The Fight Over Railroad Land Grants
A scathing critique of Senator Dolph's land forfeiture bill, which is accused of protecting corporate interests over the public domain.
Senator Dolph, of Oregon, has introduced a 'land forfeiture' bill in the Senate. The bill proposes to authorize persons in possession of any of these lands to purchase 320 acres if so much has been improved by them. The railroad is required to file its assent to the conditions of the bill, so as to avoid all question as to the title to the forfeited lands. Well, now, this bill takes the cake and everything else worth taking. It forfeits little the road would get by building the uncompleted portion of the main line from Wallula to Portland, which the company intends to build. That is hard on the poor corporation. Then it provides for extending the time for building the Cascade branch, so that the company may fasten upon more of the public domain, to which it is no more entitled than is the King of the Cannibal Islands.
“The company may fasten upon more of the public domain, to which it is no more entitled than is the King of the Cannibal Islands.”
This critique reflects the long-standing populist frustration with railroad monopolies during the 19th century. The tension between corporate land grants and the public interest remains a foundational narrative in Washington State's economic and political history.
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