, 1877-08-11
LOCAL. AGENTS.
SATURDAY .......AUGUST II
North Pacific R. Es. Lands.

Hon. j. r. McGilvary of Seattle adj
dressed the people at Atheneum Hall
last Tuesday night, on the Importance
of dcvising means of having the n. p.
Railroad lands, north of Tacoma opened
to- pre- -emption and settlement. No
need be told of the benefit that would
acCrew to the settlers in the counties
North of Tacoma, if all these lands i'm.
mediately reverted back to government.
Mr.. McGilvary's visit, was to induce the
people here to subscribe to fund, to be
raised in King, Kitsap and Snohomish,
to he expended in sending some one to
Washington to represent the matter in
Congress. In the absence of the Chief,
we the Associute,) do not feel like COM
mitting the STAR to that scheme. If the
delegation Of the Pacific slope, already
in Congress, are not sufficient to see that
the counties, named above, have this
simple act Of justice done them, without
sending $4,000 man to Washington.
especially, when the II. r. Co., are will
ing the thing should be done, then this
childish move will amount to nothing.
If not, and the company are determined
to hold the land, the amount proposed
to he raised to influence legislation in
our favor would go about as far in ac-
ccmplishing that object as an old broom
would in keeping out the tide.
We believe those lands, now that the
terminus is fixed at Tacoma, will by an
act of Congress, revert back to govern.
ment, and be offered for settlement, at
the next session of that body. We do
not believe the r. r. Co.., will attempt
to prevent it. The company probably
will attempt to hold the lands adjacent
to the line running up the Puyaliup, at
least as much as is not already earned by
the completion of the one hundred and
five miles built from Kalana to Tacoma,
with the privilege of continuing that line
across the mountains. t. connect with
the main line via the Columbia. The
Natchez Pass Route is far enough south
not to embrace great deal OF the lands
of our county. But If the N. p. II. r.,
secures that pass, it will be death to the
Seattle and Walla Walla Il. r., and the
N P, road will tap the great valleys east
of the mountains, and Tacoma will re
ceive their products for shipment instead
of Seattle.
We do not blame the s. and w. W.
railroad from trying to induce people to
help them to fight their great rival the
N. p. road If people are foolish enough
to do it we have no objections But if
they wish to enlist, we would advise
arming themselves with something more
than straws, which is about all purse of
$4,000 and the sending of fifth rate
man or two to Washington would
amount to.
We are quite sure that some of the
members of this finance committee of
Seattle, named by Judge McGilvary, If
not all ot them, are interested in the S.
and W. W. road, corporation that not
long since tried to get an act through
Congress to have the land grant Of the
N. p. road transferred to them. and
failed; which may account for our Con
gressienal delegates opposition to the
n. P. roads surrendering their claim to
the lunds north of Tacoma, and accept
ing in lieu OF them TIE route by the
Natchcz Pass.
1t is claimed by some that the build
ing OF the PuyaIlup road is only for the