, 1873-07-24
guoet Sound 9iApatty
Seattle's Opportunity.

evening to consider the situation
Seattle in view of the fact that the termi-
nus Railroad had been located at
Tacoma, after this town had been invlt'
ed by the locating Commissioners TO
propose terms for the location here, and
had pledged in cash, lands and real
property values. the sum OF S7l7,000
for that purpose. The whole assem-
blage, representing almost the entire
population of the town, seemed actuat-
ed by an entire unity of sentiment, and
the determined purpose to defend and
maintain the natural advantages which
had given their town the commercial
supremacy upon Puget Sound; and to
this end, all who had subscribed to make
up the munifcent sum offered as con-
ditional donation to the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad, not only expressed their
willingness to devote the same to public
im provements for the benefa of Seattle.
but many of our largest property hold
ers proposed to incre ase their subscrip-
tions and pledge the balance of their
possessions to defend their investment
The Committee appointed by the citi-
zens to conduct the negotiations with
the Locating Commissioners, after MAX
ing their report, which was accepted by
the meeting as conclusive Of the zeal
and ability with which they had con-
Quoted the negotiations, submitted
plan for an incorporated company upon
the capital basis of the sum already sub
scribed, with such additions as may be
obtained to the same, to construct rail-
road from this city to the Columbia
river to connect with the Waila Walla
and Wallula railroad now in the course
of construction, with the ultimate view
of a connection with the Union Pacific
Railroad, thus forming direct route to
the East; and to protect the transporta-
ton business of Seattle upon the Sound
and the Pacific ocean. This proposition
was unanimously adopted by the meet
ing, and ,alge number subscribed the
articles of incorporation.
On Friday evening the proposed in
corporators met at the Pavilion to per-
feet the organization. The capital stock
of thee Company was fixed at $40, 900, 900,
diyided into 10000 shares of 800 each.
The management of the affairs of the
Company is committed to Board of
| Trustees consisting of thirteen mem
bers, seven of which were elected as
follows:W Aapenny. II. L. Yeslsr
John. Collins, J. J. McGilvra. Frank
Matthias, James McNarght, and A.
Macintosh; leaving six vacancies to be
filled by interested parties outside of
Seattle. Articles of incorporation will
be filed to day. and within very short
time engineers will be in the field sur
veying the route for the proposed rail
road.
Now as to the feasibility of this pro-
ject there can be no reasonable doubt
in the mind of any one familiar with
the subject. There is not upon the Pa
cifc Coast, if any where, projected
railroad promising better results. The
distance to Wallula is about 200 miles.
| The first 25 miles from Seattle the road
would pass through coal fields as rich
and abundant as any in lhe world, which
would give proftable business to a
railroad to its utmost capacity for trans
portation; for the first forty or fifty
miles it would pass through as rich an
agricultural country as car be found
anywhere; and on entering the Cascade
mountains, over which there is an easy
and practicable grade, it would pass
through an inexhausible iron bed, and
for the balance of the distance to the
Columbia River its route would be
through a prairie country of the most
abundant grazing and agricultural re
sources. From the first to the last ten
miles of this railroad, from its start, it
would pay large divi ends upon the in
vestment. The transportation and trade
| of fbo JTppor (yol,,r,b bia yivar hoe p,aJa
the Oregon Steam Navigation Co. the
greatest financial success of any enter
prise prosecuted north of San Francis
co, and has given to Portland its chief
claim to commercial supremacy in Ore
gon and the adjacent Territories. The
projected railroad, in addition to its
other advantages, would command that
entire trade, for the very Obvious rea-
son that it would be by far the cheapest
and quickest route. Goods from San
Francisco. to any amount required, can
be laid upon the wharves at Seattle COR
three dollars ton covering all the ex-
/ penses OF transportation; at the usual
rates OF "a cents mile per ton, the
transportation from Seattle to the Col
umbia river would be So a ton; thus
making So ton pay the entire cost of
transportation from San Francisco to
Wallula. Now the cost is $S ton to
Portland and $35 ton from Portland 10
Wallula, and return freights at the same
rates, Laaklng $43 ton between San
Francisco and Wallula. Wheat at Walla
Walla now sells at 40 cents a bushel; al
Seattle it retalls at 81 SO, and beef,
mutton, butter, eggs and all other farm
products. bear the same comparative
prices between the two places. The