Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-12-11
DAILY PosT-INTfLLIeENcER
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The Henley biil-now upon TIE Hoose
cslendar awaiting action By that body
-proposes 70 forfsis and restore 70 The
public domain all thss portion OF the
Ncrthsrp Pacific land grant not earned
bv eons.ruetion Of liz railroad on OF
before yuly 1, 1879. This bill, II psssed,
would restore and open 10 settlement
sbout s5,eoo,ooo scres Of iand granted
that company BY its charter Of lses.
Commsnsine upon this, The Sdfsesas
R<publsoan-psblished IN Warrington
City--recensly said:
.srbsse Iands are worth go pr sere,
rron a. average, and thsir total vaius
y easO 0O. OOe, and an Enaiish sJnoi-
cats has offered 10 bay tie whole srant
for 600, 600 900, IL tbs title can % made
good"
The estimated vainstiOn Of shsse
lands, /. e., their present vsios, isun-
doubtsdIy excessive. There are large
srsss which are NOT nov, nos win fhsy
be for generations TO come, OF nnen
value. There are other areas that YIN
uever be Of vaIue TO the small holder,
bat must b. utilized, II at all, BY asso-
eiassd capital. Bat there 10 also an Inn
meuss areasof the BEST farming lands
in the northern portion Of the United
States, included within the limits OF this
princely grant, that portion Of which
unsarned stretches. In . belt 100 miles
vide, from the Missouri river to the Pc
eific ocean. The most valusble portion
Il in this Territory, and the most valu-
able portion In the Territory il situate
In Western Washington. Il embraces
sich Agricultural valleys, the best traets
Of timber land, and tbs most valuable
coal deposits upon the Pacific coast.
These are Of high present value. The
coal lands are mot pnrchasabIe Of the
company At any price. and this 10 TO q
great extent the case with the most
valuable and accessible timber land.
Il 10 not ont Of reason, II is not I'M
safe TO estimate the average present
vslue az the total unsarnsd grant to
this favored corporation 81 % per scre,
or Q total Of ei06.Ooo,ooo. We place no
faith In the assertion that a syndicate Of
English capitalists stands ready 10 take
the whole tract at even that sum. Bot
she thought naturally arises. and 10 this
Attentions ID called: What, In the event
Of seeuring tisIs 70 this immenss body
Of land In the heart Of the great North
west, viii be the natural tendency Of its
disposition, What win ths Northern Pa
eifc do with it? We know what u ID
now doing. Il IL selling TO anyone who
desires 10 purchase certain localities
---as prioss fxsd By itself. and 10 guam
titles a. desired by purchasers. Thi'
policy may be continued, or cease at Ia
option. Already In Dakota large area
Of lands have BEEN sold to non-residen'
owners. The list Of these foreign syn
dicates Who have acquired title TO huge
domains In The western portion Of oul
country has been frequently Published
Il IL rapidly being augmented. THAI
suoh holdings Of land In this govern
msnt are injurious TO It's people, and q
menace to the personal liberty Of futurs
generations, IL admitted. So great hal
this evil beceme, that from the Interior
Department comes q warning voice. and
Congress Ia asked to restrict the scquis
ition Of agricultural lands 10 but ont
method, towit; by homestead entry ant
occupation.
In Nebraska, Wyoming. Titan and Ne
vada the Union and Central Pacific
Railroad Companies have within thu
past two years been selling lands YER,
rapidly. In the main, these lands hav'
been purchased In large tracts By syndi
Gates, foreign and domestic, and b,
wealthy alien and citizen capitalists. II
some GASES the purchases have beer
made for colonization purposes, larR'
profits being expected 70 accrue iron
subdividina and marketing the par
chased tracts. by others the lands hav
been acquired for stock ranges, the oxp
srship Of the odd sections carrying will
Il practical centrol-which ID the ease no
Of ownefship--of the even or govern
mens sections. 0.her large trsets hnv
been purchased a. Investments pare an,
simple. the intention being 10 held III
lands unimptoved for term Of years
and ultimately 10 sell at largely I'D
vanoed prioes, or lease 10 home-ssekers
whom no more available public lam
shall DO attaiaahie.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany expects 20 acquire full title 10 thes
5000 0o acres Of land. Unless a BIZ
to forfeit them Ii passed such wi
eventually be the outcome. II IL allege
that within eighteen months from date
at farthess, all its railroad save th
wallula- Portland section will be con
pisted, and. In iss view Of the law, titl
10 the land grant Id aid thereof, xill b
vested In the company. What thenf
there no dangvrf There ID no leg
power, after title shall have accrued, /
prevent the sale in huge areas Of h
land TO foreign or domestic syndicate
Nor can any Law be passed eompellir
such syndicates to part title with tie
holdings. when once obtained. tn
menace is--and 10 10 overshadowing
that within ton years from date, title I
avery large portion of the vast erar
70 this great corporation. will be In DO.
session Of non residents, that 10 will ~
be In market at reasonable priccs, an
that when once the puhlsc lands adj
cent and contiguous are 40 longer o.
sainable from Government the INN
Grant will be NJ tina u,arcv az ho,