Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-29

s
the introduction into the United States
Senate of y joint resolnt on authoriz. ng
the railroad company to build its road
''as near as may be" on the line speci-
fed IA the charter from the State of
Cal fornia, an providing t,at when the
road should be built in compliance in
other resi- ects with the law making the
grant of lands. the Secretary of the In
terror should cause patents for the same
10 be issued to the company, express
ly saw ng and reserving the rights of
actual settlers"
Inls resolution was referred to the
Senate Committee on Pacific Railro DIS
VIII 'se CT .irman was friendly to the
road. aud who immed ately wrote to
Secretary Cox, suggesting that he
withdraw his or Ter perm tting the
settlers to prove up on their ella ms I'M
til the comm ttee could report, and
the Senate and House act u,on the
resolution.
Mr.. Cox complied with the re.
quest. again wi hdrew the la Ids from
market and again the Mu sic Slourh
settlers We're retus ID permission 10 pre-
sent their proving-up papers and re-
ce We title to The r no es.
No soon r was this ACCOMPLISHED
than tn attorneys for the railroad COM
pany. in the nate, in House, and
in the lobby BEGAN the wo OF sccur-
ing en- ugh votes to pass the resolut on.
The SETTLERS proteste and petitioned
against 1t pass ige, but little at eution
was pal t. their p eadings for Justice.
he member of ongreSs from tn. dis
trct through which the road was being
constructed was cit err incom, eteut or
In the pay of road, and made but
feeble efforts 10 defeat the schemes of
the corporation, and the Senators from
California were equally derel.ct in their
duty.
Finally the settlers raised money
among themselves and sent an attorney
to Washington to plead their cause Tor
them. He returned with Federal ap-
.ntment in his pocket and without
having accomplished anything for those
who sent m, and the resolution IN
favor Ut the railroad company passed
both Houses.
! The people at the Slough were now
gr atty discourag, d. but still not with
out hope. Tn" resolution plainly pro-
vded that the RICH s of actual settlers
should be respected. and they could not
see how any one could dis ute the fact
OF their be ng such. Indeed it was only
by asserting that their rights We're Sc
cured by that clause of the resolution
that enough men bers of the House nd
Senate who were not absolute tool, or
partners OF the cOnspirators were n
duce to vote for the resolution to Sc
cure its passage.
Besides this, the railroad company.
when It's otfic IS first decided to make
an effort to seize upon the land in the
vicinity of the S ough, had issued cir
culars urging people to come and take
up land there. p ON sing them that as
soon as the company rece we'd patents
! for tho land firm the Government it
would deed to the settlers. upon pay
ment OF the price of w Id land: or at
two and a hall dollars per acre for bar
rem pla rs, such as most of the land at
the Slough was; and that in no case
would pr ce exceed ng ten doll"rs per
acre be charged, even for t.mbere.l
land.
/ A largo portion of the settlers now at
tho Slough had come in complain G
with this Invita- on and agreement on
the part OF the railroad company, and
they still relied upon e promise of the
company. or thought the courts would
compel it to comply with the promise
set forth in its circulars-a promise
VIII CHI became binding contract when
the sett ers. acting upon it, came upon
the land and began to improve it.
The officers of the company had,
however, no intention OF compl inc
with the prom Sc, and their success III
br bing Cor gress led them to feel that
there was nothing TO be feared fl ON
tn. courts. They demanded the full
value of all lands, including improve
ments. and clameu that the words
actual settlers in the reso ion of
Congress re red to such AS Govern
me had granted patents to before the
passage OF the act making the grant of
lands to the company; viii h was be-
fore the irst settler came to the Slough,
and was of l,.nds along the line pro-
posed in their charter, distant ono hun
dred and fifty miles and ON the other
side OF q range of untains.
During all this time the settlers had
held frequent meetings and endeavored
in every legal manner known to them
to de end their rights. Erastus Hem.
mingway was always in attendance
upon these meetings, and althouu b he
said b # little, what he did say was al
ways to the point, Clear and forcibe,
and he came 10 be regarded by all as
one VIII 'se Judgment was of value, AMI
who was ever prompt with his portion
of the none. found cessary to be
raised from tine 10 time in defense of
their homes.
! At last. and after repeated meetings
and much discuss on, It was decided to
make an offer to compr mise with the
company as the cheapest way out of
the difficulty, and letter was addressed
to its chief officer. stating that while
they did not recognize ther the legal
or equitable claim OF the company to
their lands. yet for the sake of being at
peace they would al pay tie prices
! which those who came by invitation of
the company had been promised the
land at; or the pric, which disinter-
without the improv mcnts were now
worth; or the price at which the com