The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-11-29
From Washington.

on the 9TH inst, after a pleasant voyage
Of seven days. One is forcibly i'm
pressed with the progress of the age
On such q journey. The mind naturally
and constantly contrasts the case. com.
fort and safety with which the CONT
nent can be crossed now. with the labor,
and danger Of the early
days of emigration to the Pacific coast
There was q gentleman aud bis lady in
our car. from Oregon, who crossed the
plains with an OK team in lS47. and
who was returning to visit his friends
ia the East for the first time since that
date His train consisted of fifty-two
wagons and they had the remarkable
good luck 20 get through in four moths
and seventeen days without loss by
death or accident. The old couple
seemed to enjoy hugely the contrast of
their two so different Journeys across
the continent
! learn through an old acquaintance
from Puget Sonnd. now a resident of
Oregon, that the people of
that section Of country have formed u
joint stock company for the purpose OF
railroad from Cmatilla,
on the Columbia. to LsGrande, in the
Grand Round valley, and that they
have commenced the grading of the
first section Of twenty miles. This will
be link of railroad connecting thro rough
from Puget Sound to Salt Lake. l fluid
things decidedly mixed here, of course;
everyone for himself and the Il Il for
the hindmost.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany are here in full force; have intro.
dncsd bill in the House for an exten
sion Of time generally; and are ham
mering away at the Secretary Of the
Interior, with y flourish Of trurpnets,
tor . withdrawal of lands on the so.
called Natchess Pass route. Judge
jacobs has been combating them man.
fully, and to-day / came to his relief
with an hours argument before the
Secretary Of the Interior, and Assistan
Attorney General Marble. What the
result Of our efforts may be to tbwari
this palpable swindle aud outrage, OF
course time alone will tell, but one thinr
is certain, or Ut least WAS announced
during the argument to-day, and tha,
is that the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company will not be allowed to swing
around the circle, but will tap, if at ali
ct right angles with their so-called
branch road, and will not be allowed t.
60 outside of the 40-mile limits and
take lands in lieu of what they hsv.
already By virtue of the construction oil
their main line. This ruling alone will
reduce their claim from 793, 600 acres tt
less than 10000 acres. and we hope te
defest them entirely.
Both the Secretary and Attorney Gen
eral seem disposed to obtain all tn.
light possible upon the subject, and dc
what is right in the premises.
Senator Booth, of California. has al
ready introduced bill in the Senate
providing That in all cases where
railroad grants have expired, or where
such grants may expire, BY limitation Of
Law, it shall be the duty of the Secre.
tary of the Interior to declare all the
lands included in such grants, which
have not been patented by the U. 8.
to the grantor, when the grant has been
made to . corporation, and after such
declaration, the lands thus declared
forfeited shall be disposed Of the same
- other public lands in the United
States"
This bill. I think. will pass. and will
cover our case.
Judge Jacobs will. however. intro
duce . bill in the House at an early
day. declaring a forfeiture of the
specific grant to the N. P. r. r. Co
and restoring it to the public domain,
to be dealt with as other public lands--
oil lands on the main line of said cont
pany's road. north of Tacoma, and oil
lands ON the branch line. 10 that we
may have two strings to our bow. The
prospect Is fair for the restoration of
these lands to settlement. which you
know is the main object Of my bust.
hsss. I have no doubt that will DO
accomplished.
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon. mas
introduced bill into the Senate for an
sxtsusiou of time for the main line of
the N. p. II. r. Cos road; providing
said road shall be constructed on the
south side Of the Columbia river. and
Portland, on the Willamette, 10 made
the terminus. The bill also provides
for . restoration to settlement of all
laads granted to the branch. and in
lieu thereof grants to the Portland.
Dalles and Salt Lake r. r. Co. certsin
lands along the line of that projected
road.
This y iust what was foreshadowed
in Nitchslls letter Of July 18th, and
Just what wss 10 be expected. and the
Seattle and Walla Walla railroad com.
pany should Be- upand doing in order
10 come In for their share. IL Congress
Is disposed to erart to every other com.
pany lands in lieu Of those restored on
Sho branch line Of the N. p r. B. II 10
diiRcult q yet to form . correct opin-
ion q 20 what Congress will do in this
regard. AT any rate the chances Of the
Settle and wallis Walla Railroad
ousht To be - good as the r. d. s 8.
L. road.
A large number OF bills have been
iotroducsd. but no work has been done
in committee as jet, and most work
will Be done during the special session
Of Congress
The Seattle town site case 10 finally
disposed of by the Commi -siohers ia
favor OF the CITY in accordance with the
csigissl 6ndines. and now goes up to
ths Sserstary Of the interior oa appeal.
end the decision Of the Commissioners