The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-05
North Pacific Coast Correspond.

i
New TACOMA, w. T., Jan, 10, 1878.
Edition. Iutsllgencer:
discover that among all your valua
bic correspondence, you have none from
Washington Territory. If you could
think it Of any interest to your readers
l would furnish you with letter fol
publication now and then. But this
time l write single handed" Having
met with u painful accident on Saturday
last, which deprived me entirely Of the
use Of my left arm, l have to fasten my
paper TO the desk with weight and
write with,one hand. New Laconia, W
T., Is situated on Puget Sound and Ia
the western terminus Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, r small city at present,
but destined from It's position to be.
come the leading city Of tho Northwest,
1t would be impossible for me, in a
short letter 10 give anything like cor.
rect idea OF the extent and resources OF
this country. But take down your map
and run your eye over II frOm the Colum.
bia river on the south TO the British line
on the north, and from Idaho on the east
to the Pacific Ocean on the west, and
think OF the immense quantities Of
timber and coal and minerals and agri.
cultural lands along the rivers and east
OF the Cascade Mountains, and you may
be able 10 form a limited conception OF
DUR natural wealth.
The most important interest, in which
the people OF this Territory, and in fact
the whole Northwest are concerned, Is
that Of railroads. We want railroad
communication with the Eastern States.
This has kept uI back very much. I'm.
migrants. have 70 come by the way Of the
Union & Central Pacific Railroad TO San
Francisco, and from thence by a long,
and often any thing else than Pacific
voyage, over the Pacific Ocean TO Puget
Sound. All our travel and Transports
ton both ways must 90 by the same
route. This requires an immense out.
lay; California taxes us heavily. The
distance being so great and rates Of travel
40 high II requires small fortune for
family TO get here. We want shorter
route. The N. P. Railroad II built,
would afford US the necessary advantages.
And Just now we look anxiously to see
what Congress will do in granting an ex-
tension OF the charter Of that company
so that they can finish their road. Ore
gon and Idaho and Montana and the
whole Northwest are interested alike in
this matter, all the talent and states.
manship Of Mitchell and Grover and
Jacobs to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Jacobs, the delegate from this Territory,
understand, Is using all his influence to
defeat the road. Why be does that is
matter wholly unexplainable. He is
sacrificing the interests OF his constitu-
ents at Wholesale. Espousing the cause
oil the Seattle and Walla Walla road does
not explain the matter. That ia but a
local interest. The n. P. r. r. will
serve the same purpose that that road is
intended for-the bringing Of the produce
OF Eastern Washington into market-and
will give us direct communication with
the Eastern States. All right thinking
people will repudiate Jacobs forever.
Many Of the people OF Seattle, the only
place on the Sound that would be greatly
benefited by the S. & W. W. i. r., are
Of the opinion that Jacobs is betraying
his trust. There must be some extraor-
binary influences used upon him TO in
duce him to 20 completely ignore the
interests OF his constituents. 1t surely
would require large gum TO "retain" a
man under such circumstances.
But VIC want the n. p. X. r. Any.
thing less than that will not be justice
to the people. And we feel that when the
final vote is taken upon the question
Congress will grant an extension OF the
charter. Our climate 'beats the world"
Up 10 this time there has not been fall
Of snow sufficient 10 cover the ground Il
half inch in depth, taking it altogether.
There has been some freezing weather,
but not enough to make skating ice. With
the exception OF rain, which is often
considerable at this time Of the year roCr
winters here resemble your spring wealth.
er in West Virginia.
We had the Rev. DR.. Graw, late OF
Baltimore, Nd, with us at the opening
OF the new N. L. Church ut this place on
the 23d Of last month. He entertained
our people with one oil his grand lectures
and two mastery sermons during his
ytsit