Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-24
DAILY .IsTEluGEHCER.
sgaTTIE's SELFISH fight.

diary sheets sobsistin2 upon cfon~
from the Northern Pacific lunch tape
70 the attitude Of the people, and UNI
unite recently, of the entire press o.
this city, in relation 10 The unea'h'O
land grant to the company. We have
determinediy and truthfuiiy deRito
that land grant forfeiture Is Local
ousstion: that it figured at all IN am
rivalry which is assumed to exist Dc
twsen this and other cities, or that II
fact, such neiQhborhOod antagon'sin'
had anything to do With the principles
involved. We have maintained tna'
while it affected directly and vitality Tue
nsonle of both Eastern and Western
Washington, it is per ss es'lonai
question, having relation not onIy 70
the present bat future interests OF the
whole country. We have been, and are
indisposed to take credit to ihis cay
and its press for the following-and oS
no means all-arrsy of benefits and re
medal measures which have been tnos
far the direc. result of ths agitation OF
the forfeiture question. II any OF she
railroad organs in this Territory or
elsewhere, insist on giving the Seattle
people and press more than deserved
credit for these resultant pablo bene-
fits, We cannot help 1t.
The agitation Of land grant forfeit
ure during the past eight months has
Aided in inducing the Northern Pa
cific Railroad Company TO adopt the
Stampede instead of the Natchess Pass
through the Cascade range.
IL has compelled the Northern Pa
cific Railroad Company to pledge itself
10 build 80 miles or more OF the Cas-
cade branch Immediately.
1t has also forced . public pledge
from its president that the Cascade
branch shall be completed within three
years.
1t has induced the company to apply
for acceptance Of a section OF the Poy-
allup coal road as part of the Cascade
line, and thus put in issue the legality
of its claim to lands claimed to be earn
ed by construction of that coal road.
II has forced the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company to declare unequivo-
cally that it will not discriminate be-
tween persons and places in freight and
passenger tariffs. That it docs 30 Is
pioof of the unreIiability Of its pledges.
1t has resulted In reducing the price
of certain agricultural lands to conform
TO a pledge made by the Northern Pa
oific years ago, towit.: to $500 per acre.
IL has called attention TO the situs-
ton of the company With respect to its
grant between wallula and Portland.
the result of which is an Unexpectedly
favorable report by Senate COMMITTEES
in favor of forfeiture Of said grant.
IL has materially strengthened the
position of the majority OF the House
Committee on Public Lands and sup
plemented their efforts TO pass bills to
forfeit all unearned land grants.
II has impelled, II not compelled. the
Republican, Democratic and every 9TH
or political party in the country IN na-
sional conventions this year to declare
in favor of restoring unearned land
grants to the public domain.
1t has called the attention OF the
whole country to the avoidance OF taxes
by land grant railroad companies, which
refuse or neglect TO take cut patents for
lands claimed under grant frsm the
Government.
1t has compelled the Northern Pacific
directorate 10 expunge from its con-
tracts for, and deeds to, lands, exasper-
atinR, odious and oppressive conditions.
by which the title OF the purchaser is so
restricted as to render it of little or no
value.
1t has exposed the duplicity of public
officers in and out of Congress, and the
twists and turns OF the Interior Depart
ment under former administration n
the interest of the Northern Pacific.
IL has advertised Seattle, Tacoma, the
Puget Sound region, and the whole of
Washington Territory more than could
have been done by dozen "immiRra-
ton societies"
IL has forced the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company TO admit for the
FIRST time that it's land grant is forfeita-
BILE opposite TO and coterminous with
all uncompleted portions of its road.
This Is a virtual surrender Of claim TO
about il,70o square miles, or 7,4ss, 600
acres, of land in Washington Territory.
IL has made publicly known the great
value Of the lands in this Territory
claimed by the Northern Pacific. and
the consequent value Of contiguous
land, and has resulted in higher valu-
alton Of the property Of that corpora
ton 10: purposes of taxation.
Il has demonstrated that united, per-
sistent, honest effort in a righteous
cause will in the end inevitably be sue
cessful.
Ii has advised the people Of their
. rights and put them upon their guard
against the efforts of the Northern Pa
cific TO control the politics Of this Terri.
tory and send representative of its in
terests az Delegate 10 Congress,
Il has drawn a clearly defined line
between the bonded and free press of
this Territory, which the public has no,
omitted TO note, and will net fail TO re-
member.
IL has organized an opposition 10 the
illegal claims of the Northern Pacific
Railroad, which will extend In power
and influence until full justice h done.
Il has shown that in this Nation Of
self governing citizens no creature Of
Law 10 superior 20 the law; that when cit
liens unite in self -protection the most
powerful corporation can be brought to
terms. by consistent. determined AID
persistent effort.