Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           TheexplanationofthisconditionofaffairswentbacktotheearlyhistoryofthePacificandSouthwestern,when,asabonusfortheconstructionoftheroad,thenationalgovernmenthadgrantedtothecompanytheoddnumberedsectionsoflandoneithersideoftheproposedlineofrouteforadistanceoftwentymiles.Indisputably,thesesectionsbelongedtotheP.andS.W.Theeven-numberedsectionsbeinggovernmentpropertycouldbeandhadbeentakenupbytheranchers,buttherailroadsections,or,astheywerecalled,the“alternatesections,”wouldhavetobepurchaseddirectfromtherailroaditself.

           Butthishadnotpreventedthefarmersfrom“comingin”uponthatpartoftheSanJoaquin.Longbeforethistherailroadhadthrownopentheselands,and,bymeansofcirculars,distributedbroadcastthroughouttheState,hadexpresslyinvitedsettlementthereon.Atthattimepatentshadnotbeenissuedtotherailroadfortheirodd-numberedsections,butassoonasthelandwaspatentedtherailroadwouldgradeitinvalueandofferitforsale,thefirstoccupantshavingthefirstchanceofpurchase.Thepriceoftheselandswastobefixedbythepricethegovernmentputuponitsownadjoininglands—abouttwodollarsandahalfperacre.

           Withcultivationandimprovementtheranchesmustinevitablyappreciateinvalue.Therewaseverychancetomakefortunes.WhentherailroadlandsaboutBonnevillehadbeenthrownopen,therehadbeenalmostarushinthematterofsettlement,andBroderson,Annixter,Derrick,andOsterman,beingforemostwiththeirclaims,hadsecuredthepickofthecountry.