 it's own creation, the Hi
nols Central Railroad Company, or
condition that it would pay the
state the insignificant sum of sever
cents on ca h dollar it re eiyed, no
out of the land, but its gross earn
ings for freight and passengers.
without limit Of time.
Now, while this immense gran
OF land built in a great measure
that best of railroads, and in a still
greater measure made the grea
state of Illinois what it is, yet tina
seven per cent hurts the Railroa,
Company much more than 1t benz
fits the state. The state is gairin
all the time, while the lllinoi
Central Railroad Company is onl
receiving nlnty.three cents on tn
dollar, or paying out one dolIa
and seven cents when it gets
whole dollar in.
| do not know whether "Unc'
Sam" has an acre Of governmer
land in New McKee,, but If on
Uncle or any other fellow has a
acre or two, and your railroads ca
gcbble up a half acre or "a, on Il
same principle tina; the l. Q. r.
Co. did | would advise them to !
it alone, as IN less than twenty IL
years 1t will cost more than it WI
ever worth-except in the way
creating excitement, and aiding
settling OF bonds. II any propose
railroad in New Mexico has Al
idea of Obtaining a land grant fro
any source, then advise them
have sense enough to promise fit
per cent OF the net earnings,
stead OF seven or even less per ce
on gross earnlrgs. 1t will ?
l-..-A- ~. ..;l.DnI 40 81,