Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-01
DAILY PoST-|NTEluGfMCER


Our neiehbor, the chronieie, in an anti
e,s. the temper of which il unexoep-
tionable, came out yesterday morning
squarely and uns quivoca!iy Ia favor OF
the forfeiture OF the land grant IN aid
Of the Case de division Of tie Aofsn-
arm Pacific Railroad. We moaesay
shrink from assuming any credit Tor
II Il SIGNAL metamorphosis. The House
Committse on Prbiic Lands came "
the same oonciusion On "Wednesday
last, and by vote Of seven to four rec
commended TIE passage of oih esciaf-
inc forfeited all lands granted to tnas
company which wers not earned July =
1879 III iacIudss NO. oniy the grant
in Aid of the Cascade DIVISION eu'
nearly 100000 acres more.
We are uos disposed to quibbse WIN
the Chromiele about language, bof in"ss
upon being correctly understood ana
quoted. II vas mot claimed in our AZ
ticIs Of Sunday last upon tins supsoc'
that the fourth provision in the agree
msus by which the citizens OF seAtess
agreed TO pay $4,000 bonus Tor con-
.truotion Of the Cedar river extension
vas MOT binding portion Of that con-
tract. That section provides that the
aforesaid branch shall Be extended TO
connect with the Cascade division OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad when II
shall 10 built. What We did say, was
that no guarantee was required OF or
has bssn given by Mr.. Willard or the
company engaged in construction OF
the Cedar river extension that this slip
1lstion should be carried ont. This In
plain from the contract itself, which
provides that the tl5O.0O subsidy shall
be paid whom tho road 10 opened and
operated 70 the Grssn river coal fields,
il such work BE- completed on or before
May lst proximo. 1t was evident when
the contract was drawn MP and the
money subscribed that the Cascade d.
vision would not bs built 90 that such
connection could be made on May LIST,
1884, OF for . long period thereafter.
No specific guarantee that this oonnec-
ton should be made appears in the con-
trsct-none was exacted. The compile
ton Of the number of miles Of railroad
named, within the time stipulated. will
entitle the builders 70 the $4,000.
But the 4th section OF the contract In
mot therefore invalid. Il remains in
foil force until such time a. the build
ing Of the Cascade Division renders il
possible and makes Ii the duty Of the
company which has received tho subsi-
dy, 70 fulfil the unoompleted portion Of
its agreement. and, while NO guarantee
that this will be done has been given or
required, il il, We think, within the
province and would be the duty Of a
Court Of Equity to decree specific per-
Torrance Of this portion of the agree
ment. Such recourse, however, will in
our judgment never bs required, for, a.
has been said before, motives Of self in
tsrcst alone would be amply enough to
induce the extension Of the road 70 the
desired connection. Meanwhile perhaps
some other company than the Northern
Pacific viii want . Railroad over the
mountains without demanding git Of
al the p1blic lands this side ths Cas-
soaas range, and without being subor-
dinated in the selection If tn route and
management Of its business to the in
terests and dictation OF company OF
Eastern land sharks and town lot boom
srs. Let us rest our souls in peace.
seattle y solidly planted on firm busi.
Nom basis, and needs neither faosiiious
nor adventurous aid.