, 1873-08-21
Pmaet Sonmd 9ispateh.
Credit MobiIier of the Northern
Pacific Railroad.

NC6Qik WOUIltCI W litS iN~' eifS'h
Pacific Railroad.
1t will be recollected that the Credit
Mobilier of infamous notoristy, operat-
ed under an act of the Pennsylvania
Legislature. The Credit Mobilier OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company, of
like design and infamous record, has
similar origin. By the records in the
sfice of the Secretary of the Territory,it
appears that the Legislature of Maine,
by an act approved January 20. 1861
corporated the "Western Transporta-
ton and Mining Company" with Alb
ncr Coburn, Philander Coburn and
Richard D. Rice, their associates and as
signs as corporators. Under an act of
said Legislature approved March %.
1870, the said "Western Transportation
Company, on the 26th day of April,
1860, changed its name to the Lake
Superior and Puget Sound Company"
as appears by resolution adopted by
the company, authenticated by Samuel
Wilkeson, who was then Secretary of
the company. The Legislature of Wash
ington Territory, on November q, 1871,
(see page 101, Stat. W.T. 1917 required
all foreign corporations to appoint an
Agent for certain purposes, and under
the provisions of that act, John w.
Sprague was appointed by the Lake Su-
perior and Puget Sound Company on
the 9th day of January, 1872, as ap-
pears by his appointment on file in the
Office of the Secretary, executed by Z.
H. Garfield, President Of said Company.
Here we have in brief the history of
an organization identical in intent and
design with the infamous Credit Mobil-
ier of the Union Pacific Railroad, organ
lied for the express purpose ofplunder-
ing a muniicent Government subsidy
awarded to a public benefaction. The
men to whom this grand public trust
was con6ded were the chief conspirators
against its integrity, the faithless guard
iaus of the peoples rights, the plotting
traitors to their public obligations.
Richard D. Rice, Vice President Of
the Company, was one of the trio faith
ers of this unnatural and infamous
scheme. Samuel Wilkeson held the
double Office of Secretary of the Con-
pany and Secretary of the combination
organized to plunder the Company.
Gen. Sprague did double duty as Super
intendant of the Company and Agent OF
the Ring. taking good care 10 use all
the power of his position on the first to
further the personal schemes of the lat.
ter.
Nine members of the Railroad board,
it is now understood, are stockholders
in the plundering ring, and they select
ed of their own number the Commission
ers to locate the western terminus ;henc<
the vastly superior advantages together
with subsidy from which the Railroad
Company might have realized more
than million dollars, offered by Seattle
were rejected, and the terminus located
upon the land belonging to the Ring
from which the railroad will never real
ize dollar. Inths same manner havetht
interests of the railroad been sacrificed
to the interests of the ring in every in
stance. Millions of dollars borrowed up
on the credit of the Congressional sub
sidy in the name of the Railroad Com
pany, have been expended in laying eut
and improving towns for the exclusive
benefit of the Ring. Are there any acts
which come under the statutes of fraud
obtaining money under false pre.enses Oh
breach of trust, morally more criminal
than these What capitalist of ordina
~ business sagacity will, in view Of
these facts, ever touch another dollar o1
their Railroad securities at any price
II is folly and madness to expect the
coutry to derive any benefit from pub
lie enterprise conducted in such a ras.
cally and reckless manner.