Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-19
DAILY POST INTEluGENCER,
THEY GOT HERE.

6Oh hs&A
In 1854, July I'd, the Congress OF the
United States, desiring to connect 'ne
chain of Northern lakes with Puget
sound and thereby unite by rail- along
the northern line of the United States,
the waters of the Atlantic with those OF
the Pacific Ocean, chartered the Nor'h-
own Pacific Railroad Company and au-
thoy;zaa IL to do the work. 1t gave
that company an area of public iands
ouonntinp TO from 5000, 600 to 5000 |
OeO acres to help it along. The man
s.;pulations we're that the line should
RIM as nearly direct as possible from
,o;nt on Lake Superior TO point on
pnoet Sound, and that the job should
be completed within twelve years rom
date of contract. The only point on
Puget Sound then thought OF az a
western terminus was Seattle, and some
of our citizens were named in the orig1-
nal charter.
In 1884, June 18th, an engine OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad hauled car,
containing several officers and d.
rector of that company into this city
II came by a circuitous route increas-
ine the distance over 300 miles above
that contemplated by the charter. This
train. to reach this city-the original
tsrminus of the Northern Pacific Rail
road-was compelled to run over several
sections of railroad net owned nor con
trolIed by the Northern Pacific haii-
road Company. But 1t got here ana
has GONE away. The officials whom 1t
transported hither went away by steam
,r. and the train returned without
them.
Isn't this n remarkable event Does
il not afford cause for celebration
Isn't it noteworthy as an evidence OF
that "Rood faith " which has so promi-
nently marked the dealings OF that
company with the Government and this
people A company agrees to buiid
railroad in twelve years over certain
line. Nineteen years, eleven months
and fifteen days afterward that com
pany, by utilizing several hundred miles
of road belonging to and built without
subsidy by other companies, manages
to get a locomotive and one car through
to it's original Western terminus. Al
most twenty years have passed, and vel
more than two hundred miles remain te
be constructed before It's trains can rur
on its own road to Puget Sound. Will
what marvellous rapidity has this com
pany of railroad builders stretched
lice across the Continent In sever
years the Central and Union Pacific
railroads we're constructed from Omahf
TO San Francisco. In the first sever
years after charter was granted to thu
Northern Pacific, not hundred mile'
were put in operation. Comparisons
are odioas. In almost three times
seven years the road is not nearly com
pleted. nor can 1t be in less than threG
years from date.
And yet this company, through itf
agents, its officers, its organs, prates OF
good faith, of vested rights, of the in
volatility of a contract broken into
fragments long years ago by its crimi-
nal laches. In face Of this record, II
claims title to land enough for half a
million farms OF eighty acres each
sufficient to support an empire. IL asks
the gift of-nay, more, ii asserts III
right to-30, 600, 900 acres of public land
claimed to have been earned since the
date fixed for completion of its road.
II goes further, and alleges It's right to
earn, at its own pleasure as TO time,
7,000,0 acres in addition by building
branch road over the Cascade Noun
tains. II Il had that right the day
after the date when by the conditions of
its charter the whole road should have
been completed, il has il still, and can
delay construction to suit its own inter-
eets and purposes.
Meanwhile the Cascade branch ia
being rushed forward to completion.
Ten or fifteen men are hurrying things
east of the mountains, and the com
pany will extend its coal road 10 the
Green River mines, to haul coal to Ia
coma. What signifies the expenditure
Of $lb worth of powder in view OF
events So pregnant with Importance to
this city?