, 1880-10-23
The Seattle d Walla WallA Raj
road.

As indicated by the telegraphie dispat-
ches the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad
has finally passed into the hands OF Mr..
Willard and his associates The price
paid for the property, which consists OF
the narrow guage road from Seattle to
Newcastle, with its rolling stock, shops,
wharves, etc., IS $3.50, 900. As ~e all
know, the Oregon Railway d Navigation
Company is a very strong corporation.
Ii occupies field of untold resources and
unlimited profit. Its credit is good, and
it pays heavy dividends with strict regul
arity, and its bonds are above par. They
have brought much money into the coun-
try and have been the sole cause OF the
great growth of our city the past twelve
months and therefore We all feel under
great Obligations to them for their enter
prise, and the gratitude of our citizens Is
shown in the fact that they appear only
too willing to advance their interest by
granting right of way and other privileges
All the con psny has to do apparently is
to express a wish and if it is in their pow
er our people willingly grant it. The late
d .snatches say that the road Is TO be eI-
tended to the Carbon Hill coal mines,
which is we believe more on the North
Pacific road toward Natchese Pass than
towards the Sroqualamie, which is the
pass mapped out for the Seattle 4 Waila
Walla road To become in fac. as its name
implies We know that Gen. Tennatt,
who consummated tie sale is favorably
impressed with the advantages of road
direct from Seattle to Walla Walla, and,
SO far as he himself Is concerned nothing
would suit him better than To see the cx-
tention toward this city commenced at
once. 1t IS but q question OF time when
we must have direct communication The
talk about the Columbia being "the ma
tural highway to the sea- Is all humbus.
Snch talk is good for children and ignorant
or bigoted people who cannot or will not
understand that there can be no natural
highway tn the sea" as long as ships draw
ing only IL feet of water run aground in
numerous and various channels along that
natural highway"
The Columbia might be natural high
way to Portland, and it is very poor one
even to that malarious s ,ot and SO long as
the people Of the upper countay remain
content, Just So long AMI no longer Will
they have to remain with that sole outlet.
Now our millers ship Walla Walla flour to
Portland, from thence by reason Of its
superiority it go,s still further to San
Francisco, and from thence 1t Is shipped
hack again to Seattle in our Territory to
within go miles of the locality where it
grew. Ii is only one instance of terri
bic waste of time and money which could
be saved by means of a railroad direct.
Our country could supply the whole of
the Sound with Ease If provided with this
road. All their cured meats and bread
s,uiFs TO the extent Of nearly y a quarter
million tons are at present purchased
either in the Willamette valley or else IN
California, while our own products up
here are rotting for the want of market.
1t is our firm belief that the company know
all this and much more and that at no
very distant day we shall all be congratu-
lating each other in tins city on the com
pletion Of the Seattle S Wallis Walla rail
road. Until We have direct business com
munica.ion with onr brethren of the
Sound, Just SO long shall We be in a mea-
sure alieiniated, but when they receive our
grain, -four, live stock, fruit and hun
dred other of onr natural products and in
return they send US their coal, iron, lum-
Der, fish and direct freight We can begin
to think that our interests are identical
As it now stands We nigh, just as well be
separated by the Pacific Ocean for all the
use We are to each other VIII the o. r.
& n. Co build it We think they will
In self defense