The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-10-16
liter FROM
.ha Public Lands Have Been Given
HO. Railroads--Strife Profitable
to Lawyers-Mission of
the Peoples Party.

L4C \ NSFN
.ondence of the Progressive Farmer.
C" WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct, II.
r-or an article contributed by A.
,,.poadv that I have seen going the
D,,nds of the press COPIED in the
T0-,,ers' Tribune, Des Moines, Ia,
tcont. goth, LAST l see that up to 1878
w. railroad grants amounted to 49,
~ -eS acres of the public domain, an
ga greater than the combined areas
= fourteen States, viz: All of New
c,aIand. New York, Pennsylvania,
r;sginia South Carolina, New Jersey,
%arvIand and West Virginia. By 1892
"a amount had been increased to
~ 462 600 acres, which is double the
40 If said States. Also that $50 miles
= tho Northern Pacific vas stocked for
.r n0O 900, to which was added $49,-
NM 600 of pure unadulturated water,
IN. seemingly making the road cost
M enormous sum OF 1886, 900 per mile,
~bic5 is more than six times its real
WIZ
cost.
There IS a seeming mystery involved
:, the building of the Pacific railroads.
How q few persons, with at most but
little money, could embark in the con
.ruction of the Pacific railroads and
,,ne out many times.over millionaires,
rbiIa the government is seemingly
,rofted but little, if any, for its lands,
il bonds or for the interest paid on the
lands, The following will probably
throw some light on the subject:
rvPFEs OF CONGRESS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE HAD A FINGER IN THE PIE.
Anumber of years ago l was credibly
informed that one Of those land grant
matters was pending before Congress.
The matter was in the hands OF n Of
those lobbyists who wanted $50, 600 for
favorable action, but the party who
was to receive the grant would not
agree to give but so, 600. The lobbyist
then sent his card over and brought
his NJ c. cut and conferred with him.
Tbemem6cr soon went back and passed
around among the members, telling
them there was nothing in it. The bill
was then called up and killed. The
b5bvist then remarked to my inform
ant, He will give 100000 next week"
Igive the foregoing in the language
Of my informant as nearly as | can
rcollect. He said he was present and
saw the transaction as detailed, being,
it would seem. on intimate terms with
the lobbyist. How he knew that the
member, after a conference with the
bbbyist, passed around among certain
members OF the House aud informed
them that there is nothing in it." l
am not able to say, but he evidently
had good reasons for knowing, or be.
leving. such to be the case, orhe would
not have so informed me. / was we'll
acquainted with my informant, seeing
him occasionally for a number Of
years, and verify believe that his state
mant was substantially correct. His
name can be given when wanted. |
have not seen him for several years
past I do not recollect the railroad
nor the locality thereof for which the
land grant was wanted, not being sum
GENTLY interested in the matter to make
inquiry, bat it is believed to have been
in some of the Southern States.
The foregoing was doubtless a small
matter in comparison with some of the
large deals of the far West, but it is
sufficient to show the drift of our mem
bers Of Congress. People who will
trade in a small matter are not apt to
neglect a larger one when it comes in
reach.
The foregoing, and similar unjust
acts, Is doubtless a result Of sending
TOO many lawyers to Congress and
Keeping them in Office too long. One
Term Of four years for President and
'0tn Houses OF Congress and State
differs, and two terms of four years
sr county officers, is plenty long, and
should &c so established by law.
Ihava q great many times thought
ia rsroark made by the late excellent
Goyer2-r Of North Carolina, Jonathan
Worth lie said that a certain lawyer
have forgotten his name) often used
NeeTurr--iou: God send strife among
@e people" IL such a state Of affairs
4Eyers 30 q thriving business, and it
Sbe.i' v4U that many of our laws were
I'a7a.d win a view of encouraging
STRIFE
But sc have hat enough Of strife
d. d. just legislation generally. Con
%Q}un.iy We need legislators who viii
eloau..2o the sending of peace and