Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/193

Rh summer and fall of 1864 in circulating petitions and memorials, and in corresponding with public men in Oregon and California to secure united action in asking of Congress a grant of public lands in aid of the construction of the Oregon & California Railroad. By November, Barry had his maps and profiles of the survey completed, and Mr. Gaston had prepared and printed Barry's report on the practicability and value of such a road, together with a "Report on the Wealth and Resources of Oregon." being the first work of the kind ever issued. All these documents were laid before a committee of Congress at the session of that year. On July 25, 1866 Congress passed the act granting lands to aid in the construction of the road.

It would require too much space for this work to enter into any history of the contest between the rival railroad corporations for possession of that land grant. As the road could not be located on both sides of the Willamette River, it was natural and inevitable for the people on both sides of the river to contend for the advantages which its construction promised. (For a full history of that contest see Vol. II, Bancroft's History of Oregon, pp. 696 to 704, and Oregon Historical Quarterly, No. 4, Vol. III, December, 1902.)

After it was decided that the east side of the Willamette Valley should have that original land grant, Mr. Gaston and his company applied to Congress a second time for a land grant in aid of the road they had started from Portland up the west side of the valley, and a grant of land for such road was made in May, 1870, being the last grant Congress ever made in aid. of railroads. This grant included aid to a branch road from Forest Grove, in Washington County, through the Nehalem Valley to Astoria. Under the first grant the railroad was built from Portland to the southern boundary of the state, and under the second grant from Portland to McMinnville. But these two grants were the foundation and opening inducements for all the railroad development of the state, which has now resulted in the construction of 1,800 miles of profitable road and great prosperity to the entire state. It is now forty years since this great work w^as commenced with such slender means at Jacksonville in 1864, and of all the men then actively connected with it, Mr. Gaston is the only surviving representative.

Mrs. Dr. Weatherford, who was on the plains from April to September, 1852, had many thrilling experiences. One day the emigrants were about to cross a stream on a willow bridge, when a howling band of Indians, gorgeously painted, brandishing their tomahawks and scalping knives, bore down upon them. The Indians demanded toll for crossing the bridge at the rate of $5.00 per man. The emigrants refused and said they would fight. "Give me your money, boys," said Mrs. Weatherford, "and I'll see what I can do." She calmly approached the Indians and pleaded with them till the chief signaled to his followers to yield. Only 50 cents a wagon was charged, and the train moved on. From this incident and similar ones Mrs. Weatherford was regarded as a saving angel. Many joined their party en route, and refused to leave the woman who could thus move the savages.