Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-06
DAILY poST.INTEluGENCER
A HOSTILE POLICY.

Sneennbing in some measure to TIE
storm of remonstrsnce which has been
evoked from lieu land settlers at tbe
high prices placed upon their holdings
nv the Northern Pacific Railroad ConA-
nanv. its Lar d Commit sioner has an-
thorized the sale, to actual settlers ''oh
such lands prior to July l. 1851 81 Tue
land upon which they reside IN amounts
not to exceed l6O acres each al s-'''
ner acre cash, or e. per acre III THE
navments, Ills is the substance oi
.,..; a, aispatch to the Oreg9nian from
W,,la WalIa, dated the 81 instant. II
AGITATION of the question oil forfeiture
of the Northern Pacific grant has com
,.lled that company to keep Its pledges
10 settlers. ~ indicated above, 1t Las al
least been of material benefit to this
Territory.
The assertion that the policy OF the
Nortbern Pacific Railroad Company
with respect to its land grant, has been
inimical to the speedy setting up Oh
WASHINGTON Territory and discrimlna-
tive in favor of the region lying east OF
tho Missouri River, has heretofore been
made in these columns. No organ OF
officer of that company has attempted
tn deny the correctness Of our position.
II is a fact we'll known, and appears Of
record in all official reports ernanatinp
from the land department OF that CON-
pany, that the prices OF Its lands 10
Washington Territory have uniformly
averaged higher than elsewhere along
,ts line. No reasoning is required 10
prove that such discrimination has op-
Grated periodically to settlement OF the
region whore the highest prices have
been maintained Besides this, the fact
that from year to year the prices OF 1T
lands have been materially increased IL
advance Of population and demand, II
another patent reason in support OF oul
assertion. la November. 1882, the aver
age rate received per acre for lands sole
by that company was 1897; in Novem
Der, 1888. it had advanced its prices t.
x4.yl, an increase OF nearly "a per cent
This was the average price for all land
sold. During that month of 1888 prices
in Washington Territory ranged from
s. to $40 per acre. The average, w
estimate, cannot fall short OF from =
to $40 per acre. Oar estimate does no
include the sale Of any coal lands. W.
are not aware that any such have beei
in the market. II 80. they have com
manded much higher prices. The FAC
In. and il il matter of common know
ledge, that the prices at which railroad
lands have been and are now held IL
Western Washington have been almos
prohibitory to purchase by immigrant
and intending settlers.
To the fact that continuously through
the whole period, from 1915 to date, tn
lands of this company have been hell
ut much higher prices in Western
Washington than elsewhere. must b
added another, which il in effect dis
elimination against us even more radi
caily hurtful. Eas. of the Missoui
river. purchasers Of Northern PAoifi
lands may pay therefor in preferre
stock of that company al par. North
ern Pacific preferred IN quoted at abou
$40 per share. Its par value IL *lOt
The purchaser of Dakots railroad land
can therefore obtain them, not only a
IA less nominal price per acre than /
Washington Territory, but need pay IL
them but ~ per cent Of the schedul
price. Is il any wonder that unde
such stimulus Dakota has SO rapid
increased in population Ia it not. o
she other hand. passing strange tia
any population has been added to on
Territory z The fact il. and the assel
ton cannot he successfully contro
verted, that Washington Territory. an
especially Western Washington. has in
CREASED il population in spite Of dis
examinations against IL in this respect
ton less tavorably situated and genel
ously endowed by the Almighty. W
have sat in silence for long years, Will
our lands have been locked up, waitin
the pleasure Of y corporation who's
dominating spirits, with perhaps til
exception of brief interval. were hoe
tile to the true interests Of this peopl,
The best portion of our Territory
empire in area, aud regal in updeve
oped natural resources been II
apart for the endow ment of this cen
pany, which in return pursues and hs
pursued policy at once unjust. illibers
and detrimental to the people, not alon
Of this particular city and section, br
Of the whole Territory. W. have n
assurance that this policy will b
changed. There Is nothing to indicai
such a result unless il be the dispatc
Above referred to. The motive whic
prompts that action il obvious. Tn
lands locked mp awaiting the buildin
OF the Cascade Division are worth fs
more to the vastly NOR
TO this Territory-thsn the railroa
wsuld be il built. Ten years ago th
case was different. Then the roa
should have been completed.
--=~--
For three years past the Central an,
S,nstav, pucs6,, Ra,ir,alo ha,-a r.,.,s