Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-06-19
FAR-REACHING PROGRAM OF THE 0REGON-lDAH0
DEVEL L0PMENT CONGRESS.

DEVEL L0PMENT CONGRESS.
This organization has secured the cooperation of the leg
isave departments Of the two states named, in program
Of railroad development,
They secured submission to vote OF the people OF an
amendment 10 the constitution providing for state and district
built railroads.
in securing the adoption Of that amendment to the ConSt
tuition the following named Portland gentlemen appeared be-
tore the Oregon legislature and made arguments showing the
urgent necessity for the railroad amendment;
William MacMaster. NJ G. Mmly.
Herman n; SIvii Siitenberg. Ed Ed Ghr%an. HTsl''
a. H. DeverS J. a. keatng.
c. E. S. Wood F. S. Stanley.
J. N. Teal. a. NJ. Drake.
Henry Hahn c. s. Jackson.
They represent some Of the largest financial manufacture
ing commercial and professional firms Of that city,
This Development Congress next went before the Idaho
legislature and secured the enactment Of the Idaho district
built railroad law
That law was drafted by the abest lawyers in the state of
Idaho and is modelled after the irrigation district statute which
has been upheld by the supreme court
The Idaho district railroad law provides that district may
be created by peton just like an Irrigation or drainage dis
triCt for the construction OF railroad.
After the district is formed the proposed railroad IS sub
mted to vote OF the people owning property in the district
majority OF the proPery-oWneS SO decide, all the lands
in the district in proportion to the benefits derived are as
SesSed for the construction Of the railroad through the district
Three directors or trustees are chosen by the property
owners Of the district to survey locate and construct the pro-
# the people of the district prefer the district can issue
bonds to build the proposed aoad the entire financing and
construction being placed IN the hands OF the directors elected
from the body Of the district.
the railroad is built can be leased to railroad SyStem
Of which forms branch upon terms satisfactory to the
district
Under this plan Of dstdc-but railroad territory ten
miles wide and fifty miles long needing railroad to market
its products can build that railroad out of its own resources
and upon its own credit il it sees fit
No pOpery-oWnerS land can be included in this district
without his CONSENT after hearing in court,
Under II the IDAHO law district having 100000 acres OF land
worth $40 an acre without railroad can build railroad
through il at a cost OF ST 100000.
The productive lands of that district would advance to $50
an acre, which is low price,
The owners Of the lands would have doubled the value Of
their property and own the railroad besides.
Owning the railroad and leasing at a good rental price,
they would probably never have to pay any interest on the
bonds, but would derive a revenue BESIDES
Wo immense advantages will accrue TO the landowners
under the Idaho district railroad law First the entire expense
of building the railroad through their lands will be added to-
the value OF their own property as well as all future increase
in the value of the railroad
Second that they will always be in position to control
freight and passenger rates the road in their own terri
tory
IN place of the land advancing from $40 to $50 an acre
as the result Of building railroad under this law in Idaho It
more than likely that the land will adVanve to from $50 to
Sl00 per acre along such railroad.
The bonds on such district railroad VIII be better IMAM
any other railroad bonds because they have not only the rail-
road and its earning power for security but behind those bonds
is the entire population and wealth OF the district
The Oregon amendment to the constitution proposed by this
Development League would authorize the people to enact
similar law in Oregon II il works we'll in Idaho.
Not only the legislative power OF the two CommonwealhS
present behind the development program but the executive
power has been enlisted
The governors of the two states we're requested by this