He took long chances, and he won out. Do not you think in return the
national resources should in a measure reward him for the advantages he
has conferred and the immense wealth he has developed? Mind you, Mr.
Baker has merely taken advantage of the strict letter of the law. It is
merely open to another interpretation. He needs this particular body of
timber for the furtherance of one of his greatest quasi-public
enterprises; and who has a better right in the distribution of the
public domain than the man who uses it to develop the country? The
public land has always been intended for the development of resources,
and has always been used as such."
Oldham talked fluently and well. He argued at length along the lines set
forth above.
"You have to use lubricating oil to overcome friction on a machine," he
concluded. "You have to subsidize a railroad by land grants to enter a
new country. By the same immutable law you must offer extraordinary
inducements to extraordinary men. Otherwise they will not take the
risks."
"I've nothing to do with the letter of the law," Bob replied; "only with
its spirit and intention.
Pages:
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753