The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-06-25

Official Press of King County.
Tuesday, June 25, 1878.
THE NORTH PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD.

The adjournment of Congress has left
the Northern Pacific Railroad legisla-
ton an statu quo. The motion TO sus-
pend the rules and pass the bill for the
ten years extension of time, through
the House, was defeated and the bill
consequently was laid over subject to
action at the next winter sitting.
The company, financially, are in
good condition, the s34 ,OC0,0e0 of bond,
having been turned in for stock in the
road. The NUMBER of miles CT road
completed and in operation is Col, of
which 5l5 are at the eastern end, and
1876 at the western. The number of
stockholders is 1906; number of shares
342,67l, and the amount OF stock $34.-
261, 100. The greatest amount OF stock
is held in Pennsylvania, namely: nearly
$4,000, 900 distributed among $500
shareholders. New York comes second
with /, 800 shareholders and $4,50O.OOO
of stock. Massachusetts, furnishes 500
stockholders, representing s2,OOO,OOo.
Oregon's quota is stockholders and
1914, 700 stock; Washington Territory,
G stockholders and SsS,100 stock.
There are 312 foreign stockholders re-
presenting $3,5O0,000 of stock. The
stock is held in sc States and Territor-
les of the Union. Before the adjourn
ment, Coswell of Wisconsin, made the
following cogent appeal for the passage
of the bill
Never before could railroads be built
so cheaply. Never before did the
country need so much the impetus
which the construction of this road
would give to business. Never before
did the laborers need so much the en-
ploy it would give to them or the man.
ufacturer who has material for sale
which is required for such purposes an
opportunity TO dispose of his commo'
dities.
Notwithstanding the cheapness OF
material Of every kind aud the great
abundance of labor, railroad-building
the whole country, as a necessary con.
sequence. has become stagnant, business
suspended, and the laborers left with.
out employment.
If there existed no national necessity
for this road; if competing line across
the continent were not needed; if q vas,
wilderness were not to be opened and
added to the productive portion of the
country; if millions of private capital
were not dependent upon it, and the
loss Of immense sums of money already
invested; il thousands of people had
otspushed far out upon the frontier in
advance of the road dependent upon
its final completion; if there were no
other cause, the employment which the
building of this road would give
To thousands who need labor and
whose cause so Justly attracts public
attention. as we'll as the thousands in
the workshops who would be engaged
in the building OF engines and cars and
the manufacture of iron. would be am.
rle reason why Congress should pass
this bill. put this great enterprise in
operation, and these men at work.
Other countries in times of distress
have appropriated money in large
sums, carried on public improvements
for the purpose of giving employment
and providing means of support for the
destitute. Riots are thus avoided.
humanity subserved. and the common
people made to love and respect their
country. for to them in such times az
these aid is life itself A railroad is al
most wholly the product of labor.
From an engine of the most costly kind
down to the shoveling of dirt along
the rosd-bed, there is little else than
labor. All the material of which the
rolling stock. bridges. ties, and timber
are made of little value until labo. has
brought it from its original state and
utilized it for that purpose.
In railroad which will cost $50. OO0,.
600, like one OF these trans.continental
lines, more than $4,000, 900 will be
paid for labor A crisis like the present
may never arise again in this country.
| trust it will not. II is our duty to
take some steps before this Congress
adjourns tn relieve the country. The
bailding of this road or the money
which will be distributed by it is not
sufficient. but it will be one step in
that direction. The distress of tho
country is wide spread II has become
universal. and the Government must
put out its strong arm and give some
relief
BY aiding these great national works
we not only strengthen our Govern
ment, bind together the Safes in a CON-
mon cause, unite our people and their
interests, enlarge our commerce. but
We will give instant relief to more than
one-half our people. The construction
Of these two roads. one in the North,
the other in the South. would require
somueh labor and material that il would
be felt throughout the whole country.
Every State IN this Union would be
benefited by it. Iron can be bought a.
$50 per ton, and labor aud material at
corresponding prices. A road built
upon basis of such economy could
transport our products 70 and fro at
prices never before known. The North
ern Pacific Railway Company is en-
tirely free from embarrassments of anv
description. It's managers are men of
the highest character. They did not
ny nj th.sx & IL