The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-09-10

prevail of the company; that the North
Pacific and the o. S. N. Co. are one,
the former owning and contr olling the
majority of the stock of the latter. and
tie two together owning. controlling
and monopeliEiug the navigation Of the
Columbia river, which river affords the
only present means of transit and trans
portation between Eastern Oregon and
Washington and the sesboard. aud in
addition thereto and as a u, cessary
consequence resulting from the exist
ence of the foregoing facts, the fact
that the Northern Pacific msnifestly
have no intention or purpose of con-
struc:ing . railroad slongside of the
nsvigsble waters of the Columbis river
or to the north thereof, at least until
their road is completed across the con-
tinent to the head of navigation 90 the
Columbia river. And yet in the
face Of sll these we'll understood and
recognized facts, the Democratic party
and its candidate for Congress have
pledged themselves to aid this present
so-cslled Northern Pacific Railroad
Company to obtain Congressional rec
ognition of its legal existence end ex-
tend Internationally for ten long years
the time for the construction not only
of the main line but the branch of the
said road; and thereby tie up and keep
from settlement and cultivation tho odd
numbered sections of the public lands,
covering more than three-fourths of the
entire area Of Washington Territory.
Not emily has the Democratic party
pledged itself to aid in thus retsrding
the growth and development of our
Territory. but it recognizes as enemies
of the prosperity of our people all who
oppose such extension
This declaration is made with full
knowledge of the fact that the great
mass of the people of this Territory are
opposed to the extension of time on the
branch line. and through the efforts of
their delegate and otherwise have 90
far successfully resisted such extension.
The bill which passed the Senate at
the last session Of Congress and is now
before the House, provides for q restor-
alton to settlement of the lands on tho
branch line, with the exception of 81
miles on tho Tacoma coal road.
At the time this bill passed the Sem
ate no pretense even of q survey had
been made by the company on the line
Of the projected branch, and the survey
or pretense thereof that is being made
now 10 undoubtedly intended only as q
make weight for legislative purposes,
and has no meaning at oil 90 far % the
construction Of the road is concerned.
It is . mere trick and he who is de.
csived thereby is not wise.
In 1872 this Company surveyed the
Skagit Pass route for this branch line,
pronounced it practicable, and had the
lands withdrawn on that line (25O miles
north of the line surveys are being
made on now. and these lands still re-
main withdrawn on that route.
Again, in 1876, the company adopted
the Matches route for this branch line;
and DOW. IA years after the grant, 10
and behold they are making q new
survey.
In addition to all this, it has been
rumored over and over again by the
company through its authorized agents,
that they have adopted the Columbia
River route. and have actually con-
structed los miles of road on that line,
and no longer ago than last winter, ].
Minor Roberts. the Chief Engineer of
the Company, as witness before the
Committee on Pacific Railroads of the
House, before whom this question was
pending, pronounced the construct N
of said road over the Cascade m, u
tains by any pass north of the Colum.
biz River wholly Impracticsble, and
predicted that the present generation
would not see road over said noun
tains BY any pass north of the Columbia
River.
The evidence then being overwhelm.
ing that the North Pacific have no in.
tention of constructing this branch. the
absence of such intention having been
admitted by their Chief Engineer in
the presence Of their attorney, presi-
dent, and several stock holders, before
the Pacific Railroad Committee of the
House. the inquiry arises. why this
company should seek to retain the hold
on these lands. The answer 10 plain
and it is this.
They desire by retaining these lands
and by every other means in their pow
or TO prevent the construction Of an
other road by another company or
either. it might be said. by the people;
which road when constructed wonld
compete with this monopoly of thu CO.
lumbis river for the commerce of east.
ern Oregon and Washington. It il. the
old dog iu the manager policy Of the old
land ring which still controls the North
Pacific and the Columbia river monop-
oily combined.
With road constructed from Puget
Sound to the head If navigation on the
Colunbia, the North Pacific monopoly
might b endurable, but without such
road o. even the hope thereof. it is alb
solutely unsndnrable.
And yet with the full knowledge of.
and in the face Of all these and many
other similar facts that might be enum-
Grated. the Democratic party, pledged
a. it is and has been time out Of mind
against subsidies in any form and pro-
Tossing to champion the people rights
and ffown down monopolics. deliber.
atsly and by solemn resolution weds
tho North Pacific and Oregon Steam
Navioati0n Comnanv