, 1873-07-03
THE TERMINUS QUESTION. The COZ

THE TERMINUS QUESTION. The con
test of the terminus of the Northern
Pacific Rairc nd has been narrowed dowl
to two points Tacoma ani Seattle, ana
was to have bsen determined by hear
ing before tn Commissioners at Olym-
pia Oh Saturday last. A delegation
from each pf the rival points appeared
before the Commissioners on that occa-
sion, with, definite propositions. after
hearing of which. the Tacoma delega-
hon. ta.itly Admitted that the Seattle
was the best, by asking that
fifteen days time be allowed them III
whi%h to increase their bid. The Com
missioners granted this prayer, giving
20 Seattle II same privilege. and we
trust the time will be improved by our
citizens, and the able ana energetic
committee which Il ey have selected to
repre- sent them. 10 make their concet-
sions sufficiently ample and i'll an IN
niistakable form as to relieve the, Com
missionersF from any embarrassment
and secure the prize without cavll from
any.
From a long personal acquaintance
with Capt. Ainsworth and II knowledge
of the uniform reputation ofJudge Rice.
We know of no two men in whose lnte;,-
rity, good faith, sound discrimination
and fair dealing we could place greater
confidence, but we must recollect the
fact that we have to oppose powerful
combination, heretofore i'll control OF
the railroad, whose influence the. CALI
not utterly ignore. 1t is .he old, old
conflict between the speculate, and the
settlers, which ever attends the growth
of sll new countries and every public
enterprise. With the inauguration OF
his grand enterprise, ring comblna-
ton of private spectators was formed
to control the project in such manner
as to force contributions both fir, M ok
holders and the settlers. The agents
Of this ring, ostensblly representing the
railroad Company, c'me to this Terri
tory in advance oftne railroad surveyors
and gobbled up on private account All
the best sections of public lands subject
to entry, and all their subsequent efforts
have been directed to make the railroad
subserye their own private Interests.
regardless alike of the interests OF the
road or the rights Of bond holders. The
location of town sites, routes and ra'l
road stations have all been made to
improye or enhance the value of lands
belonging to the land ling lnste1d oi
those belonging to the railroad. The only
considerable town thu, tar established
upon this end of the road Is kalama.
the title to which is vested III the land
rino the only market, BILE value to which
over other unimproved wild lands being
made at the expense OF the railroad com
pany, and all the profits arising there
from accruing to the benefit Of the land
ring.
The contest raised by Tacoma is onl,
continuation Of the same managing OF
this ring of spectators, who by the
force of circumstances which they
could not control, have been throw
ont of the management of the Railroad
Company. By combining with local
spectators they have putfed the wild
region covered only by a paper town ill.,
to an important rival to Seattle, and otfri
to the railroad company large tract oi
wild land. bearing only specnlativ
value, as an offset to the city propert,
already .,ade valuable bv the improve
ments, thrift and enterprise of Il popula-
ton numbering nearly three Thousand
Seattle by its superior natural advanta
ges has become the commercial centre
of the Sound. with millions of dollars
invested in permanent improvements.
while Tacoma has only IL saw mill Iii
the wilderness, surrounded by logging
camps, with no value to its lands for
town purposes other than would be CIV
en- it by railroad improvements for IL t
benefit Of spectators only. The peo-
pie of Seattle, representing the largest
population of any town upon the Sound,
offer to share with the Railroad Compa-
nv the results of their own industry.
while the Speculate who own the town
plat of Tacoma. representing no | opu
In ion, only offer to share the nett lio-
eeds of speculation to which the ex
pendi.ures of the Railroad Company
can alone give any vaiue. At present
values. which are the best lest of ulti-
mite profits, the amount of property
and money offered b, Seattle would buy
Pierce county. The superiority of Sc
attic i'll natural advart tages is Manifest
IN its present growth and prosperity and
It's geographical position at the eastern
extremity of the navlgabe Wa ers of the
Sound From the first conception of
the project of uniting the navigable wa
ters Of Lake Superior with taose of Pu-
get Sound, every competant engineer
who has given any attention to the
subject, has unequivocally indicated
Eilipt Bay as the proper Western termi
nusS and nothing but private specula-
tionS have ever diverted the attention
of RI llroad men from that clearly mark
ed Indication. More anon.
IHE terminus QUESTION As we have
aefady Shown, Seattle possesses every
advantage. over all rival noiuts and has