, 1874-05-07

!. From that point connections could be
made with the Union or Central Pacific
in les time than it would take to COM
plete tho Northern Pacific, and BY a
much shorter route to the East than by
The way Of Kalama and the Columbia
River. We have not time to more than
allude TO the subject at present, but will
elaborate hereafter"
| This WAS then . new, and to many .
startling suggestion. The people hero
had waited for years with confident ex..
pectations that the munidcent subsidy
granted to the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company would furnish al the
railroad facilities necessary to dsvelops
the vast resources Of this section, and
eventually make Seattle the great COM
mercial city Of the Pacific coast. They
had never considered an alternative;
had never dreamed Of being thrown
upon their own resources for utilizing
the vast advantages which nature had
so lavishly bestowed upon them; tLey
could not anticipate the possibility that
they were 10 be defrauded of the benefits
of the beni6cent provision of Govern
ment for q grand improvement from
which they were to realize their most
sangnine hopes, through the cupidity
and treachery Of the mon to whom the
great trust was con6eed; that the grant
would prove curse instead Of bles-
sing to the country; that it would be
used by rapacious spectators to oppress
and destroy the very interests it was
intended to promote. When they were
brought to q realizing sense that all
their long cherished hopes Of the North
ern Pacific Railroad were dispelled, it is
not strange that many dispaired Of re-
lief from any other Quarter. bat rather
q matter of astonishment that the sug-
gestion of so vast an undertaking as the
building Of tbs Seattle and Walla Wslls
Railroad by so small population should
have met with so ready and hearty a
response by the people. The result thus
far has more than realized our most
anticipations. and assures the
realization of our predictions. The
people assembled en- masse, organized
company, elected Board of
Trustees from among our most respon-
sible and trusted citizens. not one Of
whom was ever before connected with
railroad project, but whose characters
as business men were above suspicion
or reproach. Of course some ridiculed
and many doubted the success of q pro>
ject of such large proportions under
such auspices; but against all opposition
and amid all discouragements the men
entrusted with the management of this
enterprise have persevered until the
most persistent cavillers are constrained
to concede that their success il quite
probable, while many men of sound
Judgment regard 1t as certain. Within
The year they will have completed and
in successful operation. the first section
Of fifteen miles of railroad; thus the
poor people Of this coun.
". by their own contributions and un-
aided efforts, under disappointment and
will have accomplished
more towards developing the resources
and promoting the general prosperity I
Of the country. than has the Northern ,
Pacific Railroad in three years, backed
by a Government subsidy amounting to
|, ,280, 900 acres of land. estimated at
cash value of So so an acre-$2. .2O0, 900
Tor the 100 miles of railroad completed.
The treasury of that Company is now ,
all work on the road is sus-
pended ana Congress beseiged for fur
her aid. as the only means Of extending
Is line to points where it can pay ,
expenses. Verify. "Corrup
ion wins not more than honesty !.
We're we not right in saying. nine j.
ago: "Seattle has lost nothing
BY the decision of the Commissioner"
Dur people have learned by experience
hat self-reliance, under God. is the best
support of any people. II