THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 35 



This grant was transferred by the State to the Illinois 

 Central Company, in consideration of which, and in 

 lieu of all other taxes, the company agreed to pay to 

 the State an amount equal to seven per cent, of the 

 gross earnings from freight and passengers moved over 

 their lines. The amount of land embraced in this 

 grant was about 2,595,000 acres. This immense 

 property consisted of a broad strip of land lying on each 

 side of the line of the road throughout the entire length 

 of the State, and for a distance of about six miles on 

 each side of the track. It was a magnificent grant. 



The company made a good use of the lands thus 

 acquired. They were promptly surveyed and laid off 

 in sections. Liberal offers for the company could 

 afford to be liberal since the lands had cost them 

 practically nothing were made to actual settlers. As 

 they comprised some of the best lands in the State, the 

 railway sections were rapidly taken up, and all along 

 the line of the road there sprang up farms and settle- 

 ments as if by magic. By the first of January, 1873, 

 the sales of the company amounted to 2,250,633 acres, 

 leaving 344,367 acres on hand. The amount received 

 and due for the lands thus sold up to January 1st, 

 1873, stands as follows : 



Principal $ 23,320,463 



Net cash 5,268,557 



Advance interest 976,133 



Interest notes 710,328 



Notes and deferred payments 18,762,243 



Sales, including advance interest 24,296,596 



The example of the Illinois Central Company was 

 not lost upon other corporations. Each had its cham- 

 pion in Congress, and applications for land grants began 

 to pour in upon that body.' Having granted such aid 



