Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-04
DAILY POST.INTELuGENCER.
WHICH SHALL nc BEs

convenes in this city today Is omit ID
that grand aggregation OF State ana
Territorial organic atoms which com
bine 10 consulate the greatest, most
and most powerful poiiticai
,,arty that has ever controlled the gov
eminent of this or any other nation.
Upon local questions its policy aud
practices have varied, as the needs or
sxioeucies OF commonwealth have 4
seemed to demand. Upon all measures
of national scope and Importance 1t IL
oenented together with identity OF pur-
o ,ses and aims. Upon all such ques-
.ions the utterances of the purity in ma
tional convention are binding upon each
unit Of its organization.
The granting of public lands 10 cor
porations in aid Of railroad building 10
q practice originated by the Democratic
party when in control of the govern
meut and continued under Republican
administrations. The primal reason
al ven in Justification Of this method OF
disposina Of the pablic lands was that
such subsidies were necessary to open
ND new regions to settlement. The rea-
. on was accepted, and wheH the kep1b-
loan party assumed control In 1861
many millions Of acres OF the public
lands had been bestowed in greater or
less quantities upon corporations en-
gagged in railroad building. which was
yes comparatively il its infancy.
The Republican party came into
power facing war which soon became
of vast magnitude. The states Of Cali
fornia and Oregon, and the rich mining
Territories Of Utah and Nevada, were
many days removed from oommunica-
ton with the central government. There
was no railroad west Of the Missouri
river. As measure Of safety, as a link
to unite the Pacific with the Atlantic
States, an overland railroad was deemed
Indispensable. Moved by these motives,
together with tbs original one Of aiding
to develop the vast country TO be pene-
trated, Republican Congress in 1862
made its frst railroad land grant. The
Union and Central Pacific Railroad
companies, to whom this grant was
made, Immediately commenced work,
and 90 vigorously was 1t prosecuted that
in less than seven years from the day
the granting act was passed n completed
railroad stretched across the continent
from Omaha 10 San Francisco.
Meantime the war went on. There
was little prospect of its termination
when, In 1864. Q ootsrie Of adventures
appeared before Congress asking char
tor for another transcontinental rail-
road. IL was argued that the govern
ment needed quick transit fer Its mails.
it's troops, and supplies therefor. across
the continent that Indians we're az.
gressive, and the country could only be
made safe by pushing a railroad
through the country that would prompt
ly transport troops and give impetus to
immigration and settlement. II was
further represented that another trans
continental line Was necessary to pre-
vent monopoly and establish comreti-
ton. Succumbing to importantly, II
not convinced by argument, Republi-
can Congress Wade second grant Of
cubic lands In aid of a railroad corpo-
ration. n gave the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company vast subsidy, to b.
obtained upon certais conditions speci.
fed in its charter. That charter COST its
owners just 100000.
Following up this policy of pablo aid
10 railroad corporations, by successive
Republican Congresses, grants of public
lands we're continued until in 1874, the
to:al area OF lands thus granted agRre-
gated over 100000 acres. Then
halt was called. To different railroad
companies there had been granted in %
years an area of the public domain
nearly three times as great as Great
Britain and Ireland, and almost as
large ~ that embraced In the thirteen
original States. The public had be-
come dissatisfied. On all sides CON-
plant was made that the expected bens-
fits TO be derived from these prinoely
donations had not accrued; that the
roads constructed were 20 managed as
to DO oppressive; that those in course OF
construction we're not being pushed for
ward with desired rapidly; that in
stead Of opening MP new regions to set
Element. they were following immigra-
ton; that the withdrawal Of 30 large
areas Of public lands from Occupation.
was proving hnrtful to speedy dsvel
opment Of the country 10 DO penetrated
by the land grant roads.
The Republican party, quick and
ready 10 heed a plainly expressed pub
iic demand. recognizing the Justice Of
the complaints made by the people
against the alienation of SO vas. an area
OF the public domain. resolved in 1876,
In National Convention. that no more
land grants should be made in aid of
railroad building. Since that resolu-
ton was adopted none have been made.
IL 10 safe to say that in this country
none viii be made hereafter.
When that resolution was passed-the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company. 10
which had been granted. upon cendi
ton Of building q railroad across the
continent from the Lakes 10 Puee,
sound in twelve years from date OF char
ter, nearly SC, 0oo, 900 acres Of public land
bad constructed bn, $50 miles OF its
road. Daring the hrst six years after
is charter was granted il did not build
smile OF railroad; during the next three
years the above mileage was constructed
on borrowed money, which becoming
exhausted, construction ceased. Prior
to this, however, two resolutions had
leen passed by Congress. Oae granted
an extension Of two years for comple,.
ing the road, the second reduced this
extension one year. The road should
have b. an eomnietad Inix 1877 g,n~.