, 1878-04-26
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
CLERKS OFFICE,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Z. 5. !
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 2, 1878.
EDIroR ARGUs:-The mail route
from Port Townsend to Neah Bay
will in few days be advertised to
be let. The object is to have it car
ried by steamer instead of sailing
vessel.
Congress is progressing very slow
" in accomplishing legislation. New
ertheless some of the appropriation
bills are well advanced, and it is
thought Congress can adjourn about
the first Of July.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
Senator Mitchell's bill has been
reported unanimously with the ex-
ceptionof Mr.. Window, of Maine)
for the r. II. Com; Notwithstanding
interested parties have been persist
ent in reporting that he could not
get the endorsement of his own COM
mittee. 1t extends the time for the
completion of the Northern Pacific
road eight years; compels the bald.
ing around the Cascades within 2
years; around to DalIes within 3
years; makes the company commence
building at the mouth Of Snake riv-
or within o months, and build 20
miles the first year and 4OmiIcs each
year thereafter; allows settlers to 90
on railroad land in advance Of the
construction Of the road, for which
the settler is to pay $3.50 per acre
which is first to be paid into the U,
S. treasury, and to be paid over to
the Company as soon as it has earned
the land by building the road through
said land. The remaining unsoId
land is to be patented to the Com
pany as soon as it is earned. The
bill forleits to the United States all
the lands Of the branch road from
the end of the coal road now com
pleted; makes the land taxable as
soon as sold or contracted to he sold,
and last of all it gives to the Port
land, Dalles and South Pass K. K,
Co. the lands of the branch road.
There is a strong feeling in the SEN
ate and almost unanimous feeling
in the House against giving any
more land grants to new railroads,
but there is a conviction that it is
only an act Of justice to give the
Northern Pacific stockholders, who
have $3O,000,000 invested III their
road, additional time to complete it.
To Senator Mitchell it is mainly
due that the company is compelled
to build the portages and make them
free to all at reasonable rates. 1t
will redace the freights on the Upper
Columbia to the citizens Of Wash
ington Territory, East of the Cascade
Mountains AT LEAST so PER CENT.
Mitchell is seconded Ivy Delegate
Jacobs, who has worked in season
and out of season to secure the rights
of settlers. The officers of the com
pany, very unwisely, | think, have
represented them to be opposed to
the building of the road; to be work,
ing in the interest of the Union and
Central Pacific Companies; and some
of their correspondents have falsely
and malciously misrepresented
them. This has done the company
no good and these gentlemen no
harm here. Their constant cry
against Senator Mitchell tothe effect
that he had no backing in the Senate
that he could not even get his bill
through the r. Il. Committee of the
Senate-is shown to be a clean fabri-
cation by the result of Saturdays vote
in the Committc e, viz, seven to one
Mr. Lamar, of Mississippi, being alb
sent and friendly to Mitchcl's bill.
| predict that within 3 years the
citizens of Walla WdlIP, Columbia,
Whitman and Stevens counties will
be sending their wheat to Portland
for 81 ner ton and getting their re-