The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-04-12

the Presumption and homestead laws.
/ the land heretofore withdrawn on the
main line Of said road north If the ad
/ Justed limits OF the earned lands Of said
company near Tacoma. Said Senate
BIZ No. II, If II had passed the House
! OF Representatives and become Law.
III the shape 1t passed the Senate, would
not have restored % the government
and opened up for settlement, anv agri-
/ cultural lands west Of the Cascade
! Mountains.
While the Senate Bill No IA WA still
before the House committee on Pacific
railroads, at the instance of our delegate
| and others, Hon. j. X Lnttreil, a mem
Der OF said committee, obtained leave
! from said committee to offer An amend
ment tn the bill. At this session. Of the
| committee bri-f statement of the facts
In the case was made by our delegate
aid others present, and it was agreed
by the committee to Ak time for a
further and full hearing pro aud con,
upcn the amendment which was thei,
aud there offered by Luttrell
/ The main feature Of Luttrell's amend
ment WAS the restoration. from aud at
ter the passage Of the bill, to the gov
ernment Of all lands on the branch line,
and all lands north Of the adjusted lim-
Its OF the earned lands of said company
on the main line Of said road
| Had the company seen tit to accept
tins reaonable and proper amendment.
| said bill would have no doubt passed
! and become a law at the last session of
Congress; but the company would not
consent. and the result wss that the bill
was never reported from the committee.
but died a natural and easy death. So
| perish any future attempts tn further
outrage the people of Washington Ter
ritory by this ignis .rttuus that has
proved snare aud delusion from the
beginning. The withdrawal from set
| tlement by pre- emption and homestead
claimants. Of these vast tracts Of land
for the past SIX or seven years has re-
tarded the settlement and growth of this
country far beyond what at first thought
might bc supposed. The result west
oi the Cascades in the timbered re-
gion Is more DISASTROUS than east Of
| the mountains OIL the prairics. Here.
where there are no natural roads. and
farms have to he carved out Of the
timber, there is an absolute necessity
| for compact settlement 10 no other
way can the advantages OF schools,
churches. and social intercourse be had.
| Imagine a settlement III densely tim
bered country with every alternate
I square mile absolutely withheld from
settlement and cultivation-a checker
board with every other square forbidden
| ground-a settler obliged to move at
/ right angles. aid then demonstrate
how it is possible for such q settlement
to prosper. 1t is impossible. utterly
impossible. and yet that is exactly the
| situation Of nearly the whole people of
Washington Territory to day.
! Ii there were hope Of compensation
for the suffering Of these privstions and
disadvantages by the people, in the
! building oi q road through these lands.
the case would be different But there
is none. absolutely none. Our people
have been long suffering aud exceed.
ingly latient bu, the time has now
come when longer to submit to this
great wrong without II most vigorous
effort to right it, is unmanly and un-
/ wise. The remedy is plain and SIM
pie. although 1t may require a vigorous
effort to supply it ,fec,ualiy. And
there is but one effectual remedy which
! is An act Of Congress
A bill should nt once be carefully
/ prepared and introduced AT the next
session Of Congress providing for the
restoration of all lands heretofore with
! drawn on the main line Of said road
rorth of the adjusted limits of the
earned lands of said company at their
terminal point on Puget Sound. OF
the power and right Of Congress to do
this much at the present time. there
can be no doubt The company will
no Doubt question the power of Con-
gress to do more than this, - it Is un-
ders:ood that they construe the 9th
section of the act Of 1864 As giving
them a years grace after the lapse
of time for the completion Of the
whole road. to- wit, July 4th. 1877.
, But ths, company will lose no time
in introducing into Congress another
! bill tor the extension Of time for the
/ completion of said road. When that
Is done. Congress should be urged in
/ the strongest terms, not u grant such
extension except on the condition. to
be inserted ia the bill. that all land on
the main line north Of Tacoma. aud all
! lands on their branch or branches, shall
/ be restored to the Cover TO be
4 dealt with AS other pnblic lands
/ And if this effort is properly and
thoroughly made il will be successful.
1t is So reasonable, just and proper. that
I this should be done, that Congress will
7 not fail 10 DO it. If the case is fully ard
we'll represented To do this and do it
successfully will require time and money
I How ,o raise the means and press this
matter upon the attention Of Congress
is question the people should a, once
consider. decide and act upon.