The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-12-26
VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT.
OREGON AND THE n. p. r.. r..

gon statesmen to steal the Northern
Pacific Railroad from Washington Ter
ritory. In its issue of the 9TH instant
there appears another leading editorial
upon this subject, (already worn thread
bare by being written at large in the
files of the Oregonian,) assuming the
position that to build the road on the
south side of the Columbia river accord
ing to the terms of the company's prop
osition to the late Congress would as
sure the results Oregon desires and at
the same time secure to both eastern
and western divisions of Washington
Territory the services of the road.
We do not believe the people of
Washington Territory can be deceived
by that sort of logic. The Northern
road was projected as great trans
continental highway, and the location
of the main line through Washington
Territory was but to carry out the or
iginal plan of finding the shortest and
most practicable route from sea to sea-
State or Territorial lines were scarcely
consulted in the programme, and the
Oregon delegation in Congress at that
time lS64) acquiesced in the plan,
considering it a matter of course that
the route through Washington Terri
tory is the most direct At that time
they did not think of diverting the
main line from its true course to cater
to Oregon ambition and Portland greed.
But the question of a direct line is not
the only reason why the road should
be built in Washington Territory, al
though in laying out such a great work
of national Importance this becomes
one of the prime reasons. There are,
in addition TO this, local reasons why
Washington Territory should have the
road as proposed in the amended char
ter. Pursuant to the act of Congress
in granting the franchise and the sub
sequent withdrawal from market of an
immense tract of Government land,
large numbers of people have hocked
to this Territory and settled on the
even numbered sections within the
limits of the grant, and made them
selves homes, anticipating the final
construction of the road through their
counties and neighborhoods They have
been limited in homesteads to half the
quantity granted under the original
homestead law, and for pre-empted
lands have paid double minimum price.
Over eight years these people have
been waiting and hoping the road would
be built. One-half of nearly all the
best lands in the Territory have bsen
withheld from settlement for eight
years, and now it is proposed to divert
the road into Oregon and wrong the
people of Washington Territory, who
have built not only their hopes but
their material interests very largely
upon the building of the road through
the Territory, as proposed in the pres
ent charters. We are told by the Or
egonian that the Company was willing
to make this concession to Oregon in
order to secure the cooperation of the
Oregon congressman in procuring the
extension of time. Concession indeed
1t is a very unfair advantage for Ore
gon to take of the Territory and gross
injustice to her people, and while Mr.
Mitchell may not be entitled 10 any
credit for defeating this proposition it
is well for Washington Territory that
his course in the Senate delayed the
extension of time asked for until now.
when the Company is anxious to get
simple extension without any quaIif-
cations whatever The Oregoniaa gen
eroasly adds that Washington Terri
tory would have the road in its eastern
division and the terminus in the west.
II a. Il