Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/715

 and to this most difficult part of the work Gaston applied himself. A circular was prepared, addressed to the leading farmers and business men of the country through which the surveying party would pass, inviting their support, while Barry was instructed to subsist his men on the people along the line and trust to the favor of the public for his own pay.

The novelty and boldness of these proceedings, while eliciting comments, did not operate unfavorably upon the prosecution of the survey, which proceeded without interruption, the party in the field living sumptuously, and often being accompanied and assisted by their entertainers for days at a time. It was not always that the people applied to were so enthusiastic. One prominent man declared that so far from the country being able to support a railroad, if one should be built the first train would carry all the freight in the country, the second all the passengers, and the third would pull up the track behind it and carry off the road itself. This same man, remarks Mr Gaston, managed to get into office in the first railroad company, and has enjoyed a good salary therein for 13 years. Gaston's Railroad Development in Oregon, MS., 8–9. Gaston continued to write and print circulars, which were distributed to railroad men, county officers, government land-offices, and all persons likely to be interested in or able to assist in the organization of a railroad company, both on the Pacific coast and in the eastern states. These open letters contained statistical and other information about the country, and its agricultural, mineral, commercial, and manufacturing resources. Hundreds of petitions were at the same time put in circulation, asking congress to grant a subsidy in bonds and lands to aid in constructing a branch railroad from the Central Pacific to Oregon.

By the time the legislature met in September, Gaston had Barry's report completed and printed, giving a favorable view of the entire practicability of a road from Jacksonville to the Columbia at St Helen, to which point it was Barry s opinion any road through the length of the Willamette River ought to go, although the survey was extended to Portland. To this report was appended a chapter on the resources of Oregon, highly flattering to the feelings of the assembly. The document was referred to the committee on corporations, and James M. Pyle, senator from Douglas county, chairman, made an able report, supporting the policy of granting state aid. Cyrus Olney, of Clatsop county, drew up the first state subsidy bill, proposing to grant $250,000 to the company that should first construct 100 miles of railroad in the Willamette Valley. The bill became a law, but no company ever accepted this trifling subsidy. Portland Oregorian, Sept. 7 and 13, 1864; ''Barry's Cal. & Or. R. R. Survey, 34; Or. Journal Senate'', 1864, ap. 36–7; Portland Oregonian, Nov. 5, 1864; ''Or. Jour. House'', 18G4, ap. 185-9; ''Or. Statesman'', July 23, 1864; Portland Oregonian, June 20, July 27, Aug. 11, Sept. 13, Oct. 29, 1864. In November, however, after the adjournment of the legislature, an organization was formed under the name of the Willamette Valley Railroad Company, which opened books for subscription, and filed articles of incorporation in December. Id., Nov. 12 and 17, and Dec. 2, 1864; Deady's Scrap-Book, 107. The incorporators were J. C. Ainsworth, H. W. Corbett, W. S. Ladd, A. C. Gibbs, C. N. Carter, I. R. Moores, and E. N. Cooke. Ainsworth was president, and George H, Belden secretary. Belden was a civil engineer, and had been chief in the surveyor-general s office, but resigned to enter upon the survey of the Oregon and California railroad. ''Or. Argus'', May 25, 1863. Barry meantime proceeded with his reports and petitions to Washington, where he expected the cooperation of Senators Williams and Nesmith. The latter did indeed exert his influence in behalf of congressional aid for the Oregon branch of the Central Pacific, but Barry became weary of the uncertainty and delay attendant upon passing bills through congress, and giving up the project as hopeless, went to Warsaw, Missouri, where he entered upon the practice of law.

Before Barry quitted Washington he succeeded in having a bill introduced in the lower house by Cole of California, the terms of which granted to the California and Oregon Railroad Company of California, and to such company