Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-12
DAILY
POST MTELLLGENCER


Mu6h has been said about tne Wessoin
terminal point Of the Northern Pacinc
Railroad, and high hopes built upon the
assumption that this or that city upon
this coast would have the questionable
bsne6t of being situate Al the west enc
~ the vesternmost rail on the main
track of that great national highway.
II never seems TO have occurred TO some
Of our ambitious and enthusiastic neigh
boes, that something besides this was
requisite for a successful city; nor
what 10 far more important, that tnefe
enid be more than one so-called ter
minai point. Let Us see. IL ID, We be-
Iisve, generally conceded, when speax-
ING of the eastern end of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, that the city OF st.
Paul may fairly be called terminal
point. Yet It 10 a fact that St. Paul Is
not situated on any part Of or near the
main line OF that railroad: and the line
by which the Northern Pacific business
ooes 70 81. Paul was formerly known az
the Western Railroad of Minnesota, ex-
tending from Brainerd on the Northern
Pasi6c 70 Sank Rapids, about 60 miles,
ana that thence freight and passengers
are hauled some 10 miles further On the
Manitoba Road. Recently An arrange
msut has been made whereby new IN
corporation, called the ss. Paul and
Northern Pacific (formerly the Western
n before stated, is permitted to con-
struct line parallel TO the Manitoba
Road from Sank Rapids 10 Minneap-
oils, thereby creating a double-rack
railroad, oue-half owned by each com
many. and both tracks TO be used IN
common. This will be extended to sf.
Paul, and be leased by the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, and over II
viii uass the bulk of the business to and
from the region served by the Northern
Pacific. Neither st. Paul or Minnie
spolis are, in the sense of being on the
main line, termini Of the Northern
Paoifia. no more than Portland, Astoria
or Seattle, at this end, Duluth being en-
titled to that honor. Yet 1t would be
foolish TO assert that st. Paul and Min
nsapo,is are not the practical business
tsrrpini at the eastern end Of this great
line, and do, and will continue in large
measure 70, hold control OF the COM
marco of that end. This brings as TO
what we started out to say; what We
have always commended, towit: that on
this coast, north Of San Francisco. there
viii b several cities competing for the
trade Of the country lying eastward
along the line Of the Northern Pacific;
that with equal facilities, equal through
rates, AZ announced by that road, the
several cities mentioned, and as many
more a, being situated ON tide water.
arc in position to Dispute for CON-
msrcial supremacy, will be tsrmiaal
points. tsrmini of the road, just the
same a Duluth, st. Paul. or Mime
spolis. Il IL not necessary for city to
b at the end Of the main track or
original survey Of the Northern Pacific.
Any standard gauge connection with
the main line, which ends at tide
water, establishes terminal point and
places the people Of that western end in
position 70 compete for the trade Of the
interior. We expect TO see three or four
large cities at different westqp termini
Of the Northern Pacific. ana Nth equal
rates established and facilities afforded,
the growth Of each city and the volume
Of IL business will depend more upon
the energy Of It's citizens and its natural
advantages for trade aside from the
railroad. than upon any adventitious aid
extended By such corporation. 1t is
upon this state Of facts that We base our
prophecy Of . successful future for this
city. instead Of relying upon especial
favors extended or benefits to be de-
rived from being An exclusive terminal
point. There will be no such exclusive
terminus.