The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-06

The following letter will be OF inter-
est 70 hundreds OF our regular readers
in Washington Territory:


est 70 hundreds Of our regular readers
in Washington Territory:
OYYIcK GKSXRAL SUPr.,
NEW TACOMA. Nov. "a, 1879.
FRANK PARKER. ESQ. EDrroR
WALLA WALLA STA1EsNAS:-Dear Sir:
You ask me tho following questions:
1. Can the Northern Pacific Railroad
company give good and sofieisnt titles
TO the lands they now offer for sale?
2. What IL Congress she'll declare
their grant forfeited!
3. Will the railroad company refund
to those who pay purchase money now?
4. When will the lands Of the grant
in this vicinity DO in the market
6. All railroad lands sre understood
to be mortgagsd-does the signature
Of the trustee maxs . valid deed?
To your first question. I reply: This
company has Not yet acquired full
title 70 the lands granted By the Gov
eSpmsnt to aid in construc iOu OF the
Pen d'Oreilie division. That part OF the
company's road 10 now being c,nstrsct-
ed, and when completed, the company
will have - good . title - the United
States Government can eive.
Answer n ths second question: II
Congress shall declfte the grant TO this
company forfeited before the compile
tiou Of the road now under construction
then, probably, the company would
fail 90 acquire . title to the lands re-
ferred to. There il about as much
probabi ity Ut Congress taking such
action - there 10 Of Congresa dcliber-
ately snscting that the uuitcd States
shall surrender aad forever be under
the control OF the late Southern Con
f.deracy.
Answer to third question: II for any
cause this Compsny cannot or does not
give good title 10 ell lands sold by
them. the purchase money will be re-
funded promptly. aud as matter Of
course.
Answer to fourth question: The rail-
road lands in the immediate vicinity
Walla Wslis will most likely be offered
for sale soon after ths exact limits OF
the grant have been officially snnnunc.
cd By the honorable Commissioner of
the General Lend Office Of the United
Statce.
Answer to the fifth question: AL
lands granted to aid in the con-
s;yuct,on of all ra.lro ads in the United
States arc usually mortgayed. Trus-
toes are appointed who have full power
to unite in convsyances OF titlcs to such
lands. and when they ere paid for. the
lands are entirely free and clear OF ell
incumbrances on account Of such mort
gags.
Il desire to say 10 conclusion that oil
moneys received or TO be received FROM
ell salss Of land on the Pen d'Orcill~
division will be ret apart and sacredly
reserved. under charge Of the mort
gage trustees for dnal liquidation Of
the mortgage. This COMPANY WAS IN
duccd to offer the lands OF the Pen
d'Oreille division thus early On &C.
count OF numberlsss expressions Of
anxiety on the part Of settlers on rail
road lands to know what the ands
they are improving would cost them.
Recognizing the reasonableness Of this
desire OF settlers. the President, Hon.
Frederick Billings, authorized me to
Offer tho lands Tor sale ct such price -
/ should deem advisable. Acting up.
der this authority the lands were offer
ed at three dollars per aore-ons fourth
cash and the remainder In four equal
annual psyments With seven per csnt.
per annum interest. AZ subsequent
meeting OF the Board Of Directors Of
this company . resolution va passed
authorizing the sale Of the company's
lands for cash at two dollars and City
cents PER acre with ten cents per acre
added to cover Office end other ex-
psusss. The resolution has been ex-
tcnsively published and need not b.
repeated here. For term sales. the
price and terms heretofore snnouncsd
will b. adhered 10.
This conpsny believes that II taking
such action in relation 10 its lands. Il
has shown friendly spirit Of liberality
to oil Who have settled or may hereaf.
ter settle on railroad lands, that has
never been equaled By any railroad
company In the United States.
1.-THE people of wsshinstou Terri
tory are interested in the development
and prosperity Of this country the
Northern Psciac Railroad Company 10
equally Interested. aud by its manage
ment Of its land grant aud In all other
ways desires 10 manifest its devotion to
the best interests OF the eommonwealth;
progress and prosparity unequalsd. are
rapidly dawniug upon the people of
tho northern portion OF ous Unioo; let
us wisely cooperate aud sscars the best
fruits. Very ssapootfully.
]. w. 6PnAou8,
0cn1. Supt.