The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-09-18
RAILROAD MASS MEETING

An immense assemblsgs greeted Hon.
Orange Jacobs, in Yesler's Hall last
night, on his appearance to discuss the
railroad question as effecting our in.
terests in relation to the political issues
of the day. As any mere synopsis which
our space will allow would do injustice
to Judge Jacobs speech, we will be
content TO refer to but a few of its
leading points. After recounting very
fully the history Of Congressional leg
islation in regard to the Northern Pa.
cific railroad, he stated that the rail-
road land grant Was Of such . nature
that it could never be revoked except
by specific act or resumption of the
party making the grant, that is the
government. He had, while in Wash
iogton, stopped withdrawal in behalf
Of the company Of practically a new
grant on a new location of the branch,
that by way of the Nachess Pass. after
that IN original withdrawal had been
made on the line located by the com
pany around by way of Pen d'Oreille,
Skagit Pass and Tscoms, and the price
Of the even sections raised on the set
tiers to $3.50 per acre on that first
withdrawal, which he held exhausted
or filled the measure of the grant;
that he held it would not be
just to the people TO allow the
price of the lands to be doubled on
them, first on the Sksgit route, then
again in six months afterward on the
Snoquslmie. then third time on the
Nschess. and finally, . fourth time on
the Cowlitz route. Ont of 10000
square miles in the Territory this rail
read branch land grant of the N. P. R.
r. Co. covered $4,000. If he believed
there was ghost Of . chance that the
company would ever build that branch
he would favor an extension of time on
this branch land grant, but only on con-
dition that the lands should be thrown
open to settlement at reasonable price.
When he proposed in Congress res
toration of this branch land grant be-
cause the N. p. X. Il. Co. avowed their
intention never to build the branch line,
he also urged that it he transferred to
the Seattle and Wslla WSha railroad
company, for the reason that that CON-
pany was actually doing something
not perhsps constructing on any scale
of very great grandeur, but still ct
work. Their cars are coming into our
town with their loads every day, and
they are still steadily pushing slowly
eastward.
The trouble is. we bave always been
sacrificed to the behests of power Ore
gems interests are paramount. to ours in
Congress A great national railroad.
transcontinental enterprise. il made to
play second fiddle to q little inland town
on the Willamette. Ifit had not been for
the want of backbone of former dele
gate-who shall be nameless--permit-
ting the transfer of location of the main
line of the road from Puget Sound to
the Willamette in 1870, without enter
ing even manly protest, the los miles
of road connecting Kslama with Taco
ma would have been built through the
Cascades. connecting the grainlands Of
the east with the waters of Puget
Sound, and we would have the lead OF
Oregon to-day. The secret Of tbs
trouble is in the State status of Oregon
against our Territorial vassslage. If we
had two Senators and representative
in Congress, each with . vote, instead
Of mere delegate with no vote. there
would be no more such shameful sur
rendering of our interests.
The principal argument that had
been employed against him (ths speak,
cry by his opponents. was that he was
an Oregonian and would work for Ore
gon. On that point he held documen-
tary proof taken from at least one
Portland paper. that if he ever had been
influenced by Orsgonian ideas he had
since been delightfully."- weaned from all
such Oregonian influences.
In conclusion the speaker took up and
handled without gloves the question Of
exempting the earned lands Of rail-
road companies from taxation, and an
nounced 40 his doctrine that rich men
and rich corporations are no more On.
titled to exemption from taxation be-
cause their property is unoccupied and
unrroductive, than persons of more
moderate means.
Judge Jacobs planted himself square.
~ on the platform of binding the rail :
road company to accept the dilemma.
either to build the road ct once or give
up the lands. throwing them open to
settlement at . low price in either case.
He svows himself the determined
champion Of equal rights against
special privileges. monopolies and OBJ
structionism in every form. and Is the
standard bearer Of his party. would
unquestionally sweep the votes Of the
farmers. the miners, the workingmen
and Taxpayers generally. and in .
word of all moderate and patriotic
citizens irrespective OF party, creed, or
condition throughout the Territory.
Al tho close of his address the
Chairman Of che Republican Central
Committs offered the following
REVOLUTIONS.
Resolccd, That the construction Of .
railroad across The Cascade mountains
to connect the vast timbsrlsss. bnt rich
agricultural regions of the east side.
with the equally vast timber and coal
fields and the fisheries and commerce
Of Puget Sound. is not only an enter
prise of great importance to the whole
nation, but absolutely necessary for the
further growth and development Of
our Territory.