Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-18
DAILY .INTEluGENCER.


s;onal feeling of fatigue at the constant
and spparensIy useless efforts we nave
made 20 correct the misapprehens'ons
Of our neiehbors, the Tacoma press
s.iIl we "brace up" and try again
This time it is the Nacs, which, In M
davis Issue, referring to recent a,'
,,.tch from New York stating that tos
Noy,hern Pacific Directors had made
assnite location of fifty miles OF addi-
.,.n.I road on the Cascade division,
from Yakima City northwesterly' SAID ;
/. This We think will be good news TO all
,ayts OF the Sound, except seat'is'
of course. IL Is intended to convey the
idea that Seattle will be displeased AZ
anx action of the Northern PACING di-
rse,orate tending toward construction
of the Cascade division. So1n'ns
eould be further FROM the fact ineie
is not man, woman or child III 'nN
o;,v Who would not rejoice to see the
wo,k of constructing that moch-de-
s;,ad seatiou Of railroad begun imrne-
aiatelv. vigorously prosecuted anu
sneedily completed, and this wishou.
reference to the pass adopted or hnai
location of the Puget Sound end OF tue
,;na We are all as anxious TO sss q
railroad from the Sound over the oaS
"a. ,onntains as are our neigEbors at
Tacoma.
Tbere are Just two main points OF
s;s.rsnea betyeen US and our oonfetn-
,orary. One ia upon question OF
noliov. the other upon q matter OF rlRh'
and ius.ice. Az to the first, tins He,0'
thinks that the continuance OF the
land grant to the Northern Pa'inc
Railroad Company will hasten, and IN
deed is indispensable 10, the cons',uo-
.,on Of a railroad from Puget Sound 70
the valley Of the Upper Columbia. we
take a view directly opposite, believing
that the continued withdrawal OF TINS
land in favor of the Northern Pacinc u
preveutipe other companies from DC
ginning the construction OF a road ove'
the mountains, by placing them AZ
disadvantage, and thus results In al
loving the Northern Pacific to take III
own time In which 10 do the work. It
mt the case Ia other and perhap'
clearer language, the land grant gives
The Northern Pacific IN immense ad
vantage over any company not thus en-
doxed. Were IL forfeited, another
oosld and would promptly commence
construction of railroad over the Gas
oadss. This would compel the North
arm Pacific TO do likewise in sheer self
aafsnse. The result would be two
roads instead Of one over the noun
tains in a very short time. On The
other hand, unless compelled by some
such method, we have no assurance
that a road will be completed by thai
company within ten years, there beins
no absolute necessity therefor to secure
to IL a monopoly of the business. which
until this branch road is built. must &c
over portion of its line to reach tide
water. Thus looking at the situation
policy alone would dictate advocacy ol
forfeiting the grant for the Cascade
division.
But thsre are far more potent reasons
existing in favor of forfeitinR the an
earned land grant to this company
They are based on right and justice
and concern not alone the people OF thu
Territory, but every laborinR man In th'
United States. II is 10 be decided b,
Congress and the courts whether a vas
area Of public land shall be given to
company which has not earned 1t. whici
cannot at tbs dav give for Is any con
sideratiot. Of even approximate value
or wi ether 1t shall be reserved for pur
chase, homestead entry, and occupanc
to the home seeking, home needing AM
home building industrial classes. VIII
seek independence and comfort on thi
western SLOPE of the continent This
matter of supreme concern. Its dc
oision will affect the progress, prospei
ity and numerical growth OF this Terri
tory 20 an extent yet realized IVY but tn
few who have made IL subject o
thoughtful study and investigation
This company will lay claim TO betweeI
100000 and 100000 acres of land 70
constructing n railroad from Tacoma &
WalluIa. 10 il nearly all valuabls
some Of IL almost priceless. II Is worth
at a iow valution. go, 100000 No intel
lieent engineer estimates the cost OF th
road al over half that SUN. which woul'
be about $4,000 per mile. In all can
dor and fairness, We submit that th
continuance OF this grant In the face o
these facts, and the further one that DIV
years have passed since this road shonl'
have been completed and In operation
Is a monstrous injustice. Why, in tn
name Of reason. should this compsn,
be presented with 80 miles OF rsilroae
and $4,000, 900 worth OF lands besides
II would be far better for the peopl
were the government 10 build the rail
road. present IL 10 the Northern Paoih
Directors. and keep the lands. II woul'
save fully 10 per cent. on the trade. rh'
claim Of the Northern Pacific 10 Ties
lands Ia so plainly nnaecompanied O
supported by any equities whatever tina
indignation is sometimes supplanted b,
marvel at It's efffontery.
We are not opposed 10 the building q
q railroad or railroads from Pnge
Sound eastward. On the contrary. VI
are anxious for that result. Bat ne In
sist that the companies which construa,
own. and viii control thsu, shall he pa
on level with other business associa
.cions /. g.. compelled 10 put up thei
oxn money aud credits anaided by Pub
Ito funds or lands. They will take trib
ute enough from the people sftsrwart
A PRoRsrARlg RAlLRaAp.