, 1877-05-05
CHE 4lnFt'scu !stay,


Northern Pacific Railroad ljHIl with
drnwal. which we publish below. The
rapid increase oS our popuhtion-pcr-
sons coming among us nom the East,
from farming localities, by every steamer
almost, and seeking farming lands for
permanent homes demands that these
lands, now virtually locked up out of
the reach OF anybody, should he made
available and heoOme sources OF wealth
IN our various settlements in this and
adjoining counties. Our correspondent
hns hntcd at the reason why these lands
have not already reverted back to the
Government, viz: the opposition of
Judge Jacobs. There is more subtle
reason still. Judge Jacobs, Seattle, the
Seattle d Walh Walla Railroad Com
pany, and majority of King county,
opposed its being reverted back to the
Government hecause they all wanted the
same grant to he turned over to the ten
der merccs III the last named road.
Now, we would like to see the Seattle
and WaIlN Wula Railroad built: but If
Il can not be built at present without
robling Snohomi,h, Island, Whatcom
and Jefferson cnuntios of one.halt their
landed heritage, one-llalf the finest agri-
cultural region of Western Washington,
and second to no other region in point
.ot mineral wealth, thon let it not he built
at all. These railroad lands will revert
back to the Government. There is no
doubt about that. A portion of King
.C0unty's lands are gone to the Northern
Pacific Railroad, and no doubt Seattle
would like TO build her railroad across
the mountains at the expense Of the
counties named above The people here
will have something to say about those
chestnuts. They viii not allow their
paws to he burned for the benefit of Sc
attic and the Walla Walla Railroad it
they can help it.
H. H. C. Foi,Om SNoiomish city.
DEAR SIR August 13, 1870, the N.
p. Railroad Company had withdrawal
oi lands made, under the Act of May 81,
1870, from Portland to the north line of
town 25 west. In February, 1872, this
withdrawal was extended north to Bel,
Bingham Bay, After the Company had
selected Tacoma as its terminus, the
Company had withdrawal made
through the skagit Pass for it's branch
road over the Cascade Mountains, as pro-
vsSrd for in the original act OF July 2,
1864. This Withdrawal conformed to
the one made 10 February, 1872, except
that few lands in Jefferson county in
cluded in that withdrawal were excluded
from it. Sometime in May lastthe Com
pany decided to change its rnute for its
branch road over the mountains from
the Skagit Pass to the Natchess Pass,
and on November cath filed its aban-
tlonment of the former route and its re-
lnquishment of all claims to lands by
reason Of the Withdrawal therefor, and
asked of the Secretary Of the Interior, in
lieu thereof, u withdrawal of lands via
the latter route. This | am informed,
and believe the Secretary was ready and
willing 10 do, and would have done, hnd
not our Delegate in Congress, 10y an ar
gument filed with him, protested. This
change of withdrawal would have opened
to pre-emption and homestead settlement
all the odd sections north OF about the
north line of King county.
The railroad Company acting ia good
faith, as soon as it had determined that
it would not build via the Skngit Pass,
but instead, might do so through the
Natchess Pass, was willing to valve, and
did waive all its right, title and interest
20 lands held for its benefit that the
same might when desired be obtained
from Government AS the Secretary Is
probably influenced to withhold his ap-
proval of the Natchess route, and n
withdrawal therefor, on account of the
opposition of our Delegate, the Company
is compelled to build, and is building
its railroad up the Puyallup river under
'he withdrawal via the Skagit Pass.
This it can do for the first forty miles.
Our Delegates opposition is based. as