The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-10-30
County and City Official Press.
Monday, October 80, 1879.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.

saturday Oct. 18TH Will DC Gay
memorable in the future history OF
Seattle, a. tho occasion when the first
locomotive started over the frs. section
Of the Seattle and WalIs Walla railroad
an event marking - new departure not
alone in the progress. Of the city, but
also toward the solution Of our momen-
ious Eastern Question.
While the cradle lands Of the human
race are rocked by the death throes of
their stste and corrupted dynas,ies, the
people OF this Western shore are called
upon 70 deal with an Eastern Cues
ton {" of deeper import to pos,erity-
and 10 the living age than the decision
ms TO whether tho cross Of 81. George
or the black eagles Of the Northern
Bear shall be raised over the human
and material debris that crowds the
qnays Of the COLLEEN Horn and lines
the shores OF the blue Propontis
II does not. like the other, attract thu
attention of the world, by an imposing
halo Of associations lent by three thous.
and years Of historic celebrity. But 10
Us OF tho young West the distant roar Of
vendetta warfare is drowned by the
clearer voice Of Progress declaring
Let the dead bury their dead. Whist
is tina. 10 thee; follow thou me-"
The case il this In order TO establish
sound equilibrium on the Pacific coast,
the northern district-the Columbia
system-must be developed TO match
tho Sacramento system in tho South.
There must be a city and country cen
tering on the Sound equal TO that uron
the Bay. Seattle TO Offset San Fran
cisco, the agricultural and mineral
wealth of the Columbia basin against
California aud Nevada The natural
wealth exists for il. all that is lacking
IL u railroad. to effect tho consumma-
ton. The Sound is q larger and super
Tor harbor for commercial city than
tho Bay-and the Columbia valley with
oil It's connecting systems north. south
and eastward is vaster and richer re-
gion Tor supporting back country than
drought parehed. timber-less. and coal
and iron-less California and Nevada
This eastern empire of ours with bound
less rich grain and grass lands. and va
rious resources. invites nation multitu-
dinous rs tho races of the Medes
and Persians. who aonrished and
bailt great cities on the plains
and inland rivers of Western Asia The
people shnt out from tho middle
west by grasshopper and Indian
toragers, are pressing forward 10 occu-
py il. The question for solution is,
how can we break through the tritling
mountain barrier that shuts them from
the sea, 80 rs To give access to and from
market. The last received San Fran.
cisco Bulletin mentioning the tao, that
cur Atlantic coast WIS gaining the sup
ply of the British markets with fresh
as we'll as preserved meats. declares that
in the event Of war in Europe the
whole OF that immense grain supply.
already the chief export trade of san
Francisco. would be monopeli.ed by
the districts Of Californis and the Co
lumbia. Doubtless this will in future
he the case Ia any event.
The route of the Columbia river.
without fixing up. is no thoroughfsre.
l, il admitted by men Of Judgment
even whose interests ino,ine them 10
favor this crooked route. that |, would
he cheaper and more practical to star,
ID aeee and construct . new channel
lei,her rail or water outright, than to
try 10 mend efec,aally the old one that
was left unfinished by the hand of ma
;are. And they are right. \ line Of
narrow track railroad might he run
down the valley Of the Columbia to
the sea as we'll as any way if it could
10 carried over the bar. The natural
channel for the trade OF the Eastern
basin Is the railroad roate through the
snoauAlmie Pass 90 the splendid ma
rine rendezvous Of SEATTLE.